A Waldorf Journey Podcast

Summer is a season of rest—but it's also an opportunity to lay the foundation for a joyful, well-prepared school year. In this episode, I share the approach I've developed over more than twenty years of Waldorf teaching for easing into summer planning without sacrificing the rest and renewal that every teacher needs. Rather than jumping straight into lesson plans, I suggest four simple w...

After a year of being mostly quiet, I'm back behind the microphone! In this episode, I share where I've been, why I stepped back from creating content, and what's next for A Waldorf Journey. I talk about my unexpected return to the classroom, the balance of teaching and school leadership, and why I'm excited to have more time this year to mentor teachers, create resources, and...

In this episode, I’m diving into what it really takes to start the year strong in first grade. This is such a tender, transformative time—children are stepping out of the warm, dreamy world of early childhood and into something more structured, more purposeful. And they’re looking to you for clarity, confidence, and rhythm. First grade is when we really begin to form the class, and the habits we e...

What does it really mean to create a Waldorf-inspired home? In this episode, I share what first drew me to the peaceful beauty of Waldorf living—and the moments when it felt completely out of reach. From the temptation to chase the aesthetic to the deeper values that truly make a Waldorf home, we’ll explore how rhythm, simplicity, and presence matter more than wooden toys and silks. We’ll talk abo...

In this episode of A Waldorf Journey , I explore the unique approach to teaching natural sciences in a Waldorf classroom, with a particular focus on physiology and anatomy in the seventh and eighth grades . I discuss how Waldorf education brings warmth, storytelling, and experiential learning to these subjects, fostering a deep and lasting connection rather than just rote memorization. Topics Cove...

In this episode of A Waldorf Journey, I welcome my colleague Laura Elmore for a deep dive into one of the most cherished Waldorf traditions—the class play. With decades of experience in Waldorf education, Laura shares her insights into why class plays are such an integral part of the curriculum, how they evolve from the early grades to middle school, and the pedagogical purpose behind them. Lookin...

In this episode, I take a moment to share a personal story about my decision to leave teaching and the journey that followed. Teaching, especially in a Waldorf school, is a deeply fulfilling experience—but it also comes with its challenges. I reflect on the thoughts that led to my transition, from the pressures of the classroom to the realization that I needed a more sustainable and financially se...

Welcome to A Waldorf Journey! Let's explore the artistic tools that shape a Waldorf classroom, from beeswax crayons to colored pencils, and why these choices matter for child development. 🔹 Beeswax Crayons – Supporting grip strength, movement, and blending colors for a sensory-rich experience. 🔹 Why No Graphite Pencils? – Encouraging openness and self-expression rather than rigid precision....

In this episode of A Waldorf Journey, I dive into the essential role of mentorship in supporting Waldorf teachers. Join me as I explore the benefits and challenges of mentorship in Waldorf schools, from the common practice of pairing new teachers with experienced colleagues to the advantages of working with an external mentor. I discuss the importance of confidentiality in the mentor-mentee relati...

Prefer to watch this on YouTube? Check it out here! In this episode of A Waldorf Journey , I take a deep dive into one of the most inspiring aspects of Waldorf education: the transition from teaching mythology to history through the grades. Join me as I explore how this unique approach supports child development, nurturing imagination in the younger grades and fostering analytical thinking in late...

These days my inbox is filled with two kinds of questions. Can you give me some advice for writing end-of-year reports? Do you have suggestions for making summer planning easier? Luckily, I have thoughts on both of those topics. You can find lots of information about them both on the blog. But I mention this just because it points out the dilemma that teachers face right now. The blog post for thi...

In this episode, I take a look at the Waldorf traditions and ceremonies that mark students' development and transitions. Waldorf is really good at marking time in this way and it's one of the things many of us really love about Waldorf Education. The blog post for this episode. Waldorf at Work : My super-practical, actionable Substack newsletter. Email me about summer mentoring. Interest...

Interested in following me on my new adventure? You can subscribe at: waldorfatwork.substack.com Also in this episode, I talk about the question I hate most: "Am I Waldorf enough?" I talk through the assumptions that are embedded in this question and some of the reasons why they are completely misguided. Because, newsflash, Waldorf is not about playing the flute, singing songs, or spendi...

How do you demonstrate your commitment to learning and growing? What mistakes have you made recently? How do you show others that it's okay to make mistakes? And how do you make sure you're REALLY okay with making mistakes? Finding these answers has been a big part of my work recently, and my own path as a learning, growing human being -- even as a grown-up. It's also the topic of m...

A brand new episode catching you up on why I left teaching and what I'm doing now. Mentioned in this episode My website, A Waldorf Journey Blog post about my decision to leave teaching Blog post about telling my students A post about walking the growth mindset talk My new project, Evolving Pigeon, for adult fans of the growth mindset The Practical Art of the Waldorf Classroom My other courses...

Recently I was working with some teachers who are getting ready to teach 7th grade and we were talking about the creative writing block most often called Wish, Wonder and Surprise. We had a conversation about each one of these gestures and what makes them different from each other. And we talked about how to have this conversation with students. Wish Wish is pretty clear. When I taught 7th grade,...

It’s August, so I’m headlong in planning mode. And though there are many things competing for my time these days, working on my planning is one the tasks that I actually look forward to every day.  It’s also the one thing that teachers ask me for the most help with. I feel lucky that planning is something that I enjoy so much, and it definitely makes a difference in my classroom. I start the year...

Register for my summer productivity course. My history as a middle school teacher How our work will change What we’re doing to set a solid framework Building Habits homework Finishing their work Engaging with our lessons General classroom behavior Building a Culture of Caring we’re good people and we’re working together we’re on the same team building up an image of each individual as a caring ind...

Join me as I make my way through The Growth Mindset Coach — a month-by-month guide for teachers. Each month I’ll record an episode about it and I’d love to hear what you think! In this episode . . .  Audible (affiliate link) my curriculum guides The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Grit by Ang...

Join me as I make my way through The Growth Mindset Coach -- a month-by-month guide for teachers. Each month I'll record an episode about it and I'd love to hear what you think! In this episode . . .  Skillshare (my affiliate link) my curriculum guides The Growth Mindset Coach by Annie Brock and Heather Hundley Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Teacher feedback stems...

Promos Audible -- Get your free trial by hitting my link. Skillshare -- I'm loving Skillshare. Free 14 day trial with my link . My curriculum guides -- I've got a guide that will help you teach and give you just the amount of help that you need. Things I Talked About This Week My bio structure and systems in the classroom mentorship and evaluation my Practical Art of the Waldorf Classroo...

Promos Audible -- Get your free trial by hitting my link. Skillshare -- I'm loving Skillshare. Free 14 day trial with my link . My curriculum guides -- I've got a guide that will help you teach and give you just the amount of help that you need. Content Things that made me happy in 2020. Creating and Enjoying a Life I Love Being Productive Atomic Habits Change New Ideas Stuff Mentioned N...

Home Resource Guide This free Waldorf-at-Home Resource guide goes through 4 of those basic ideas that can help you create a harmonious Waldorf home, and maybe even realize that you're doing a pretty good job of getting there already. To get this free guide, just go to awaldorfjourney.com/homeguide and I'll send you the free pdf. Holiday Gift Guides To see my Waldorf art gift guide, which...

As we enter into the holiday season, I thought it would be a good chance to talk about Waldorf and festivals. I know that the festivals were one of the things that drew me to Waldorf when I first discovered it, and though they are lovely, my thoughts about them have changed through the years. I'm happy to share some thoughts about the festivals with you in this episode. Waldorf Gift Guides Th...

This week we're going to talk about child development. We've all heard about thinking, feeling, and willing of Waldorf education. This episode is all about where you can find thinking feeling and willing in child development and which aspect you should be focusing on when. This episode is being brought to you by my curriculum guides, which you can find at my website awaldorfjourney.com/s...