Frontier Dreams: The world needs confident, creative, thinking people (Why Waldorf Works)

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The world needs confident, creative, thinking people (Why Waldorf Works)

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from photoshoot at school (forgot the grade)

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Waldorf grades curriculum

The Waldorf cirriculum. Sorry for the poor photograph. This was in a dark corner at school. You can see some close ups in my flickr photostream by clicking any of these pictures above.

Portland Waldorf School from Jesse Michener on Vimeo.

Last night I sat down and watched this video you see above. I knew about five seconds into it that I needed to share it with all of you. It's about K's school (you can even see some of her classmates in it), but also speaks of Waldorf education in general. The images, the narration and the beauty instantly got to me. I admit to shedding a few tears while watching it. It really captured the esssence of what Waldorf education is all about, why we need it, and why it really works. I feel that it captured what my words can not express nor articulate about why having this education for our children is so very important to us. This is why we would move across the country to be part of it (we had to move due to Kevin's new job, so we selected 8 potential locations based around areas that had Waldorf schools). This is also why we are willing to go without for it; for our children. Who knows, maybe the video could even help some of our family to understand and support our decision.

Please check it out and tell me what you think!

Comments (18)

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Carleene · 623 weeks ago

Thaks Nicole for sharing this:) just wonderful,my ten year old girl was lucky to have the first three years of her eduaction in a Steiner school,then we moved to our home in the country,there is no Steiner/Waldorf schools around here at all:( so its something we have to deal with.My daughter tried mainstream school for not even two months,so it wa then I decided to fully homeschool using Steiner principles..its so hard,I wont lie and looking at the video made me want to cry because I would still love for my four children to attend a school:( but we will battle on,I look at them playing now and its so good,they have done the formal stuff for the day and now its free play.My six year old son just walked up with the Steiner doll I made him two years ago,he rarely does play with "Reindeer",but he dressed him and is playing with him now and he came up and talked about how I made him for his fourth birthday..times like that it is worth it and I know they will grow up to be better adults because of it,thanks again,
Carleene

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Anne · 623 weeks ago

I enjoyed watching this. My background is in education but I have never actually been in a Steiner/Waldorf school as there are none around here. I am however familiar with the philosophy and it has always appealed to me. You mentioned in your post that you are 'willing to go without' to give your children this type of education - as an Australian I'm wondering just how expensive this is.

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Nadja · 623 weeks ago

Beautiful...my schooling has, over the last 9 years, changed so much. We "unschool" a lot more so that we can explore and created and just enjoy living in the country. If I did send my kids to school, I would want it to be a Waldorf school. Pity that more schools don't follow that model.

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Lindsay · 623 weeks ago

Thank for sharing this, I am going to forward it on to more people. We too have made the decision to raise our children with Waldorf education and we also moved in order to keep providing that! We are now in MA at the Cape Ann Waldorf School where I teach kindergarten and our 8 year old daughter is just finishing up the second grade. We also just had twins in December who will follow in their big sister's footsteps. I can't imagine not immersing in this lifestyle and love finding a kindred spirit!! Thanks for all your work on this blog, too!

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akeeys 65p · 623 weeks ago

I absolutely dream and long to send my children to a waldorf school. The most "local" one here is a good 2 hours away and just impossible. So inspiring and beautiful though! Thank you for sharing the video. I try to incorporate as much waldorf-ish-ness into our home days as best I can instead.

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Katie · 623 weeks ago

My son goes to the Eugene Waldorf school, in Eugene Oregon. He loves it there! We did public school for K-3 and it did not work out. Then we home schooled for 2 years before discovering Waldorf. At first I was reluctant to enroll him in the Waldorf school. Based on his late summer birthday he had to be enrolled in 5th grade instead of 6th. It felt like he was being held back a year. Then the teacher showed me the birthday book and I saw that most of the children were his age or older. It has worked out great! The material that they are covering in the 5th grade is comparable to what is being taught at a 6th grade level in public school. The best part is that he is happy there. No more complaining about school. He actually wants to go to school now. I love the fact that my son doesn't have to waste his childhood, sitting in a desk learning to take tests.

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lolocreatives 8p · 623 weeks ago

Today, Nicole, this post is really ringing a bell with me. I always read your beautiful posts and am always inspired. But, today, oh today. I spent a few days this week touring a new city and a potential school for my two little girls. As we walked the halls, we were filled with wonder and amazement. When we left the building, my husband turned to me and said, '*I* want to learn too!' And it is so true! We just felt at home in the halls. That is a very special feeling and I cannot wait to share this with my girls. I know, deep in my bones, that this path is the right path for us. Even, though we'll have to leave our home, the place where both my girls were born. And we'll have to leave friends and favorite places. But the sacrifice will be worth every moment because Waldorf education is the right thing for us. It will change their future, and mine alike, for the better. :)

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tpidruchny 22p · 623 weeks ago

Thanks for sharing! I think Waldorf School looks so wonderful! I wish we had one near us and also that we would have enough money to send our girls. I have really been looking at taking a Waldorf approach to our homeschooling, but feel a bit lost. I am really into Steiner these days and am reading his books like there is no tomorrow. If you have any advice for me or link to share I would really appreciate it! I love your blog and find you to be a big inspiration. P.S. Your family is beyond beautiful! :) I don't know if my email address is visible to you, but you could even email me if you want to.

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lifealaskanstyle 47p · 623 weeks ago

beautiful photos and an awesome video. My husband watched it with me:) We both really hope that Riggs will get into the Waldorf inspired charter school here near our home so we don't have to drive him to the other Waldorf School in the next town.

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Taryn Kae Wilson · 623 weeks ago

Nicole,
The video made me tear up too! :) Thanks for sharing. Did I tell you that Bracken and I have been going to the Rainbow Bridge class once a week at the Waldorf School in Eugene? We've been enjoying it so much. You were one of the people who introduced me to Waldorf (by reading your blog.) I am still very new to Waldorf so I don't know that much about it. I'm enjoying learning more.

Love,
Taryn

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Jennifer · 623 weeks ago

I have seen this video, and I couldn't agree with you more. The Waldorf school is over an hour from us so we home school, but I couldn't see teaching/learning any other way. It speaks not only to the child's heart, head, and soul, but to the parent's as well. It is a beautiful way to learn and we, like you, go without to make it happen for our children.

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Dana · 623 weeks ago

I wish I had known about Waldorf when I was home schooling my kids. This school looks wonderful!

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Jo Fernyfrond · 623 weeks ago

Wow Nicole! I am blown away!
The video! I also felt tears well up hearing the senior students speaking about their education. How wonderful! If only every child had a chance to choose this education!
Also, by the illustration/poster depicting the Waldorf Curriculum. I would love to have it as a poster!
My children go to Steiner "Stream" in a government school here in Australia, and though it may not look like a beautiful school like Portland, the curriculum contains such richness, sense, beauty, wisdom and nourishment, they have thrived and blossomed through it! I feel so blessed to have been able to send my children there and so do they (being 10 and 13, they already able to reflect in a similar way to those young people speaking in the video).
Love your post and thank you!

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grace · 622 weeks ago

Beautiful, and true. I feel especially blessed that my son has been able to have a teacher who really knows him.

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lori · 622 weeks ago

dear nicole, i am grateful for deeply caring parents like you and your husband, and it so makes me wish mine were small again!

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Gail · 622 weeks ago

Nicole, thanks for sharing the video! I loved it. And smiled at all the muddy kids in their waterproofs, beeswax crayons in the crayon rolls (I had to make one for my daughter - eek), the handshake with the teacher and the coffee mugs on hooks - all the same things at my children's school here in England. My daughter is in Class 1 now, so learning as we go along. Loved all the photos you posted too!

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Sunshine Mama · 622 weeks ago

Oh how I wish there was a Waldorf school close to where I live. I know my daughter would love every bit of it, and my son would thrive even more than he does in regular school. The Waldorf school in the city does a day camp in the summer, I am really hoping to be able to sign up my kids this year. In the mean time, the best I can do, is add some Waldorf inspired elements to our every day life at home.

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Thank you for joining me here. My name is Nicole Spring AKA wife, Waldorf homeschooling Mama to four sweet little ones, homemaker of the radical kind, knitter, cook, seamstress, student of life as well as my children, crafter, girl of all trades... and always with a camera in hand to document our days so we may look back at these glorious yet exhausting times.

I enjoy hearing from you and would love it so much if you wouldn't mind taking the time to leave a comment. They mean so much to me (honestly, they make my day!). I appreciate not only seeing all that you have to say but also being blessed to get to know you better. If you ask a question please check back here for my response. I try my hardest to respond quickly. Thank you so much!!