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

 

Taproot Teacher Training for Homeschoolers

Every summer, I drive to central Ohio to teach homeschoolers alongside my mentor, Barbara Dewey, of Waldorf Without Walls, and a handful of other great teachers who each bring unique gifts to this training. Barbara lives on a farm and opens up her farmhouse, barn, glass house and cottage to homeschoolers from all over North America for three and a half days of immersion into all things Waldorf. We delve into different grades and main lesson blocks, paint, sing, play recorder, do handwork and form drawing. Read more »

Seminar Course – Lecture One from Foundations

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. 

The structure of each day during the Seminar Course is threefold: Foundations lectures each morning, Practical Advice midday, and then Discussions later in the afternoon. And these lectures are collected in three different books. This entry offers reflections on Lecture One from The Foundations of Human Experience, Steiner's morning lectures on the nature of human beings. Read more »

Steiner's Opening Address

On the eve of the Teacher’s Seminar in Stuttgart in 1919, Rudolf Steiner delivered his “Opening Address” to those who would become teachers in the first Waldorf School. Steiner spoke of the desire for “a renewal of modern spiritual life;” and emphasized that “education is one of the burning questions of modern times” (Foundations, p. 29). These “modern times” he spoke of were almost 100 years ago, and yet many would argue that education is still a burning question today. And I would go further and say that many of us inspired by Waldorf education in our homeschooling are striving for “spiritual renewal” as well. 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 »