Our lineup of online events are open to all, as we aim to highlight the benefits of Waldorf education. For more on all happenings at The Denver Waldorf School, please refer to our school calendar.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

Head, Heart, and Hands: First Grade at The Denver Waldorf School

January 20, 2021 @ 11:00 am - 11:30 am

Learn more about elementary school academics, assessments, and more at The Denver Waldorf School. Ideal for parents of preschool and kindergarten students, this panel will be led by long-time Waldorf educators Nancy Blanning and Jessie Cartwright.

Date: January 20, 2021

Time: 11am MST

Location: Online via Zoom

We will follow the presentation with a live Q&A. Please register to reserve a seat.

What You’ll Learn

Our faculty will answer common questions about:

  • The transition from kindergarten to 1st grade
  • Waldorf elementary school curriculum
  • First grade readiness assessment

About Our First Grade Program

First grade is a child’s introduction to the collective being of a class. We nurture a deep reverence for the earth, compassion for classmates, and a healthy respect for every living thing. 

From knitting to numbers, fairy tales to falling leaves, we help first graders discover the wonders of our world and understand the rhythm of life. This year is the beginning of a multi-year relationship with their teacher.

About Waldorf Educator Nancy Blanning

Nancy Blanning is an early childhood educator with a special interest in movement and has been working with young children in Waldorf settings for nearly 40 years. She has served as Denver Waldorf School faculty since 1987 as both lead kindergarten teacher and educational support staff. Nancy is a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at national and international Waldorf early childhood conferences. She is co-director of Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Training at Sunbridge Institute in Spring Valley, NY, and is guest faculty at other teacher training programs. Nancy has also traveled widely as mentor and consultant to Waldorf schools in the US and Canada. She is editor of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association journal, Gateways, has edited several books, and is author of Walking with Our Children: The Parent as Companion and Guide. DWS colleague, Laurie Clark, and Nancy have written and published movement imaginations for Waldorf early childhood teachers, Movement Journeys and Circle Adventures, Vol. 1 and 2.

About Waldorf Educator Jessie Cartwright

Jessie has been teaching at DWS since 2003.  She was the games teacher for two years before taking her first class as a lead teacher from 2nd Grade through 8th Grade. Jessie attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities. She graduated from Antioch New England Graduate School, where she earned her Master’s Degree in Waldorf Education in the summer of 2006. Jessie is a graduate of The Denver Waldorf School.

About The Denver Waldorf School

The Denver Waldorf School is an urban pre-K through 12 independent school in Colorado. Founded in 1974 on Rudolf Steiner’s humanitarian curriculum, DWS believes education should foster what it is to be human, cultivate lifelong curiosity, and inspire a love for the world. We are currently enrolling for in-person learning:

Want to learn more about us? Schedule an in-person tour of our Denver campus or join us online during our virtual events.

Details

  • Date: January 20, 2021
  • Time:
    11:00 am - 11:30 am

A new experience of color and a reminder of community. While our hallways and classrooms have been quiet, there is still much happening behind the scenes here at school!

Our main hallway now welcomes all who journey through to experience the movement and progression of color thanks to this refresh of lazure painting - a technique of applying paint in layers that receives light and illuminates color. Many thanks to @lazure.art.charlesandrade for guiding our teachers through this lazure workshop - it is always wonderful to see what we can accomplish when we work in community. We are grateful to our hardworking faculty and staff for pouring their hearts into bringing beauty, warmth, and light into our spaces.

143 5
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18025719308852738
A new experience of color and a reminder of community. While our hallways and classrooms have been quiet, there is still much happening behind the scenes here at school! Our main hallway now welcomes all who journey through to experience the movement and progression of color thanks to this refresh of lazure painting - a technique of applying paint in layers that receives light and illuminates color. Many thanks to @lazure.art.charlesandrade for guiding our teachers through this lazure workshop - it is always wonderful to see what we can accomplish when we work in community. We are grateful to our hardworking faculty and staff for pouring their hearts into bringing beauty, warmth, and light into our spaces.

With joyful anticipation, we welcomed our newest families to campus this morning for our New Family Breakfast! 🌟

It was a wonderful gift to be able to gather together on the playground and look forward to the year ahead by meeting new friends, sharing conversation, and watching children connect through play. Moments like these remind us of the beauty of our school community and of the thoughtful, intentional choice that brings each family to Waldorf education.

We feel very grateful to welcome all of the new families into our community and to share in the journey ahead together. Here’s to a new school year ahead filled with connection, discovery, belonging, and a deepening of our community.

43 0
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18082980086683350
With joyful anticipation, we welcomed our newest families to campus this morning for our New Family Breakfast! 🌟 It was a wonderful gift to be able to gather together on the playground and look forward to the year ahead by meeting new friends, sharing conversation, and watching children connect through play. Moments like these remind us of the beauty of our school community and of the thoughtful, intentional choice that brings each family to Waldorf education. We feel very grateful to welcome all of the new families into our community and to share in the journey ahead together. Here’s to a new school year ahead filled with connection, discovery, belonging, and a deepening of our community.

If you’ve ever witnessed our kindergarten transition from outside play to indoor snack, I’m sure you have wondered how our teachers get a group of young children to react so quickly and peacefully. The children hear the cue from their teacher for cleanup in a gentle, singing voice and they immediately move to pick up all the toys. There is no barking or nagging - simply, it is rhythm! 

In our Waldorf kindergarten, the day unfolds in a predictable rhythm, which intentionally flows between complementary activities - what we often describe as the “in breath,” for quiet or focused activity, like storytime, rest, or snack, and the “out breath” of social interaction and free play. The children are guided by familiar songs, consistent routines, and the teacher’s quiet yet intentional modeling. 

When children know what to expect, they feel a sense of comfort, safety, and order, easing transitions throughout the day - promoting a harmonious classroom environment and opening themselves to the world around them!

Comment “ECE” to schedule a tour and see what our Early Childhood Program is all about! And new this fall - we look forward to introducing our Nursery Program (serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds) at a satellite location in University Park.

53 0
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18336104953264965
If you’ve ever witnessed our kindergarten transition from outside play to indoor snack, I’m sure you have wondered how our teachers get a group of young children to react so quickly and peacefully. The children hear the cue from their teacher for cleanup in a gentle, singing voice and they immediately move to pick up all the toys. There is no barking or nagging - simply, it is rhythm!  In our Waldorf kindergarten, the day unfolds in a predictable rhythm, which intentionally flows between complementary activities - what we often describe as the “in breath,” for quiet or focused activity, like storytime, rest, or snack, and the “out breath” of social interaction and free play. The children are guided by familiar songs, consistent routines, and the teacher’s quiet yet intentional modeling.  When children know what to expect, they feel a sense of comfort, safety, and order, easing transitions throughout the day - promoting a harmonious classroom environment and opening themselves to the world around them! Comment “ECE” to schedule a tour and see what our Early Childhood Program is all about! And new this fall - we look forward to introducing our Nursery Program (serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds) at a satellite location in University Park.

There is more and more commentary about needing a revamped educational system for the future - one that isn’t about more testing, more worksheets, and more memorization. Instead, we need an education that fosters resilience, adaptability, compassion, and confidence. We need an education where childhood is honored through creative play, a connection to nature, and purposeful work. We need a learning environment that prioritizes creativity and critical thinking to make a meaningful lesson. We need a human-centered approach that values being well-rounded develops head, heart, and hands.

And...this education already exists! This is the gift of our Waldorf education - where we prepare students not just for college but for life beyond - with readiness to contribute to the ever-changing world all around them.

Interested in learning more about our K-12 education? Comment “WALDORF” for a direct link to schedule a tour today!

131 2
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 17939617854075781
There is more and more commentary about needing a revamped educational system for the future - one that isn’t about more testing, more worksheets, and more memorization. Instead, we need an education that fosters resilience, adaptability, compassion, and confidence. We need an education where childhood is honored through creative play, a connection to nature, and purposeful work. We need a learning environment that prioritizes creativity and critical thinking to make a meaningful lesson. We need a human-centered approach that values being well-rounded develops head, heart, and hands. And...this education already exists! This is the gift of our Waldorf education - where we prepare students not just for college but for life beyond - with readiness to contribute to the ever-changing world all around them. Interested in learning more about our K-12 education? Comment “WALDORF” for a direct link to schedule a tour today!

The chalkboard in a Waldorf classroom holds a greater value than to just quickly convey information. The intention with which our teachers bring to life their chalkboards is much deeper. It is to infuse beauty. Inspire wonder. Foster curiosity. Enhance engagement. Cultivate creativity. The artful chalk drawings are invitations for imagination and enthusiasm for learning.

When the world around us pushes towards AI and digital shortcuts, we cherish the process of becoming, the joy of learning, and that which makes us human.

274 2
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18108439591817937
The chalkboard in a Waldorf classroom holds a greater value than to just quickly convey information. The intention with which our teachers bring to life their chalkboards is much deeper. It is to infuse beauty. Inspire wonder. Foster curiosity. Enhance engagement. Cultivate creativity. The artful chalk drawings are invitations for imagination and enthusiasm for learning. When the world around us pushes towards AI and digital shortcuts, we cherish the process of becoming, the joy of learning, and that which makes us human.

Our goal is not simply to have students recall information. The result we aim for in Waldorf education is to cultivate lifelong curiosity and develop the capacities to be creative, independent thinkers.

We recognize that this doesn’t happen through memorization alone, but through meaningful experience. In our studies of science, for example, our teachers use what is called a phenomenological approach, guiding students to carefully observe natural phenomena, make hypotheses about what they are seeing, and draw conclusions through their own thinking.

Concepts are broken down into lived experiences, allowing understanding to emerge before definitions are introduced. Rather than telling students what to think, we invite them to discover and connect ideas for themselves. Learning becomes more than something to recall - it becomes true understanding that they will carry with them long after the lesson ends.

139 2
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18106434368014682
Our goal is not simply to have students recall information. The result we aim for in Waldorf education is to cultivate lifelong curiosity and develop the capacities to be creative, independent thinkers. We recognize that this doesn’t happen through memorization alone, but through meaningful experience. In our studies of science, for example, our teachers use what is called a phenomenological approach, guiding students to carefully observe natural phenomena, make hypotheses about what they are seeing, and draw conclusions through their own thinking. Concepts are broken down into lived experiences, allowing understanding to emerge before definitions are introduced. Rather than telling students what to think, we invite them to discover and connect ideas for themselves. Learning becomes more than something to recall - it becomes true understanding that they will carry with them long after the lesson ends.

Each day in our Waldorf kindergarten classrooms you will find the children engaging in purposeful work. Whether working alongside our teachers in preparing snack, washing dishes, caring for our toys, digging in the garden, or helping with laundry - our kindergartners participate fully in practical, meaningful work.

Developing their sense of pride and purpose, the students come to learn that small acts done with great love grow a community, build their foundation for growth, and show reverence for the world we share.

Schedule a tour today to see what our Early Childhood Program is all about. And new this fall - we look forward to introducing our Nursery Program (serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds) at a satellite location in University Park.

101 0
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18562424149068974
Each day in our Waldorf kindergarten classrooms you will find the children engaging in purposeful work. Whether working alongside our teachers in preparing snack, washing dishes, caring for our toys, digging in the garden, or helping with laundry - our kindergartners participate fully in practical, meaningful work. Developing their sense of pride and purpose, the students come to learn that small acts done with great love grow a community, build their foundation for growth, and show reverence for the world we share. Schedule a tour today to see what our Early Childhood Program is all about. And new this fall - we look forward to introducing our Nursery Program (serving 2.5 - 4.5 year olds) at a satellite location in University Park.

More and more schools across the country are implementing screen time limits in the classroom to meet the backlash against reliance on digital devices. But - keeping iPads, Chromebooks, and personal devices out of our elementary classrooms has always been a mainstay of our Waldorf education. Before technology becomes a tool for learning, we focus on fostering the human capacities that make learning possible - imagination, curiosity, and wonder. Schedule a tour and come see what Waldorf education is all about.

627 2
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18101737031334787
More and more schools across the country are implementing screen time limits in the classroom to meet the backlash against reliance on digital devices. But - keeping iPads, Chromebooks, and personal devices out of our elementary classrooms has always been a mainstay of our Waldorf education. Before technology becomes a tool for learning, we focus on fostering the human capacities that make learning possible - imagination, curiosity, and wonder. Schedule a tour and come see what Waldorf education is all about.

The creation of a main lesson book is a unique element of Waldorf education. Rather than using traditional textbooks, our students create their own main lesson book as a compilation of all of their findings during the block course. They combine art, writing, diagramming, and more to collectively demonstrate their understanding of the subject. It not only serves as documentation, but also as an active learning tool to synthesize the material from the lesson. Learning is not passive in our classrooms, but rather is alive, engaging, relevant, and deeply meaningful. // shown here are pages from our 7th grade students’ main lesson books

232 2
Open post by denverwaldorf with ID 18031039676643584
The creation of a main lesson book is a unique element of Waldorf education. Rather than using traditional textbooks, our students create their own main lesson book as a compilation of all of their findings during the block course. They combine art, writing, diagramming, and more to collectively demonstrate their understanding of the subject. It not only serves as documentation, but also as an active learning tool to synthesize the material from the lesson. Learning is not passive in our classrooms, but rather is alive, engaging, relevant, and deeply meaningful. // shown here are pages from our 7th grade students’ main lesson books

PreK-12th Grade

Join Us

Want to learn more about our DWS community? We’d love to meet you!

Connect with us

The Denver Waldorf School

2100 S. Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO 80210
p) 303-777-0531
f) 303-744-1216
[email protected]

© 2026 The Denver Waldorf School. All rights reserved

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy Preferences