Waldorf News
"Friends of the Child and the Family" in Isfahan, Iran
July 23, 2018
In spring 2017, I went to Teheran and came into conversation with teacher and school book author Shafigheh Safarian. She showed great interest in founding her own school with a Waldorf educational approach. Once again I contacted Ms. Weische Alexa, with whom I had stayed in touch over the years. The main question was whether a philosophically-based pedagogy was feasible in an Islamic country. We discussed the Iranian world view -- on the one hand from the perspective of Zoroastrianism, still living in Iranian culture through festivals and rituals, as for example at the spring equinox which is still an official New Year’s festival in Iran and the winter solstice, another festival that is still widely celebrated -- and on the other hand in relation to Islamic philosophy as viewed through Anthroposophy. More »
World of Waldorf School Architecture
June 25, 2018
Although Steiner developed the principles of Waldorf education and took an active part in establishing the first Waldorf schools, he did not design school buildings. Over time, however, the Waldorf school movement, which today counts 1000 schools worldwide, has given rise to a large number of buildings. Today, school buildings are probably Steiner’s main stylistic legacy as an architect. More »
Yuba River Charter School’s new campus nears completion
June 11, 2018
When the Yuba River Charter School community sought a location to build its new campus, it chose a wooded plot of land just off Rough and Ready Highway. The land itself is spacious and sunny, surrounded by oaks, cedars and pines. A vast meadow, which will serve as the school's farming and garden area, stretches beyond the horizon, dotted with lavender and poppies. It is a reminder of Nevada County's natural beauty. Yuba River Charter Business Manager Susan Egan has enjoyed being part of the process of building a new school. Although Egan retired on Friday, she said the school will always hold a special place in her heart. "I get chills when I think about it," Egan said. "(This will be) our fifth home in 24 years. Our fifth and final home. Our school is solid already, but it's really going to realize itself here." More »
7 Benefits of Waldorf’s “Writing to Read” Approach
May 29, 2018
Waldorf Education starts to set the foundation for reading in kindergarten. Learning to read is allowed to evolve for each child in the same form as it evolved from the beginning of humanity: spoken language developed first, then people drew pictures to communicate their ideas, followed by symbols such as hieroglyphics and finally the abstract letters of our modern alphabets. Once there was a written language, people learned to read. This is exactly the sequence in which children master language, and it also is the sequence in which reading is taught in Waldorf schools. More »
The Wonder of Natural Sciences in Waldorf Schools: Video
May 7, 2018
A recent study by the Austrian government found that Waldorf graduates have a greater aptitude and affinity for the natural sciences than their peers. Why is that? What makes the Waldorf approach to science education so special, and so effective? Early childhood and grades students begin their scientific exploration by observing and experiencing the whole — watching seeds grow into food, raising salmon eggs while learning about their life cycle, creating a comprehensive animal report that includes both ecological and cultural research. In these early years, the tools for this scientific study come from nature, and encourage curiosity and interest in the world around them. By middle school, students begin to break down the phenomena they experience into questions. How do basic machines work? Why can’t I see the colors of light except through a prism? What are the chemical elements of the foods I eat every day? As they begin to explore the invisible and intangible forces at work in the world, their scientific tools become more refined. More »
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