Hi All,
Some of you have followed our journey on my "Waldorf Education and Dyslexia" thread, as well as my comments on the "Older DD to Waldorf" thread.
Anyway, a brief synopsis is that DS (7.5; 2nd grade in the US; Groep 4 in Holland, Class 2 in Waldorf) has been very unhappy socially at his school for a long time. We've tried to work with the teachers, who are lovely and committed people, but it's just not clicking with the other kids in his class. He asked to be moved to a different school about 4 or 5 weeks ago and we started looking at the local Waldorf school because we thought the social environment might be better + he's super creative and loves to link learning with what he does with his hands, so we thought it might be a better fit educationally, as well.
The local Waldorf school asks that children coming in after kindergarten (age 7+) come for three days before a final decision about attending the school is made on either side. So DS went this morning for his first "trial day" to see how he liked it.
I picked him up and he *loved it*!
He melted my heart when he said, "I really fit in, Mom!" 
This is so big for us. He then went on excitedly about how the kids included him and he played this and that at recess and how fun math was and how much he loved the painting they did, etc., etc. I'm so thrilled and hope he loves the next two days as much. Then he can make his final decision.
I've just wanted him to be happy, to have friends, and to be appreciated for the great kid he is. That simply hasn't happened at his current school, despite the good academic reputation.
Anyway, various people have responded with compassion and thoughtfulness to my postings and I want to thank everyone. I'll update when the final decision is made.
Some of you have followed our journey on my "Waldorf Education and Dyslexia" thread, as well as my comments on the "Older DD to Waldorf" thread.
Anyway, a brief synopsis is that DS (7.5; 2nd grade in the US; Groep 4 in Holland, Class 2 in Waldorf) has been very unhappy socially at his school for a long time. We've tried to work with the teachers, who are lovely and committed people, but it's just not clicking with the other kids in his class. He asked to be moved to a different school about 4 or 5 weeks ago and we started looking at the local Waldorf school because we thought the social environment might be better + he's super creative and loves to link learning with what he does with his hands, so we thought it might be a better fit educationally, as well.
The local Waldorf school asks that children coming in after kindergarten (age 7+) come for three days before a final decision about attending the school is made on either side. So DS went this morning for his first "trial day" to see how he liked it.
I picked him up and he *loved it*!
He melted my heart when he said, "I really fit in, Mom!" This is so big for us. He then went on excitedly about how the kids included him and he played this and that at recess and how fun math was and how much he loved the painting they did, etc., etc. I'm so thrilled and hope he loves the next two days as much. Then he can make his final decision.I've just wanted him to be happy, to have friends, and to be appreciated for the great kid he is. That simply hasn't happened at his current school, despite the good academic reputation.
Anyway, various people have responded with compassion and thoughtfulness to my postings and I want to thank everyone. I'll update when the final decision is made.
