An introduction to waldorf
Waldorf education is based upon the educational philosophies of Rudolf Steiner, who developed the first Waldorf school in Stuttgart, Germany in 1919. Steiner is also known as the father of Anthroposophy, which is a spiritual philosophy based on a path of deep knowledge that strives to bridge the sciences, arts, and religious inclinations of mankind. Practical Anthroposophical applications can be found in biodynamic farming, anthroposophical medicine, and, of course, Waldorf education.
Waldorf education is interdisciplinary and holistic. It integrates practical, artistic, and conceptual elements seamlessly within a well-planned curriculum. It emphasizes the role of the imagination with every subject and aims to produce creative, analytical, moral thinkers who are free to fulfill their own unique destinies. Waldorf teachers strive to present personal and educational models worthy of imitation and great care is taken to provide a nurturing, beautiful, home-like environment with natural materials from "living" sources. For example, children color with thick, vibrant beeswax crayons; dolls are filled with real wool; and open-ended natural materials such as shells and simple wooden blocks are transformed imaginatively to fit many different scenarios. Practical skills such as bread baking, knitting, and woodworking are encouraged at age-appropriate levels and give children the skills and confidence to apply to future challenges. Waldorf schools generally discourage the use of media (television, computers, etc) as they inhibit early creative development. Children enjoy substantial time to play creatively and to spend time outdoors basking in, and learning about, nature's bounty. Daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms are noted with a sense of joy and celebration. Festivals such as May Day, Summer Solstice, Michaelmas, Martinmas, and Advent bring lovely and unique traditions to Waldorf.
The younger grades de-emphasize early academics. In order to allow sufficient time for the physical body to grow and the imaginative force to develop, children typically do not begin to learn to read and write until the age of 7. Action usually precedes conceptual work. First graders learn to write before they learn to read--but even before then, they have experienced verses and activities that help them "absorb" concepts such as letters or numbers before those subjects are actually presented as "concepts". Oral language is emphasized throughout the grades. Students often learn poems, verses and passages by heart and teachers frequently present lessons without textbooks or worksheets in a multi-disciplinary curriculum that weaves together visual arts, drama, music, movement, languages, and academic coursework. Each student creates a carefully crafted summary of what they have learned within their own, unique Main Lesson Books--which inevitably become cherished mementoes of their educational experience. By the time Waldorf students complete their educations, they will have received an education with a firm understanding of humanity throughout the ages, scientific principles, and the foundations of mathematics, along with a broad range of practical skills, and perhaps, most importantly, endless curiosity and a zest for life long learning.
Waldorf education is interdisciplinary and holistic. It integrates practical, artistic, and conceptual elements seamlessly within a well-planned curriculum. It emphasizes the role of the imagination with every subject and aims to produce creative, analytical, moral thinkers who are free to fulfill their own unique destinies. Waldorf teachers strive to present personal and educational models worthy of imitation and great care is taken to provide a nurturing, beautiful, home-like environment with natural materials from "living" sources. For example, children color with thick, vibrant beeswax crayons; dolls are filled with real wool; and open-ended natural materials such as shells and simple wooden blocks are transformed imaginatively to fit many different scenarios. Practical skills such as bread baking, knitting, and woodworking are encouraged at age-appropriate levels and give children the skills and confidence to apply to future challenges. Waldorf schools generally discourage the use of media (television, computers, etc) as they inhibit early creative development. Children enjoy substantial time to play creatively and to spend time outdoors basking in, and learning about, nature's bounty. Daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms are noted with a sense of joy and celebration. Festivals such as May Day, Summer Solstice, Michaelmas, Martinmas, and Advent bring lovely and unique traditions to Waldorf.
The younger grades de-emphasize early academics. In order to allow sufficient time for the physical body to grow and the imaginative force to develop, children typically do not begin to learn to read and write until the age of 7. Action usually precedes conceptual work. First graders learn to write before they learn to read--but even before then, they have experienced verses and activities that help them "absorb" concepts such as letters or numbers before those subjects are actually presented as "concepts". Oral language is emphasized throughout the grades. Students often learn poems, verses and passages by heart and teachers frequently present lessons without textbooks or worksheets in a multi-disciplinary curriculum that weaves together visual arts, drama, music, movement, languages, and academic coursework. Each student creates a carefully crafted summary of what they have learned within their own, unique Main Lesson Books--which inevitably become cherished mementoes of their educational experience. By the time Waldorf students complete their educations, they will have received an education with a firm understanding of humanity throughout the ages, scientific principles, and the foundations of mathematics, along with a broad range of practical skills, and perhaps, most importantly, endless curiosity and a zest for life long learning.