This is the first episode of two on the infamous nine year change.  We briefly describe the nine year change and go into what you can do in the years leading up to the nine year change to prepare.  Naturally, this leads us into sharing that we like our Santas jolly and well fed.  Enjoy this Chrismukkah gift to you and happy holidays everyone!

Did any questions about nine year change arise for you?   We'll be happy to tackle those when we record our next episode.  Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.  

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out. 

Did you know it was Kristi's birthday, Santa Lucia Day and Taylor Swift's birthday all in one week?  Naturally, this leads us into a discussion of why we bring literacy instruction when we do.  In this episode, we discuss the pacing and timeline for direct literacy instruction - what is it, why do we do and what questions/concerns do we often come across.  Also, Adam gets on his high horse about first born privilege.

Did any questions or anxiety as teacher or parent arise for you?   Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.  If we can help bring insight on this at all, we would love to.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out. 

Here's some links we reference this week:

Practical Course For Teachers

The Art of Education: Where Waldorf Meets Structured Literacy

The Child's Changing Consciousness and Waldorf Education Lecture III

Happy Thanksgiving!  We are so grateful for each of you!  Thank you for supporting us and listening and for all your funny comments when you see you out in the world!

In this episode, we discuss "parent work" - what is it, why do we do and what questions/concerns do we often come across.  Also, Adam uses the word myriad incorrectly and Kristi has big feelings about it.

Did any questions as teacher or parent arise for you?   Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

In this episode, we discuss the many entities that could sponsor us and we dive into the Curriculum ClosetTM.  We discuss which resources we highly reccomend for Waldorf teachers and homeschoolers as well as what we find doesn't exactly land and why.

Apologies for how loud my cold brew coffee is in this episode!

Did we miss an important resources?   Want to send Kristi some birthday condolences?  Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

Some links of resources mentioned in the show:

Yellow Book

Painting and Drawing

Form Drawing Workbook

Creative Form Drawing

Waldorf Book of Poetry

Waldorf School Songs

Waldorf Teacher Resources

Aesop's Fables

Online Waldorf Library - Jakob Streit

EAWTDP Grades 1 & 2 Writing and Reading

EAWTDP Grades 1 & 2 Math

EAWTDP Grade 3

EAWTDP Human & Animal

EAWTDP Plant Study

Norse Myths

Charles Kovacs

Jamie York - Making Math Meaningful

String, Straightedge and Shadow

Physics

Spring, Summer, Winter and Autumn

A Donsy of Gnomes

K-5 Learning

Math Salamanders

Tal

Cursive Without Tears

The Write Approach

In this episode, we discuss Pie Party madness and how Waldorf has always been a multisensory education model.  We discuss how Waldorf pedagogy, curriculum and materials all support elements of multisensory education.  We also discuss rodents quite a bit.

Did we miss something important in our discussion?  Do you know the definitive pronunciation of Amish?  Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

This episode is part II of our Is Waldorf a cult? episode.  In Part II, we look at how we got from 1922 to today while navigating this question.  We look at current discussions online, particularly one quite popular podcast, and Kristi does her eldest daughter business of keeping people accountable.  By the way, the tops of pillars are called the capitals.  We should have known that!  We cuss in this one so keep that in mind.  Also, Sadie and Beau (the dogs) make an appearance while we are talking about them.

A point of clarification, teachers at private schools, Waldorf or otherwise, often recieve some amount of tuition remission for their children as part of their benefit package.

Wanna join the book club?  Email at [email protected] and put bookclub in the subject line.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.  We can't wait to hear from you.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

Links for this episode:

The School that Escaped the Nazis

Project 2025 and the DOE

Conspirituality Pod

Anthroposophical Medical Association Statement on Vaccines

Regents School of Austin

Austin Waldorf School DEIJ

The Bay School of San Francisco Tuition

A Little Bit Culty Pod

Lastly, here's the picture Kristi describes of the first Goetheanum after the arson attack:

In this episode, we step away from our Waldorf 101 series to tackle a question that's plagued Waldorf education almost from day one.  Is Waldorf a cult?  We apply Dr. Hassan's BITE model to the question as well as use Michael Langone's cult checklist.  Adam teases Kristi mercilessly about her cult/true crime content consumption.  This is Part I of a two parter so hold on to your seats.

Do you have experience with both high control groups and Waldorf schools?  Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

Links for this episode:

Dr. Steven Hassan

Association of Waldorf Schools of North America

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education

Michael Langone

Economic Policy Institute

"Remember your Why"

Kristi has returned from New Orleans and is covered in friendship bracelets and confetti, so we are back in the studio (aka the upstairs closet).  In this episode, we discuss the journey of teacher and class from grades one through eight.  We discuss the traditional model, newer looping models and what Steiner had to say on the topic.  We also touch on how a teacher could possibly prepare for such a task and whether or not they might even want to.

Did you make it through an eight year cycle or did you maybe veer off down a different path?  Give us a shout by email at [email protected] and let us know.  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.  

This will be the first of a Waldorf 101 series covering the basics and in this week's installment, we tackle Main Lesson.  We also discuss Adam's unhinged reaction to receiving many compliments in one day and Kristi's dogmatic leanings are on display for everyone to hear.  There are quite a few unexplained inside jokes in this episode including Man Moon, Jean Claude (the dog) and "Shmonkies".  Bonus points to all listeners who figure those out and 100 extra bonus points to Carrie who bestowed upon us our amazing new mics!  Thanks so much Carrie!

Does your main lesson have a different rhythm?  Tell us about it via email at [email protected].  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out. 

In this supersize episode, we discuss the Steiner origins and current research around technology and child development. We get super nostalgic about Sesame Street and Mister Roger's Neighborhood. On that topic, here is a link to Mr. Roger's speaking to the Senate subcommitte. Get a hankie.

Oh boy, the elemental beings that live in technology were very naughty tonight and the dogs are apparently recording their own podcast in the background so apologies for the many hiccups.  Remind us not to record on the night before Adam leaves with his class for an overnight fieldtrip.

Do you know when football was invented?  Please share it with us via email at [email protected].  You can find us on Instagram too at waldorfsaladpod.

Like much that we do, we have not received permission from anyone to make this podcast and will be begging forgiveness from here on out.