A New Vision for Home Education

The Genius
of Home

An inspiring journey through the complete Waldorf curriculum — from kindergarten through high school — taught entirely at home, by a mother, for her daughters.

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Make your home a classroom.

7 Chapters
K–11 Waldorf Grades Covered
7+ Podcast Appearances
Ph.D. Developmental Psychology
The Genius of Home book cover by Dr. Catherine Read
Now
Available
About the Book

Teaching Your Children at Home
with the Waldorf Curriculum

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of parents choosing to teach their children at home. In this book, Catherine Read describes her experiences following her decision to school her children at home using the curriculum of Steiner-Waldorf schools.

The result is the story of her journey as the primary teacher of her two daughters through the entire Waldorf curriculum — from early childhood through to high school. She outlines what she did, when she did it, and why, revealing the flexible, artistic, challenging, and ultimately rewarding nature of this unique approach to education.

For any parent considering home schooling, this book is an encouraging and instructional companion.

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All children are in the process of becoming themselves. They are on a path toward themselves as developed beings, and the path has a destination, a destiny. The overarching questions for the teacher are: Who is the child now? Where is she going? How can I help and support her in her journey?
— Dr. Catherine Read, from The Genius of Home
Listen

The Voice of the Lyre

The lyre is a focal point of the curriculum — its gentle pentatonic strings mark the rhythms of the homeschool day. Hear it for yourself:

Lyre Recording
0:19
Watch

A Short Introduction

The philosophy and inspiration behind The Genius of Home.

About the Author

Dr. Catherine Read, Ph.D.

Catherine Read holds a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from UCLA and is a Visiting Scientist at Rutgers University and an Associate at Ithaca College. She is the editor, with P. Zukow-Goldring, of Evolving Explanations of Development (APA Press, 1997).

Catherine homeschooled her two daughters from kindergarten through the eleventh grade using the Waldorf curriculum. She studied Waldorf Teaching in the Lower School at the Waldorf Institute of Teacher Training in Los Angeles and took Waldorf Teacher Training for the High School through the Center for Anthroposophy in Wilton, NH, where she majored in Physics.

Catherine has conducted workshops on festivals, dyeing with plant dyes, nature meditations, and homeschooling grades one through eight. She serves on the Board of the Lyre Association of North America.

View Table of Contents
Dr. Catherine Read, author of The Genius of Home

Photo: Joyce Heisen

Inside the Learning Space

The Unique Classroom
in Your Home

The home classroom — wooden desk, bookshelves, xylophone, and braided rug The Homeschool Blackboard
Waldorf chalkboard with cursive alphabet and angel painting The Homeschool Classroom

Every detail of this room was chosen with intention — from the wooden desk to the handmade blackboard. This is where learning became a living art.

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Explore

Everything You Need

📖

Articles

Catherine's published writings on Waldorf homeschooling, festivals, and family life.

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Audio Book

Listen on Audible, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more platforms.

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Podcasts

Catch Catherine on podcasts, webinars, and speaking engagements.

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Free Chapter

Purchase readers receive the exclusive bonus final chapter — free.

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Media

Watch interviews and see inside Catherine's home classroom.

 ✉

Contact

For workshops, speaking, or media — Catherine would love to connect.