What is the Waldorf Education Philosophy? The Waldorf education philosophy, founded by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century, is a holistic approach to learning that emphasizes the development of the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. Unlike traditional education systems that often prioritize academic achievement above all else, Waldorf education seeks to nurture creativity, imagination, […]
Waldorf Homeschooling
How to Encourage Independent Learning in Children
What is Independent Learning and Why is it Important? Independent learning refers to the ability of a child to take charge of their own educational journey, exploring topics, solving problems, and acquiring knowledge without constant supervision or instruction. It is characterized by self-motivation, curiosity, and the ability to set and achieve personal goals. Unlike traditional […]
How Much Math or Science Homework is Too Much?
Waldorf Principle Explored: The Main Lesson The Main Lesson is the central part of the Waldorf inspired educational day and often only lasts 1 to 2 hours. Parents and teachers who are making the transition from an 8 to 3:00 day to a homeschooling day often worry that they may not be providing their students with enough working […]
Exercising Early in Life is Rewarded
Waldorf Principle Explored: Nature Walks & Outdoor Play Playing outdoors and taking daily nature walks are an important part of Waldorf education. They are not considered “just recess” or “gym class” but are considered an integral part of the entire educational process. Classes from ages preschool through high school take daily nature walks and are encouraged to spend as much […]
Access to Nature Improves Quality of Learning
Waldorf Principle Explored: Nature in Education Incorporating nature walks, natural materials and natural features into the Waldorf classroom are important aspects of the Waldorf inspired learning environment. The article below talks about how this environment is not only beneficial for the students now, but can also help them grow to be healthier adults. This article also discusses […]
Why Food is Just as Important to Mental Health as Physical Health
Waldorf Principle Explored: Healthy Eating Waldorf education embraces educating the child’s head, heart & hands as well as their body. Preparing a snack together and baking homemade bread from scratch are just a couple Waldorf inspired activities that are daily occurrences in the Waldorf inspired classroom. This article talks about how important those experiences really are… The Lancet & […]
Could a Dose of Nature be Just What the Doctor Ordered?
Waldorf Principles Explored: Nature in Education Waldorf education teaches the importance of nature in education. From nature walks to using natural materials in the classroom, Waldorf education provides numerous opportunities for children to be closer to nature. This article discusses the importance of this early and ongoing exposure to nature… Science Daily Numerous studies over the past 30 years […]
Disruptive Children Benefit from Tailored Intervention
Waldorf Principle Explored: The Temperaments At some point in exploring Waldorf education you have probably heard about the importance of knowing your student’s temperament and how you can use it to be a more effective teacher in the classroom. This concept is important but also unique to Waldorf education. The article below explores how incorporating this knowledge into […]
Disruption of Sleep in Children Can Hamper Memory
Waldorf Principle Explored: 3-Day-Rhythm The concept of the 3-day-rhythm in Waldorf education (explained HERE) states that it is important for a child to be able to “sleep on” new ideas and concepts so they can retain what they have learned. This is one reason that lessons are given over a three day period, rather than just one […]
Why Handwriting is Still Important
Waldorf Principle Explored: 3-Day-Rhythm Creating one’s own Main Lesson Book, complete with handwritten pages is a task unique to Waldorf students. With the increase of computer usage in traditional classrooms and the rise of computer-centric online schools we think it is important to remember why handwriting is so important. This article explores that concept… Huffington Post Nowadays we […]
The Connection Between Lack Of Sleep And A Shrinking Brain
Waldorf Principle Explored: 3-Day-Rhythm If you embrace Waldorf education you have probably heard about the importance of the 3-day-rhythm. One of the central principles of this method is that allowing the child to “sleep on” a lesson will allow them to absorb the information more deeply and explore it more efficiently the following two days. Huffington Post While all of our brains get […]
New Insight: How Children Learn Math
This is part of our “Waldorf Education in the News” series. We use this series of posts to direct you to news relating to Waldorf educational principles highlighted in the news or supported by scientific studies. To see more articles like this click the “Waldorf in the News” link to the right. You can use […]
Earthschooling – an Award Winning Curriculum
