7 Steps to Begin Waldorf Homeschooling + Supplies List

Welcome to the amazing journey of Waldorf-inspired homeschooling!

This is as much a path of growth and discovery for you as it will be for your
children. 🙂🙂

And I’m here to help you get started so you can feel more relaxed, present, and
connected with your children.

As a homeschooling mentor, I am asked all the time, “Where do I start?”

If you’re wondering that too, you’re in the right place!

This simple resource will give you 7 first steps to take, plus a basic supplies and
resources list so you can begin bringing the magic of Waldorf to your children and
family right away.

Remember, it’s not about perfection but all about connection!

Jean

7 Simple Steps to Begin

1. Start Where You Are!

Honestly, wherever you are on the homeschooling journey and in your

understanding of the Waldorf method is just fine. You will learn as you go just like
we all have.

I like to say, “Think in threes, pick one.” So find three things from this article that
you want to implement and then start with the first one!

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2. Embrace Rhythm

Rather than expect perfectly planned and executed lessons, start with creating a
steady rhythm for your family.

• Yearly rhythm includes seasonal celebrations & festivals

• Weekly rhythm includes, for example, different activities on different
days such as painting on Mondays or baking bread on Wednesdays
• Daily rhythm includes meals, chores, lessons, bedtime

For more on rhythm, click here: Rhythm is (Always) the Answer

3. Enjoy the Journey

You don’t want to rush through daily life activities just to get to the lessons. The
whole of your day and how it happens is a lesson in itself!

So make a simple plan for chores and a simple plan for meals, and then involve
your whole family. Enjoy the journey!

4. Spend Time Outdoors

Unstructured time in nature is so nurturing. The flexibility of homeschooling

allows us to build our days around what’s best for our children (and for us!).

You might like to create a Nature Table where you bring some items from your
nature walks indoors to create a seasonal display.

5. Read Stories Every Day

Stories form the foundation of our lessons. All kinds of stories – about nature,
animals, the seasons, good people, etc.

Try telling or reading a story one day. Then on the next day, retell the story, act it
out, paint, draw, or model something from the story.

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6. Weave in the Lively Arts

Waldorf education incorporate the arts into lessons and life – drawing,
movement, music, drama, modeling, painting, and speech. All in addition to
stories, of course!

If you want specific, actionable ideas for how to weave the arts into your lessons,
click here to get Your Guide to Lively Homeschooling. It’s free!

7. Find Community

Whether in your neighborhood or at a distance, finding other homeschoolers on

this journey can make all the difference. So find your tribe!

If you would love community support from the convenience of your own home,
please check out the Homeschool with Waldorf mentorship community. With
monthly masterclasses, coaching calls, and plan alongs, you can get the support
you need along with inspiration, and a community of like-minded homeschoolers
to sustain you. Get skilled in the Waldorf approach at your own pace and
customize whatever resources you have to suit your family.

Supplies and Resources I Recommend

I’ve put together this simple list of supplies and resources to support you on your
Waldorf homeschooling journey.

Supplies

I suggest you get started with watercolor painting, drawing, and bean bag games.
This is a great way to bring art and creative movement into your home now, and
you can always add more in later.

Below are a few high quality art supplies I recommend. The crayons, watercolor
paints, and pencils will last practically forever and are truly worth the investment!

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 • Stockmar, a mix of stick and block crayons
• Watercolor paint like Stockmar
• Watercolor paper (140 pound is good for painting)
• Colored pencils; Lyra is great (great for ages 7+)
• Strathmore watercolor or drawing paper, 300 series (from a local craft or
art supply store)
• Drawing paper
• Mercurius chalk for chalkboard drawings

These supplies can be purchased online or from any number of wonderful

Waldorf suppliers including Paper Scissors Stone, Bella Luna Toys, or
Meadowsweet Naturals.

I highly recommend bean bags for adding in movement with verse recitation and
learning math facts. For making homemade bean bags, check out this blog
post: Movement Games for Children

Resources

Here are just a few books and resources I LOVE.

These titles can be found at your local bookstore or online:

• A Child’s Seasonal Treasury by Betty Jones

• Festivals, Family & Food by Diana Carey & Judy Large
• You Are Your Child’s First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin
• Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
• A Path of Discovery (for each specific grade) by Eric Fairman
• Creative Pathways by Elizabeth Auer
• Understanding Waldorf Education: Teaching from the Inside Out by
Jack Petrash

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These books and programs come from the Waldorf community. You can click
through to check them out:

• Waldorf Homeschooling Simplified: Your Toolkit for Grades 1 – 8 (a

digital download) by me 😉😉
• Waldorf Art for Beginners from Waldorfish
• How to Learn Waldorf Art from Waldorfish
• The Magic Flute with Jodie Mesler
• Homeschool with Waldorf a Waldorf-Inspired Learning community
guided by yours truly

You CAN homeschool your children with Waldorf.

Just remember to keep it simple with the 7 steps. Above all, enjoy the journey!

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