Waldorfy

When I first googled this question myself, I found a lot of confusing and conflicting information. I felt that some of what I was finding did not reflect what I had experienced as a Waldorf alum.
Along with my guest, Glynn Graham, I explore the question "Are Waldorf Schools Religious?".  I found that while it was hard to explain in a concise way, it's really not that confusing a topic. My guest Glynn does a really great job helping me to bring clarity to this question.
In the episode she simply answers that, by a traditional definition, no Waldorf Schools are not religious. However there are aspects of Waldorf education, for instance fostering qualities like compassion, reverence, gratitude, and kindness, that most all major religions also foster. We go on to discuss other aspects of Waldorf education where there is confusion about a religious influence.

Additional show notes and resources for this episode can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/waldorfandreligon

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison.

In this episode I learn about public Waldorf schools. I speak with guest, Mary Goral Ph.D., all about this growing movement allowing more and more families to experience the Waldorf approach.

Additional show notes for this page can be found at: http://waldorfy.com/publicwaldorf

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison. 

Sarah Lee from Sarah's Silks, speaks with me in this episode. We discuss her experience as a Waldorf parent of three young adults all of whom attended a Waldorf school all the way up through twelfth grade. We discuss Sarah's parent perspective of "How Waldorf Works" as the episode is titled, which includes how she felt Waldorf Education served the needs of her different children. 

You can find additional show notes for this episode at:
http://waldorfy.com/howwaldorfworks
(This is also where you'll find the link to enter our give away with Sarah's Silks)

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison.

In this episode I bring Helen Ann Ireland on the show to talk about how and reading writing are taught in the Waldorf approach. We also get into the topic of testing, why there aren’t tests in the early grades, and how students are assessed academically throughout Waldorf education.

Additional show notes and resources for this episode can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/reading-writing-and-testing-in-waldorf-education/

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison.

In this episode I speak with Waldorf class teacher of 23 years, Darcy Drayton. As I’m introducing the episode, I first speak a little about why art is being integrated across all subjects in Waldorf education. Then when speaking with Darcy, we discuss more of how art is incorporated in the curriculum and how she uses different artistic mediums as tools to teach with. Darcy, an artist herself, also speaks about drama and class plays in the Waldorf curriculum, and how she uses her artistic freedom as a teacher, to meet the children where they’re at developmentally. While also trying to be aware of the challenges that they will face in today’s changing world.

Additional show notes for this episode can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/art-in-waldorf-education/

Theme music is composed and performed by Book Kennison. 

In this episode I continue my conversation from episode 104 with my guest Theo Groh. In the previous episode Theo and I speak about Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education, and Theo's experience with anthroposophy and Waldorf. In this segment, episode 105, Theo and I pick up by discussing how Theo finds anthroposophy relevant today. We also touch on how Waldorf alumni can help the Waldorf movement and much more about the Waldorf experience.

Additional show notes for this episode can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/more-with-waldorf-alum-theo-groh/

Music composed and performed by Book Kennison. 

In this episode I wanted a contrast to the previous three episodes I’ve produced. I wanted a young fresh perspective to speak with me about Rudolf Steiner, who he was, and his ideas. I am so excited that a friend of mine and fellow Waldorf alum, Theodore, said he’d sit down with me for a discussion exploring Rudolf Steiner and anthroposophy.

Additional show notes for this episode can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/who-is-rudolf-steiner/

Music composed and performed by Book Kennison. 

In this episode I speak with Torin Finser, PhD, all about anthroposophy. We go a little into speaking about its founder, Rudolf Steiner, and discuss the connection between the study of anthroposophy and Waldorf education.

Additional show notes can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/what-is-anthroposophy/

Theme music is composed and performed by Book Kennison.

In this second segment of my exploration into, “What is Waldorf Education?, I speak with Waldorf class teacher, Hugh Renwick. Hugh talks about the aims of Waldorf education as a whole, and elaborates more on the developmental phases that Glynn spoke about in part 1. He also goes into more depth speaking about the Waldorf curriculum.

Additional show notes can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/what-is-waldorf-education-part-2/

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison.

In this episode, I speak with veteran Waldorf teacher, Glynn Graham. We discuss the founding of the first Waldorf school and dive into overarching themes of this unique approach, including what distinguishes it from a traditional approach to education. 

EDIT: I mention in this episode, the “Wilton Temple Community Farm”, but it’s actually called the “Temple Wilton Community Farm”.

Additional show notes can be found at:
http://waldorfy.com/what-is-waldorf-education-part-1/

Theme music composed and performed by Book Kennison.