Waldorf Learning Support
Bringing Love to Learning for a Lifetime
About us: Our Instructors
Kris Boshell, M.A.
Co-Manager WLS, LLC
I discovered Rudolf Steiner’s work in 2003 as my two children began their Waldorf Education. I earned my certificate for Anthroposophical training for Waldorf Grades Teaching and Remedial Education from Rudolf Steiner College (RSC) in 2009, and M.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State University in 2013. From 2007 I was a private contractor and instructor in Northern California for Waldorf private and public charter schools, and RSC Waldorf teacher training programs. Currently I am a Learning Support consultant for Waldorf/Steiner Schools and a Learning Support teacher at DaVinci Waldorf School where I have the opportunity to work frequently with Extra Lesson in the classroom with large groups of students. I consult internationally as a mentor, evaluator, teacher training instructor and conference presenter for learning support for individual and classroom work. I serve on the Core Group and teach for the Waldorf Teacher Institute of Chicago and am a member of the Anthroposophical Society.
Ingun Schneider, M.A.
Co-Manager WLS, LLC
I trained and worked as a physiotherapist from the mid-1960s, became a certified Lamaze instructor in the mid-70s and by the early 80s trained at Rudolf Steiner College (RSC) to become a Waldorf teacher. During this time I studied with Audrey McAllen who from then on guided my work with Extra Lesson until her passing in 2010—including my eight class teaching years at Sacramento Waldorf School, my private learning support practice and as an educational consultant and instructor in Steiner Waldorf communities worldwide. In 1991 I co-developed the Remedial Educational Support Program at RSC serving as instructor and co-director until the graduation of its 12th and last cohort in 2017. During the 1990s I worked closely with Audrey McAllen on revising her main text The Extra Lesson. This collaboration resulted in the edition first published by Rudolf Steiner College Press in 1998. The latest edition was published in 2013. During these decades I also wrote several articles in Renewal, AWSNA’s publication made available to parents in Waldorf schools. I am a graduate of the Spacial Dynamics Institute. I continue to consult and teach in Extra Lesson trainings around the world. I am a member of the Anthroposophical Society.
Joep Eikenboom
At 20, while studying to be a teacher, I grew disappointed in the education system. My biggest question was: How can education bring health and strength to the child for life, so that it’s not just transferring intellectual knowledge like checking off a list?
My piano teacher introduced me to the Waldorf School. After working in a Roman Catholic school for three years, I became a Grades teacher at the Waldorf School in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. I met Audrey McAllen six years later, at the summer course where she was introduced by her Dutch colleague and friend Else Göttgens. It turned out that Audrey McAllen could answer my questions about the children of our time. I had the opportunity to work as an Educational Support teacher for eight years, focusing on The Extra Lesson–the concept Audrey McAllen developed from anthroposophy. In consultation with other colleagues and with Audrey McAllen herself, I deepened my knowledge and experience with Waldorf pedagogy and Extra Lesson. Since then, I had the opportunity to share those experiences and research with colleagues in the United States, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, Finland, Spain, Japan, Belgium and France and, of course, the Netherlands. I recorded my research which resulted in Foundations of the Extra Lesson, but I must honestly say that this is all an ongoing work in process. I also give lectures and workshops at conferences for Educational Support teachers at the Goetheanum in Dornach.
Jo-ann Climenhage, ph.d.
I am an educational support consultant and certified Waldorf Grades and Learning Support teacher with over 25 years experience in education. I earned my Grades and Remedial certification at Rudolf Steiner College (RSC) in 2005, then became a class teacher for a full eight years at Bright Water Waldorf School. In 2013, I began consulting with schools in the US, Canada and Mexico completing 1st grade readiness screenings, individual, 2nd and 5th grade assessments, faculty workshops, support program development, mentoring and teacher evaluations. I was an instructor in the Remedial program, Summer Art of Teaching, Public School Institute, and Teacher Training at RSC; I taught in the Educational Support Program in the Philippines for the Sofia Institute and I am a faculty member for Sebastopol Summer Art of Teaching. Currently I am the Educational Support Coordinator for San Francisco Waldorf School.
guest instructors
Cristina Drews M.S. Ed.
Language Arts & WLS Mentor
We are happy to introduce Cristina Drews–a Cycle 8 alum of our own Remedial Educational Support program at Rudolf Steiner College. An educator since 1975, Cristina earned her M.S. Ed. in Reading Instruction & Curriculum Development from California State University. She has taught in elementary schools, adult literacy programs, teacher trainings, and advises families and faculty on children’s literature. She has worked at independent & public Waldorf schools since 1985. Cristina mentors teachers of the early grades through Gradalis Teacher Education. She is a support services consultant for regional Waldorf Schools and maintains a private practice for students with sensorimotor & academic learning needs at the Denver Center for Anthroposophic Therapies in Denver, Colorado. Cristina is also a mentor to WLS Three-Year Intensive participants.
Erica Eikenboom-van nierop
therapeutic painting
I am a visual artist (sculpting, drawing and painting), finished my training at the Rotterdam Art Academy (now: Willem de Kooning Academy) and created pieces of art in a variety of techniques, and sculptures.
At a later stage, I took paining lessons with Liane Collot d’Herbois, and finished the training for anthroposophical art therapy at the Emerald Foundation in The Hague. Since then I have been working as an art therapist and painting therapist with adults and children.
Then I discovered that the work of Audrey McAllen and of Liane Collot d’Herbois are very closely connected, and through this connection developed several painting exercises that could be added to the Extra Lesson repertoire.
