Waldorf Education in the News

Extra, extra, read all about it! Here are some recent articles that showcase the beauty and meaning behind our educational practices:

What Is a Waldorf School? (Parade)

“Waldorf teachers strive to integrate academic, artistic and practical skills within a curriculum that connects students to meaning, purpose and universal values. Subjects are taught in a way meant to spur imagination and creativity. Waldorf aims to educate the whole child and cultivate reverence for meaning, purpose and universal values, whereas regular schools tend to focus more narrowly on academic success defined by standardized testing.”

The Power of Having the Same Teacher Twice (NYTimes)

Our students enjoy the benefit of having the same teacher for multiple years, sometimes for a full eight years, from grades 1-8. This article outlines the research that shows the lasting benefits of having the same teacher for multiple years.

“Instead of teaching a new cohort of students each year, teachers who practice “looping” move up a grade or more with their students. It can be a powerful tool. And unlike many other educational reforms, looping doesn’t cost a dime.

With more time to get to know each student personally, teachers gain a deeper grasp of the kids’ strengths and challenges. The teachers have more opportunities to tailor their instructional and emotional support to help all the students in the class reach their potential. They’re able to identify growth not only in peaks reached, but also in obstacles overcome. The nuanced knowledge they acquire about each student isn’t lost in the handoff to the next year’s teacher.

Finland and Estonia go even further. In both countries, it’s common for elementary schoolers to have the same teacher not just two years in a row but sometimes for up to six straight years. Instead of specializing just in their subjects, teachers also get to specialize in their students. Their role evolves from instructor to coach and mentor.”

I’m an English professor who embraces the Waldorf learning philosophy. Here’s why. (San Diego Union Tribune)

“The year leading up to our daughter’s first year of kindergarten produced significant anxiety for our family. I read countless studies on the benefit of play-based learning for young children and at the same time was reading about trends to increase academic work for children as young as 3 years old. I was drowning in articles on the negative impact of screens for children and teens, yet schools were starting to integrate laptops and tablets as early as preschool. … Some think that Waldorf is a fluffy, hippie philosophy with no rules or structure. This is a myth. Although it focuses on developmentally appropriate learning and educating the whole child — the head, heart and hands — it is also rigorous and academically intentional. Waldorf education focuses on developing intrinsic motivation, or a genuine love for learning, and builds academics from this solid foundation.”