Welcome!

 

Waldorf-Inspired Learning is here as a resource for parents and teachers to help you create meaningful learning experiences for your children. My own Waldorf-inspired homeschooling journey spans almost 20 years so far! And one of the things I wanted most, early on, was for someone who was ahead of me on this path to share about her experiences at home with her children. That is what I offer to you: ideas, resource suggestions, and stories of what life has been like in my house over the years.

I have homeschooled grades one through eight three times, all inspired by Waldorf education (finishing grade eight with my third child in 2013). I love verses and songs and will offer these to you from time to time to inspire your days at home with your children.  I also love nature and plays and really good books and music and poetry and good friends, my family and children.

On this site, you can learn more about the Waldorf curriculum, find inspiring articles and resource suggestions, follow my blog about Reading Steiner, and order my guides to the seasons, building community, and planning. I also offer workshops, as well as hourly and yearlong planning consultations.

May you find inspiration in these pages and blessings on your journey,

Jean

 

Global Waldorf Expo, May 17-19

The 4th Annual Global Waldorf Expo is this weekend, May 17-19. Donna Ashton over at The Waldorf Connection is hosting interviews with a variety of folks experienced in Waldorf education. Below are some details including the schedule; the most important detail is that you need to register for this event.

You can hear ME on Sunday, May 19 at 5:00 pm EST! I will be speaking about "What Did Steiner Say? The Top Ten Ideas from his Seminar Course Given to the First Waldorf Teachers." Read more »

Reading Steiner - Introductions

Here we go with the introductory material in the three books that constitute the “pedagogical course” that Rudolf Steiner gave in 1919 to the small group of people who would become teachers in the first Waldorf School. The introductory material is helpful in providing historical and cultural context, and makes clear Steiner’s deep desire for a renewal in education. There is so much here that intrigues me and inspires me in my homeschooling. Just a reminder, we aren’t into the full mode of Steiner’s writing yet, as all of this material is written by Waldorf teachers after, sometimes years after, that first school opened. Read more »

Planning Guide for Grades 1-8

How is your planning going this year? My new guide, Planning for Waldorf-Inspired Learning: Keeping It Simple, is now available to help you create blocks of learning for your children. The guide is full of tips and examples from my 18 years of homeschooling and provides details to a simple step-by-step process which I refer to as BRIDLE – Blocks, Resources, Inner Work, Daily Rhythm, Lessons and Environment – to help you lay out your blocks, select resources, and plan your lessons. Read more »

Resources for Waldorf Homeschooling

This comprehensive list of resources for Waldorf homeschooling includes links for website and suppliers of books and materials, as well as lists of my favorite titles on different aspects of Waldorf education. Read more »

Unique Aspects of Waldorf Education

Educating the Head, Heart and Hands – the integration of thinking, feeling and willing (activity) – is the signature of Waldorf education. In this article, you will find a description of the unique aspects of Waldorf education: the arts, practical work, the main lesson blocks where children create their own beautiful books rather than using textbooks, as well as an overview of how the different subjects are approached. Read more »