Product Description

Waldorf Education finds itself catapulted from its humble beginnings 80 years ago into the midst of the central educational and social issues of this decade.

What draws parents and educators toward Waldorf Education today? "Waldorf Education - A Family Guide" offers a "first look" for parents and educators into the history, philosophy, curriculum, and traditions of this unique education. This comprehensive book is a collection of articles describing the world of Waldorf Education - the fastest growing independent school movement in the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #166337 in Books
• Published on: 1999-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback

Review
A good introductory book is "Waldorf Education: A Family Guide", edited by Pamela Johnson Fenner, Michaelmas Press --

Can find plenty of information and inspiration that would be difficult to glean from any other single publication. -- Dick Oliver, 'Head, Heart, Hands: A Family Newsletter'

It is the kind of book for dipping into in spare moments, or for reading enthusiastically, from cover to cover. -- Wendy Duff, Book Reviewer, Books for the Journey Bookstore, Victoria, Australia

It's a wonderful resource for parents new to the Waldorf School Movement. -- Renewal, A Journal for Waldorf Education

From the Publisher
Recipient of a Benjamin Franklin Book Design award, Publishers Marketing Association (PMA), 1996. The newest title is an annotated reading list for Grades 9-Adult, "Books for the Journey: A Guide to the World of Reading" ISBN 096478324X

About the Author
Pam grew up in a large family in a small New England seacoast town. After receiving a B.S. in Biology from Chatham College, Pittsburgh, PA, she completed a Master of Arts in Teaching Science (MAT) from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. She taught science in a public middle school and biology in a public high school.

During 21 years in northern California, Pam worked as a childbirth educator; marketing assistant for an arts organization; and a grade 1 – 3 teaching assistant. While her youngest child attended Marin Waldorf School, Pam completed her Waldorf Teacher Education. She worked at two Waldorf schools in community development.

Returning to her hometown in 1994, she published three books and helped start a Waldorf school in Eliot, ME. Pam occasionally consults to schools and parent organizations.

Her newest book is "Books for the Journey: A Guide to the World of Reading" ISBN096478324X, an annotated reading list for high school and above.

Customer Reviews

Waldorf Education -- An introduction and a handbook
I can still remember my delight upon unwrapping the package containing "Waldorf Education: A Family Guide" edited by Pamela Fenner and Karen Rivers. It's a beautiful book, filled with wonderful illustrations, and a wealth of helpful text. In this day, when so many books are typeset but never designed, it's refreshing to encounter a book whose visual appearance and form is itself a statement about the need for rhythm and reverence in our lives.

"Waldorf Education: A Family Guide" has its origins as a parent handbook for the Marin Waldorf School. It is a compendium of articles on the history and practice of Waldorf education, content of the curriculum, meaning of the festivals, ways to complement the Waldorf school experience at home, understanding of the temperaments, and other topics that should interest current or prospective parents.

While this format doesn't permit in-depth consideration of any of these topics, this is more than compensated by the wealth of material on the temperaments, multi-culturalism, rhythm and balance, and the role of spirit and religion.

Some of the articles deserve particular mention. Henry Barnes' introduction to Waldorf education ("Learning That Grows with the Learner") is an excellent short summary of how Steiner's observations and theory find expression in the Waldorf School, and John Davy's biographical sketch of Rudolf Steiner will help any newcomer understand how one man could be the source of so much wonderful creative ferment.

René Querido's essay on "The Role of Temperament in Understanding the Child" provides vivid examples of how an understanding of temperament can help parents as well as teachers respond to our child's needs:

'One Friday [during watercolor painting] there was an accident, and a huge bucket of water got kicked over. What did the melancholics do? They got up and stood in it. The sanguines were immediately standing on their chairs and shouting, 'Ooh -- what is that?' The cholerics rushed out after mops and buckets. What did the phlegmatics do? You may not believe it, but they sat in their chairs and lifted their legs above the water. I got the best lesson in my life.'

The book is filled with wonderful gems -- and an excellent bibliography and directory of Anthroposophical resources that will help the eager reader go further. For me, this appendix alone was worth the price of the book -- and will certainly keep me engaged for years to come.

In addition to listing books and lectures about Waldorf education by Rudolf Steiner, and other books on Anthroposophy, education, parenting, festivals, music, and crafts there is a comprehensive list of Waldorf teacher training programs, Anthroposophical Society publications and addresses, and references to endeavors working with biodynamic agriculture ("healing the earth", curative work ("soul care for those in need"), medical practice ("treating patients, not symptoms"), health and hygiene ("products for sound living"), eurythmy, speech and drama, music, painting, architecture, sculpture, finance and consultancy, religious renewal -- all from an Anthroposophical perspective.

This book belongs on the bedside table of any parents who treasure the childhood of their young children, and of anybody else seeking a vivid introduction to Waldorf Education. It also should be in our public libraries, in the waiting rooms of our local pediatricians, on the book tables at seasonal fairs, and in any other places where prospective Waldorf parents might have a chance to leaf through this delightful volume.

Another Great Waldorf resource
I thought this book was a great intro to homeschooling Waldorf style. It also gave a look at Waldorf eduaction in the school. Easy to read. Set up well. Covers most of the questions I had.

Heather mama of 5

very good
It's a very good book to start with if you want to know what Waldorf education is all about.It's also very inspiring so you can get good ideas about things to do with your kids.I like that chapters are written by different authors so that you get a broader picture.I'm very interested in Waldorf education for my kids now!