By Abi Allanson and Nicky Teensma

'...reading this book made me want to get back into the classroom and there can be no higher praise for a book about teaching.'

Pie Corbett, English educational trainer, writer, author, and poet; developer of Talk for Writing. From the Introduction.

How children engage with reading and writing is a hot topic. There is no 'one size fits all' best way. However, Rudolf Steiner/Waldorf education offers a holistic, active and creative approach based on the foundation of children's rich spoken language development. The child discovers their own voice through movement, form drawing and storytelling. The magic of the alphabet is invoked in sound, story and image. Children tell stories and then write them down, which leads organically into reading.

• How to teach writing and reading using Steiner/Waldorf principles and methods.
• Draws on Waldorf pedagogy, best practice mainstream primary methods, and specialist dyslexia techniques.
• Gives teachers the theory to introduce literacy with confidence.
• Tried and tested easy-to-use lesson plans with assessment & feedback tips, movement, games, and activities.
• Includes drawings, photos, diagrams, and examples of children's work.
• Comprehensive glossary, appendices, bibliography, index, word lists, and suggested stories.

This theory and practice-based Waldorf book gives the foundations for creative literacy and teaching children how to write and read in Classes 1 and 2, or UK Years 2 and 3. It explores how Steiner/ Waldorf pedagogy dovetails with mainstream primary approaches and specialist dyslexia-friendly methods.

About the Author

Abi Allanson MA (Cantab): Researcher and Class Teacher Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley; Learning Support specialising in literacy, differentiation and teacher training.

Nicky Teensma: Class Teacher at Rudolf Steiner School Kings Langley, after training in Zeist, Holland and teaching as a Steiner Class Teacher. Specialist dyslexia trained, she taught a parallel SEN class (Tobias) at RSSKL for 5 years.


Publisher: Hawthorn Press Ltd
Pages: 352
Format: Paperback
Publication date: 01 Jul 2018