Curriculum
An Introduction to Waldorf Education
Waldorf education is an international movement based on the philosophy and methods of Rudolf Steiner. The first Waldorf School was established in Germany in 1919. When Steiner was asked to create a school, he saw an opportunity to design a system of education that would nurture all dimensions of the human being – physical, emotional, intellectual, moral and spiritual — a system that could be a model for education in a new, more peaceful epoch of human history. Waldorf education is rapidly expanding both internationally and here in the US. There are now over 800 Waldorf Schools world wide, 200 of which are in North America.
Waldorf education holds the realization that an evolving free human spirit is the greatest goal of knowledge. The pedagogy is designed to teach to the whole child “head, heart and hands,” engaging the full human being and preparing children for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter in school and throughout life.
The Micha-el School covers a full spectrum of traditional academic subjects and integrates artistic activities into the academics that allow students to engage in learning at the emotional level. Painting, music, and story are integral parts of academic lessons so that art become a conduit of knowledge, not an optional add-on. Kinesthetic learning is also interwoven through movement and crafts. The Micha-el School cultivates a love of and respect for nature and the rhythms of the seasons through seasonal celebrations and daily time outdoors.
For more information on Waldorf pedagogy we recommend the AWSNA site www.whywaldorfworks.com
Early Childhood Programs
The Plum Blossom Kindergarten
The Plum Blossom Kindergarten honoring, the importance of rich, imaginative play in a child’s life, will open in September for children 3 1/2 to 6 years of age; that is children born between July 31st, 2004 and January 1st 2007.
In the kindergarten years, the child learns primarily through his/her own need to be active and his/her uncanny ability to imitate all that surrounds him/her. The teacher brings rhythmic activities in an atmosphere of beauty, warmth and harmony to nourish his/her blossoming, creative thinking upon which all future abstract thoughts are built. Materials from nature, such as wood and stones, colored clothes and simple dolls provide stimulus fro creative play which develops the imagination, concentration, coordination, language and a number of skills that will be gently called forth in the elementary years.
The teacher, Sita Farmer, will be creating a sheltering environment for these children with the help of her assistant and parent volunteers.
Please contact the office to schedule a visit with the class teacher.
A Daily Schedule of the Kindergarten at The Micha-el School would possibly include:
- Circle Time
- Free play
- Snack preparation
- Activities ~ painting, sewing, finger knitting, crafts, baking
- Cleanup and snack
- Story time
- Outside playtime
- Lunch
- Depart for home
Waldorf Education in the Grades
Academic work begins in first grade, when the child is developmentally ready to begin the journey out of the magical realm of early childhood. The grades program is comprehensive and covers a classical curriculum in an imaginative and personal way that seeks to meet the children’s growing capacities physically, emotionally, spiritually, and academically. The Micha-el School’s grade school includes the full Waldorf curriculum of traditional academic subjects as well as music, eurythmy, handwork, games, and two foreign languages- German and Spanish. The following is an abbreviated curriculum outline by grade.
Grade One
* Fairy tales, folk tales, nature stories
* Pictorial and phonetic introduction to letters, form drawing, reading approached through writing
* Qualities of numbers, introduction of the four processes in arithmetic, lower multiplication tables
Grade Two
* Legends and animal fables
* Reading, spelling, writing, elements of grammar
* Arithmetic, multiplication tables, further work with the processes
Grade Three
* Old Testament stories that introduce history and creation
* Study of practical life, farming, house building and clothing
* Reading, writing, original compositions, grammar, punctuation and parts of speech, cursive writing
* Higher multiplication tables, weights and measures, time and money
Grade Four
* Grammar, letter writing, spelling, composition
* Arithmetic, fractions
* Local geography and history
* Study of humans and animals
* Telling of Norse myths and sagas
* orchestra
Subjects Classes:
Spanish, German, violin/cello, choir, eurythmy, handwork, games, woodwork, movement education.
A Note on Variation:
In Waldorf education, teaching is regarded as an art as well as a science. This means that there must be freedom for the teacher to adapt both the form and the content of instruction to time and place in general, to the capacity of the particular children involved and to the qualitative needs of each moment. In this sense, the Waldorf curriculum is created freshly all the time to meet the appropriate developmental stages in a child’s life. The Curriculum is designed to teach all the academic skills while strengthening the child’s moral purpose and artistic sense.
A Note on Grades and Student Evaluations
The Micha-el School does not issue grades or administer standardized tests. Children’s progress, however, is constantly monitored. Parent- teacher conferences are scheduled several times throughout the year. Teachers write lengthy reports about each student at year end.
Aftercare
The Micha-el School does offer an aftercare program for both kindergarten and grades students, for a minimal fee. The aftercare program is designed for children to relax, create, play and socialize with classmates while their parents work or take care of family matters.
As an extension of the day, aftercare is an out breath (down time). Children can choose to engage in arts and crafts, board games, dress-up, reading or just socializing with friends. There is also time for active play outdoors or in the gym. A simple, nutritious snack will be provided daily and parents are also encouraged to pack extra food on those days when their child attends aftercare.
Aftercare is provided from class dismissal until 4:00p.m Monday-Thursday & 3pm on Friday. If parents are late for dismissal pick-up, their child will remain in the classroom for 15 minutes and then they will go to aftercare. For school vacation periods, child care will be assessed if enough families require it.
Drop-in Childcare is provided at an additional fee.
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