School as a Journey: The Eight-Year Odyssey of a Waldorf Teacher and His Class P Edition

This is a beautiful story told in a straightforward way. Torin Finser supplies the rationale for his approach to teaching. As a public school teacher in a Title I school I was very impressed with his purposeful engagement with his students throughout their 8 years. I have also begun to use some of the techniques outlined in the book in my class. The kids love them. The appendix features an article on Waldorf education which is so thought provoking. Rudolf Steiner understood that children are will(ing), thinking, and feeling. As Finser notes, his job was not so much to "pour in" but "draw forth" what is inside his students. Just a note about the comment by one of the reviewers. You may like or dislike Anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner. I am sure there are strange or discredited theories in his writings. However, he was writing over 100 years ago. Finser makes it clear in his book that Steiner's philosophy of child development pervades an open approach where children are left to think on their own. In this book and in discussions with parents who sent their children to Waldorf schools, I have not detected a dogmatic concern with the end thought product of the student. As you look across the landscape of American public school education today, you see a hyper focus on analytical/intellectual starting in kindergarten. I have no problem with this if you have identified those students who will thrive the most in this intellectual/analytical focused instruction. However, as Gardner taught us going on 30 years ago, that is not how most children/adults think and learn. One of my colleagues observed, American education puts a higher value on presenting the child with a recipe and asking him/her to analyze it, sequence it, hypothesize about it, rather than actually using it to create something delicious. Do we live in a post "doing" world? If this is what our message is to our children, they will miss out on 90% of what makes life so interesting and rewarding.

I borrowed this book from the library and loved it so much I had to buy a copy for myself. There is just so much info in this book for each year, seasons, subjects, and it goes into anthroposophy, pedigogy and personal thoughts on child development and the needs of children according to the Waldorf tradition. You won't be disappointed. I wish I had this guy as a teacher when I was in school! I am gaining lots of insight into education from this book that I plan to bring with me into my own career.

I read this book a year ago as I was preparing for my Waldorf Teacher training at Antioch University New England. I remember to this day the sense of reverence and gratitude I experienced after reading it. This book is my Bible. It infuses me with strength and courage when I meditate upon the importance of the responsibility that awaits me. The author also teaches at Antioch. He is an inspiring educator who instills in his students the desire to give the best of themselves to the children they will have in their care.

Wonderful journey of a Waldorf grades teacher!

This book gives outstanding detail and theories behind classroom instruction in a Waldorf School. He includes actual stories, poems, and math exercises used in class - and shows which elements appealed to various temperaments. Have you ever thought about adding somber details to a math problem to appeal to a melancholic temperament? How brilliant! All through the book I kept finding myself saying, "Yes! This is what school should be like!" If you've wondered what's wrong with schools today... when you read this book you'll know... and you may find yourself wishing you could go back to school and be in his class even if just for one day.

If you want to know about Waldorf schools, this is the book

What a beautiful journey. I recently started working at a Waldorf school, so this was a great start to my professional development.

This book is based on a teacher's experience in a Waldrof school. As these reviews are meant to help the potential buyer be an informed buyer, I think it needs to be mentioned that Waldrof schools follow Rudolf Steiner's philosophy/religion Anthroposophy. It is part of, if not one of the founding influences of, the New Age movement. One might want to do a quick google on the both Steiner and Anthroposophy before purchasing a Waldrof based book. If that is your world view then I am sure you will enjoy this book.

This book is totally brilliant! If you want a glimpse in to a Steiner school and what really happens then read this. Torin Finser is one of those rare teachers, completely dedicated to his pupils, I found him so inspiring and only hope I am half the teacher he is.