Waldorf School Education

Waldorf education is based on the principles of anthroposophy (“wisdom of the human being”) by Rudolf Steiner. 

The first school was founded in 1919 in Stuttgart Germany. Steiner wanted to educate the children of the factory workers from the Waldorf Astoria Zigaretten Fabrik. The goal is to develop free, but morally responsible individuals, equipped with social competence and creative abilities.

The main method of instruction is storytelling and experimentation. Homework and test scores get less attention.

Over a twelve-year curriculum, students learn math, literature, history, science and a variety of arts and hands-on skills.

Elementary students paint, knit, weave, and sculpt. Older children make patterns, books, pottery and sculpt in stone. Everyone learns music: First, they play the flute, some learn stringed instruments, and others join the choir.

Students play non-competitive games and learn to dance. They do organic farming and learn two foreign languages.

Waldorf uses a project based approach to almost all the main academic subjects. 

They don't have repetitive schedules. For example, a subject like math, science or gardening will take up the first two hours in the morning for 4 - 6 weeks. Then a new subject will get the main focus.

In science, students will observe and later describe scientific concepts in their own words rather than learning about them in a textbook first.

Competition and grades are avoided in the early years and only introduced as students prepare for college and entrance exams.