“Now it is really very important, particularly for those who want to work as teachers, to get rid of the habit of unnecessary criticism…it is not a question of always trying to improve on what has already been done. A thing can be good in a variety of ways.” Rudolf Steiner spoke these words to…
I love this series of books – One Small Square. The series includes a variety of titles like Backyard, Woods, Pond, and Seashore. I encourage you to try nature study with one small square. The concept in these books is to measure off a yardstick square of outdoor space and observe it closely over time. Each…
It is 9:00 am on August 22, 1919, day two of the lectures to prepare the teachers in the very first Waldorf School. Picture a group of a dozen adults, only one of whom had every taught in a classroom before, gathered in a Stuttgart cafe which Emil Molt of the cigarette factory had purchased…
Rhythm allows us to get in sync with one another. And what exactly is rhythm? It’s an easily recognized, regular pattern. Poems and verses contain rhythm within, and they are great tools to help us bring rhythm to our days. They provide a way to build both rhythm and ritual. Here are some verses for lessons,…
It is Day One of Steiner’s lectures to the teachers in the very first Waldorf School, August of 1919, now published as Practical Advice to Teachers. Steiner emphasized that these afternoon talks deal specifically with teaching methods. Here are some highlights from Day One: We permeate the whole of teaching with the artistic element. We…
Many thanks to my friend Alison who is joining me on this adventure! It’s great to have a partner on this project and we’re hoping you’ll join us by leaving comments. Today we’re acknowledging the moral and spiritual task of teaching. Remember the structure of each day during the Seminar Course was threefold: Foundations lectures…
February 2nd is the halfway point. Here in the northern hemisphere, it’s halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The rhythm of the seasons is a very real and natural phenomenon. One of the things I appreciate the most about seasonal rhythms is that the changes are noticeable! Every year, within a week…
I must admit that I’ve created many different systems for cataloging my recipe collection and for menu planning over the years. MANY! But a few years ago, I finally settled on a super simple system that saves me lots of time. Are you ready? Two Steps to Super Simple Menu Planning 1. I have general…
Hands-on learning and Waldorf education are all about active learning. Movement games and activities get our bodies warmed up so that our minds are ready for the lessons. Everyone benefits from movement games for children. Clapping, bean bag games, rhythmic stepping or marching, and hand movements to nursery rhymes are all fun and engaging ways…
When we began our homeschooling journey, my mentor, Barbara Dewey of Waldorf Without Walls, would always say to me, “Don’t plan a main lesson block for December.” And all I could think was “How would I ever get in all of our lessons then?” I had such a hard time allowing myself the space for a…
