Faraway Family and Friends’ Day
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26 November, 2020
Bread Baking in Early Childhood
We bake bread as part of our weekly rhythm in our kindergartens. It is a time for our little ones to understand how our food is made, to participate in purposeful work, to use their creativity to shape the dough, to appreciate the entire process and all of the smells and tastes that go with it, and to celebrate the importance of gathering around the table. Here we share one of our beloved bread recipes to try at home!...
25 November, 2020
Mental Health Resources
DWS School Counselor DWS Counselor Jenny Thompson, MA, LPC is available to families in need of support services. Reach out to her via email: jenniferthompson@denverwaldorf.org. Jenny’s Corner I wanted to remind our community that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) may be intensified this year because of......
13 November, 2020
Shining Our Light – Martinmas & The Lantern Walk
The meaning behind Martinmas and how we celebrate with the Lantern Walk...
11 November, 2020
Halloween Journey and Beyond
Halloween joined the list of the many things that look different this year. But in Denver Waldorf fashion, we aren’t spooked about changing the face of our traditions to keep the children as safe as possible. Here’s what we’ve got in store for our beloved......
27 October, 2020
Developing the Vestibular Sense
How do we ensure that our children, our students, are prepared to succeed in a rapidly evolving world? That question inspires Waldorf educators across the world. And our answer is: range. ...
07 October, 2020
Against Fear: The Michaelmas Call
It is no coincidence that today, September 29th, 2020, The Denver Waldorf community simultaneously celebrates Michaelmas and our school’s birthday. With some faculty and staff gathering to commemorate the founding of our school 46 years ago, 6th grade teacher Ben Reynolds described the morning: With......
29 September, 2020
Range
How do we ensure that our children, our students, are prepared to succeed in a rapidly evolving world? That question inspires Waldorf educators across the world. And our answer is: range. ...
26 June, 2020
DWS Commitment to Anti-Racism
DWS Commitment to Anti-Racism - statement to our community sent on June 3, 2020...
04 June, 2020
Denver Waldorf Teacher Spotlight – David Johnson
When students at The Denver Waldorf School are asked what they love about their education, they often comment that they treasure their close relationships with teachers. They are full of gratitude to be surrounded by caring, dedicated and inspiring teachers. Our Teacher Spotlight series highlights a new teacher each month. Let's get to know David Johnson...
18 May, 2020
Bringing Waldorf into the Home
There’s no time like the present to revisit the wisdom of two DWS moms in creating rhythm and traditions in the home....
15 April, 2020
Waldorf Window Stars
Waldorf window stars have long been a favorite way to brighten our classrooms and homes. This is an activity that can be shared easily with little hands to bring happiness to our homes and community! Below we share this simple Waldorf window start tutorial with your families....
31 March, 2020
Denver Waldorf Teacher Spotlight – Mariko Murase
When students at The Denver Waldorf School are asked what they love about their education, they often comment that they treasure their close relationships with teachers. They are full of gratitude to be surrounded by caring, dedicated and inspiring teachers. Our Teacher Spotlight series highlights a new teacher each month. Let's get to know Mariko Murase....
09 March, 2020
Success in Sports
Waldorf’s approach to athletics fits within a broader movement to reclaim youth sports for what they once were and always should have been: fun, communal and participatory. There are no tryouts or cuts, even through high school. Instead, each athlete is inspired to reach their highest potential, contributing to the team through enthusiasm, hard work, grace, and resilience. Every athlete has their place on our teams....
26 February, 2020
Wisdom of Waldorf – Benefit of Books
Research on brain development continues to show the value of storytelling especially in those early years. When the child hears a story, their brain is engaged in imagining the characters and landscapes. This activity of imagining supports brain development that is necessary for the ability to do math, compose essays, critical thinking and many of the things we hope our children's education will provide. The simple act of storytelling, which is so much a part of Waldorf education, is vital to healthy development....
24 February, 2020
Wisdom of Waldorf – The Value of Play
Rather than following the latest trends in education, Waldorf schools have stayed true to the pedagogical principles that are its foundation. One of those is the value of play....
12 February, 2020
Relaxing Time
We want our children to become confident, independent doers and directors of their own lives. They can, but we adults have to give them the time to find their own strength. We do not need to speed them up but to slow ourselves down and let the children lead us. We will all benefit....
06 February, 2020
Wisdom of Waldorf – The Value of Music
Music has been and is an integral part of the Waldorf curriculum from pre-school through high school. Research has shown that there are benefits to music participation, from improved focus, motivation, and academic performance. ...
29 January, 2020
Welcoming Back our Alumni
To kick off the new year, we welcomed back a panel of our alumni and hosted a discussion featuring graduates from classes spanning 1995 to 2019....
21 January, 2020
Wisdom of Waldorf – The Benefits of Handwriting
This week's article is about the benefits of handwriting, which is integral to Waldorf education....
08 January, 2020
Denver Waldorf Teacher Spotlight – Nathan Ballenger
When students at The Denver Waldorf School are asked what they love about their education, they often comment that they treasure their close relationships with teachers. They are full of gratitude to be surrounded by caring, dedicated and inspiring teachers. Our Teacher Spotlight series highlights a new teacher each month. Let's get to know Nathan Ballenger....
12 December, 2019
Wisdom of Waldorf – The Importance of Breathing Out
This week's article is about the way the "busyness" that is so characteristic of our modern culture affects our ability to be creative, and, our overall quality of life....
20 November, 2019
Wisdom of Waldorf – Impact of the Arts on Learning
This week's post references a study that investigated the impact of the arts on learning. One of the questions and concerns many parents have about Waldorf education is the prominence of the arts. This recent research supports what's been integral to the Waldorf pedagogy from its inception. ...
30 October, 2019
Denver Waldorf Teacher Spotlight – Dr. Wayne Mayer
When our students are asked what they love about their education at The Denver Waldorf School, one answer we hear frequently is that they treasure their close relationship with teachers. They are full of gratitude to be surrounded by caring, dedicated, and inspiring teachers. Our Teacher Spotlight series highlights a new teacher each month. Let's get to know Dr. Wayne Mayer....
23 October, 2019
Why We Play – Community & Growth through Sports
Molding an elite athlete is not the end goal; rather, it is a byproduct of a healthy relationship to sports and movement. Beyond just winning, development of character is the emphasized result in the athletic arena....
22 October, 2019
Holding the Question
"Holding the Question." It's a phrase you may hear from a Waldorf teacher. But what does this mean? It’s about allowing the child to show his parents, his teachers, his family, and his friends exactly who he is becoming, slowly and over time. It’s about being patient and resisting the urge — however well-intentioned — to define a child too soon....
17 October, 2019
High School Experiential Tour
Heat, force, teamwork, and...snow . The beauty of blacksmithing! More than just forging metal, it is a practical application of theoretical ideas from physics, chemistry, and history, engaging the students through hands on learning....
10 October, 2019
Wisdom of Waldorf – The Value of Handwork
Handwork is as integral to Waldorf education as drawing. Creating with ones hands focuses the will and intention, and as discussed in this article linked below, can promote mental health and well-being especially when it brings one into relationship within community....
04 October, 2019
Wisdom of Waldorf – Fairy Tales
Fairy tales, myths, and other forms of story are integral to the Waldorf curriculum....
27 September, 2019
3 Things You Can Start Doing Now to Keep Your Kids Safe Online
There’s no arguing that modern technology poses a range of dangers to your children’s development and to the value of their relationships. You know your child needs your guidance to develop a healthy relationship with technology, and to learn to regulate their own use......
02 July, 2019
3 Defining Attributes of a Waldorf High School Student College Recruiters Can’t Resist
College recruiters are actively seeking Waldorf educated youth for their programs in record numbers. Since the release of this 2015 study published by Stanford University, primary and secondary educators have become increasingly aware of the exceptional quality and deeper learning opportunities of Waldorf education, and......
24 June, 2019
Don’t Quiet Your Mind. Quiet Your Thoughts So You Can Hear Your Mind.
From meditation to dreams, the vital health benefits of quieting our thoughts and exploring our mind have been well documented. Research supports the growing trend of including meditation in education. Schools worldwide have even gone as far as replacing detention and other traditionally punitive measures......
17 June, 2019
If We Want Our Children to be More Innovative, Courageous, and Resilient, We Must Encourage Them to be More Vulnerable
What does it mean to be vulnerable? In a world where it’s become popular to deride anyone who doesn’t have “thick skin”, anyone who believes in standing up for something – including themselves – it may be difficult as a parent to embrace teaching your......
12 June, 2019
The Life-long Success Equation for High School Students
Innovations in technology means changes in the paths our children may take in the world. Work requiring a human touch is becoming more select. Yesterday’s jobs – and the security that came with them – are rapidly being replaced by either algorithms or creative thinkers......
10 June, 2019
Intrinsic Motivation Drives Lifelong Learning
We’ve developed a culture motivated by external rewards, unrelated compensation for work done. On a basic level, this drive is a natural extension of the give-take relationship between working members of a community. In a functioning society, all members participate in bringing goods to bear......
05 June, 2019
Waldorf Education Prepares Teens for Fulfilling Lives. Here’s How.
Being a teenager is challenging. On one hand they’re expected to be adults, to discover who they are in the myriad possibilities and support themselves physically and emotionally. Far too many teens are challenged to practically pick out a personality from a two-dimensional storefront of......
03 June, 2019
Problem Solving or Problem Finding? How To Prepare Teens For The Future
Problem solving gets a lot of attention, and for good reason. As an employee, those who can identify a problem and quickly find a solution can spare their team a lot of stress. And in today’s relatively egalitarian workspace, everyone is responsible for contributing ideas......
23 May, 2019
What Makes Some People Innovative?
And How to Make Sure Your Child Is One of Them. Innovation. Have you heard that word lately? Unless you’ve been away from the world for a while, chances are you hear it every day. You don’t just hear it, you live it. And......
21 May, 2019
5 Biggest Reasons Waldorf High School Students Excel at Top Universities
The Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education recently conducted research to better understand the benefits of Waldorf Education with the purpose of examining how the unique, child-led education model prepares young people for the future. The results were staggering— read them here. The study......
16 May, 2019