In my previous article All the Ways to Homeschool I introduced and summarized the different styles of educational homeschooling methodologies. All of this to say that …
Waldorf education is built on the best and most complete educational philosophy because it:
- addresses the formation of a whole person from early childhood to the end of life,
- recognizes the spiritual and eternal aspects of evolving in our humanity, and
- fosters meaningful interactions between the individual and the world by cultivating an appreciation for practical skills and artistic capacities, all knit up with the rhythm of our lives.
Homeschool the Waldorf Way: An Education for Our Times
It offers a specific, holistic approach to homeschooling that integrates elements from various styles while maintaining a cohesive philosophy centered on the whole person, deeply connected to spirit, nature, and community:
“Anthroposophy is a modern spiritual path that cherishes and respects the freedom of each individual. It recognises however, that real freedom is actually an inner capacity that can only be obtained by degrees according to the spiritual development of the individual. The striving for this capacity, and the corresponding spiritual development, can be greatly assisted through a scientific study of the spiritual nature of humanity and the universe. Such a study is available in the writings and lectures of Rudolf Steiner – an initiate of the twentieth century. Steiner called his study spiritual research or Anthroposophy.” – anthroposophy.org.uk
There are all sorts of technical ways to try to describe the beauty and soul-filling rhythm of a Waldorf approach, but ultimately the strength comes through in a first-hand experience of it.
When you feel it, you know it.
what is Waldorf education about?
The Waldorf curriculum can be seen as either rigidly traditional or extremely modern, depending on your perspective and with whom you’re discussing it.
I believe every expression of Waldorf education reflects the biases that shape the spectrum of our human experience.
Fundamentalist Christians may avoid it because it can taste too much like paganism to them, whereas people who consider themselves strictly secular shun it for its religious tones.
While the curriculum provides a structured framework rooted in guiding principles, this can be unsettling for those who prefer clear rules about right and wrong – whether that means complying with them or challenging them. Rather it’s about being open to the human experience, navigating what helps each child and what doesn’t, across the panoply of cultures.
Online or virtual schooling can provide access to Waldorf-style learning, but due to the emphasis on minimal screen time – especially for younger children – there are mixed feelings about this approach.
Waldorf education highlights the importance of early childhood experiences being rich in sensory activities and real-world interactions rather than digital ones. Educators believe that excessive screen time can hinder emotional and social development, particularly in these formative years.
Instead, the focus is on full-body, hands-on experiential learning, encouraging activities like arts, crafts, gardening, baking and outdoor play over virtual experiences.
Additionally, because Waldorf education values community and social interaction, which can be limited in online settings, educators strive to maintain in-person connections whenever possible.
Waldorf education values and utilizes classical resources, helping us understand how we’ve arrived at our current place in history as we navigate each developmental stage of humanity.
Community takes on different shapes when people are focused on meeting their daily needs or relying on the technological tools essential for modern life.
There are many ways to experience and think about our existence. Waldorf education offers a framework for recognizing our personal development in relation to the broader trajectory of human progress.
Homeschool Styles and Sources
Like Maria Montessori (1870-1952), Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was active during the tumultuous period surrounding World War I (1914-1918). Montessori focused on rehabilitating the orphaned street children, helping them reintegrate into productive social life. Steiner aimed to equip the children of factory workers with the awareness and skills necessary to find their own sense of meaning and purpose in life.
Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) is also known as a prolific, influential educator during this time. Her attention to high-quality books, ideas, experiences, and regular outdoor nature study are essential components in fostering an inherent respect within and for the child as a person. I think of her work as the feminine counterpart to the education that Steiner set out to form.
I grew up informed by the unschooling movement of John Holt. While some argue that unschooling is incompatible with Waldorf education, I acknowledge that Waldorf’s structured curriculum doesn’t always allow for the spontaneous exploration characteristic of unschooling.
In a culture heavily influenced by corporate interests, I believe periods of unschooling are essential, if for no more than to facilitate a decompression from mass culture.
A Love of learning
Rudolf Steiner’s Waldorf education offers a way to think, feel and will ourselves into a more enlightened state – one that fosters compassion and understanding for one another.
It embodies a core set of spiritually aware principles expressed across diverse cultures worldwide, nurturing a love of learning and respect for the world.
As part of the broader alternative education movement, Waldorf pedagogy inspires approaches that prioritize holistic and experiential learning. Each school or homeschooling family adapts its curriculum to reflect local culture while remaining true to universal Waldorf principles.
As with every other social conflict in our times, there is a growing divide in the Waldorf school community about personal agency, spirituality, and how to best steward our place in the world.
However, with over 1,000 schools in more than 60 countries, Waldorf education continues to be the fastest-growing alternative school movement in the world.
Core Principles of Waldorf Education
1) We are spiritual beings in a human experience
This foundational perspective promotes a spiritual understanding of human development, recognizing the spiritual dimensions of life and education.
It cultivates an appreciation for human dignity and honors the uniqueness and potential of each individual. (Not just the child we so often myopically over-focus on, but of every participating person.)
As individuals coming together in community, Waldorf education encourages a sense of social participation and responsibility.
Collaboration among teachers, parents, and the wider community creates a supportive and nurturing environment for children and families.
2) There are developmentally appropriate stages for learning
Waldorf education recognizes developmentally appropriate phases for learning, which correspond to seven-year stages:
Early Childhood (age 0-7) focuses on the will, with emphasis on imaginative play and sensory experiences. This is the time to hear stories and watch puppet plays to bring themes to life in a gently organic way. And to experience one’s body in running, jumping, balancing activities, falling, and pushing or pulling heavy objects.
The Elementary Years (age 7-14) emphasize experiential learning. They continue to strengthen the will forces with practical activities while educating the realm of feeling and emotion through beauty, and training artistic skills to deliver a living experience of the world.
Adolescence (age 14-21) is about developing the faculty of thinking through critical analysis, individual perspectives and moral reasoning.
3) Rhythm fosters harmony and inner balance
Daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms are incorporated into the scheduled structure of the days.
There is an “out breath” and an “in breath” rhythm in each day, week, and season which provides a sense of predictability and familiarity that fosters emotional stability and resilience.
A seasonal rotation of festival celebrations is rooted in the generations of human practices, with adaptations to climate and spiritual insight.
A simple practice can be setting aside a small area in your home to serve as a nature table, to feature a small rotating display of colored cloths, flowers, pictures and nature items that convey a sense of the aliveness in the season.
4) We model that which we would like to see
Best of all is the belief that to be a worthy teacher, you must be a worthy model for the child.
It’s not about filling up children with all the things you think they should know and be capable of. You must model the kind of person you aspire for them to be.
You are the standard. To lead those in your care to be the best version of themselves they can be, you must strive to be the best “You” you can be.
It starts with the striving of adults. The example we set of our striving to be better, more noble, more accomplished, is what feeds their soul capacity to do so for themselves.
As working people, we need a working philosophy. We need to cultivate self-discipline, substance, depth, and a sense of responsibility.
Responsibility not just to oneself but to the world, to humanity. Not just as a visionary, but in practical terms of bettering our lives for ourselves, for those we love and those we need to love.
Megan Mills Hoffman is a middle-aged mama homeschooling her child in western New York, in the small town her husband grew up in. Working remotely as a life insurance broker, she is thinking and writing her way to create something better, happier, healthier. To Bringing Forth is where she shares and connects all the dots with what matters in a free spiritual life. You can read more of her articles here:
Do You Know A WALDORF DIARY?
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