Waldorf ??????

[miasmom]

What exactly is the Waldorf style of teaching? How is it different from Monessori?

[LaLa]

I am just learning, but from what I can tell, my biggest dislike for Waldorf (maybe my only dislike) is their introduction to reading. They don't really start introducing letter until the kids are older (like 7) and I think some children will be interested and ready much sooner, if given the opportunity!

That is why I had to say no to Waldorf, but it has many positive aspects!

[ladylee]

Waldorf schools are based on Rudolf Steiner's philosophies of child development. From my research, these are things that stayed in my mind: Empower the child as an individual. No TV or computers. Or plastic toys. Kids make dolls and play with wooden toys that are facsimiles of real life objects. They also play the recorder. Story telling and myths play an important role in expanding a child's imagination. Academic subjects aren't introduced until age 6 or 7.

~lee

[joyfulheart]

My four year old attends a Waldorf school and I am so happy about it. I have taught in both public and private schools (non-Waldorf) and I can tell you what I like best about the Waldorf school is that it is truly magical and speaks to more than just my head. My child loves it too. I believe Waldorf education aims, especially at the early levels, to protect the child from harsh environments and surround them with natural toys, festivals and outdoor play/nature. And example of Waldorf ed. is in the kindergarten the teacher tells a story...one that she/he has memorized. The children are able to use their imaginations to create the story's pictures in their heads. This differs from being read a picture book...where the images are "presented" to the child. Hope this helps. My child attends Three Cedars School. The website is www.threecedars.org if any one wants to learn more about Waldorf ed.

[mamaMAMAma]

DD(14months) and I are going to a parenting class at a Waldorf school and we love it. The class focuses on observing the kids, letting them play and explore freely with little or no intervention from the parents(except when someone get hurts...). Its a real eye opener for me to see the 1 year olds solve their own problems. There is also a de-emphasis in "toys". Kids are so curious about the environment, parents don't really need to buy toys to stimulate them. So far, I really like what I'm seeing at the school.
I confess I don't know much about the Montessori principes, but would like to learn more.

[stClaire]

I was raised in a Montessori school and chose Waldorf for my children. I like the way Waldorf focuses on the spirit and temperament of the child instead of just the mind, it really is a magical thing to watch my 6 yo child unfold into himself and i feel like the teachers have been with me all the way watching, bringing consciousness to the changes occuring in him.

They do introduce abstract concepts like letter and reading later than some other systems, but mathematics are introduced earlier and in 1st grade DS is learning bothe Russian and German through singing songs and playing games... i believe that next year they will add other languages. DS is learning letters now and i am amazed at how quickly he is picking it up.... most of the children develop the most beautiful handwriting.

Waldorf uses softer images with young children to allow them to fill in the spaces with their own imaginations (like waldorf dolls that have very simple faces) that is why the teachers tell stories instead of reading them.

The grades teachers stay with the group of children all the way through 8th grade which has many positive aspects imo. They really care about and get to know the children...if there are problems they work them out instead of getting rid of each other at the end of the year and most of all...the teachersdon't get stagnant and bored.

[BathrobeGoddess]

My DD was at a waldorf school from age 3-6. I also worked for the school as the Enrollment Director for nearly 2 years. The waldorf (sometimes also know as Steiner Education) education system was began at the Waldorf Cigerette Factory (yep its the same waldorf as the hotel in NYC) after the owner of the factory heard a talk by Rudolf Steiner about what education should teach the modern child, the new challenges (this was directly after WWI), and how education should be funded. So, he asked Steiner to start a school and Steiner began the first school for the children of the factory workers, free of state control as he felt all education should be. The first waldorf teachers were not teachers at all but professionals in a field and followers of Steiner's Anthroposophy (the underlying belief vital to waldorf). Unfortunatly, Steiner died before a class made it from grade k-12 and so could not go back and see what worked and what didn't. I have found the biggest challenge in waldorf is that many Anthroposifists take Steiner's words as ultimate truth that are unable to evolve and fit our ever changing world. I have know many a person who got caught up in the idea that something, even something very unimportant, is "unwaldorf" and that can make a waldorf school seem like a group of elitists. I have know parents to jump all over another parent over something as minor as a child saying they have a TV in the home to another child. Many people also have a problem with the christian festivals and that most schools are not very diverse. I fought that tooth and nail while I worked at the school. There is also the idea that waldorf teachers are involved in a cult.

I must stress that every waldorf school is very different in stucture and staffing. Check out your local school throughly...see if you can get class numbers, talk to the teacher, MAKE them let you sit in on a class. Make sure the teacher is trained (no kidding some aren't). Waldorf is complicated and deep and just because some is an Anthroposoifist does nto make them qualified to teach, no matter what the school tells you! Make it clear that you are the consumer and they are the product! If they will not allow it I would be concerned. I say this from exsperience both professional (I had one teacher that would not let anyone see his classroom in session and his class also had the highest student drop rate) and personal.

My dd really loved her time in waldorf and I am very glad she went but I do know that the challenges faced in the school affected the students, in both academics and social development. I weighed the options and felt that stablity was the most important thing for my child.

[stClaire]

Batherobe Goddess, You touched on some excellent points. I especially agree with you about how some schools seem" unable to evolve and fit in with our ever changing world" because of the rigid beliefs of the founders (of the perticular school or with anthroposophists in general)

I have noticed that when i hold a strong *belief in* anything that it becomes rigid and unable to evolve/move resulting in stagnation (lack of divirsity). That goes for any philosophy.
At our school we have some of the same problems ...with diversity and some of the parents becoming kind of judgemental. We have a group of parents that meet regularly aroud the issue of diversity.
Have you ever heard of a man named Joel Wendt?? he is "the outlaw anthroposophist" i read a great article by him about how Steiner never meant for his words to be taken as gospel so to speak. His main point was to learn to think for yourself and do your own reaserch/ questioning and experiences, and the irony that so many anthroposophists are not thinking for themselves but referring always back to Steiners words .

[Forest Sage]

There have been some important discussions here. I have only been involved with Waldorf for a couple of months, so I haven't been exposed to many of the parents yet. The people involved with the school can either "make or break it." I am concerned about the people adhering so tightly to anthroposhophy and the teachings of Stiener (et al.) My sister is a Born Again Christian so I have experienced how conflict of interest can be destructive, no matter how well intentioned. In fact it has caused alot of family strife. That's the problem with clannish groups, people start feeling such a sense of acceptance and belonging that they have a tendency to fight for their cause. Clarity becomes foggy. I become rather reticent when I'm up against folks with strong DO's and DON'Ts when it comes to their kids. I'm going to remain positive about meeting truly groovy people in our Waldorf. I have yet to hear about any group that does not trigger suspicion from "outsiders." We are going to attend the Spiral Garden soon and I'm sure I'll learn alot about Waldorf in doing this.
Peace,
Amie

[BathrobeGoddess]

I have heard of Joel Wendt! My dd former school is very split on the Anthro issue. We have 2 very hard core, un-move-able Steiner followers who stop every new idea dead in its tracks with the "unwaldorf" concept. Have you ever read Torin Finser? His new book, School Renewal is brilliant! He came to our school to do the Antioch Collabortive Leadership training but only 3 teachers came and no specialty teachers...it was all parents. Some of his ideas are "unwaldorf" and wonderful!!! I feel very lucky to have met him and attend his wonderful workshop!

I also want to add that I do think waldorf is a really wonderful educational system. I do think I would have stuck around for the long haul if dd grades teacher had been waldorf trained...but she wasn't and I really have a problem with that. I would rather her class be combined with another that be taught by someone who just "likes" waldorf or who had a child go through waldorf. It makes me very, very angry!

[stClaire]

My friend has studied with Torin Finser! We also have just a few die- hard anthroposophists at the school though most of the people involved with the school are really groovy openminded people.

We also have one grades teacher who is teaching as she is going through Waldorf training. She goes away 6 weeks of the summer to school. My sons teacher is great, she is the reason we are staying with the school. I would've left if i didn't get a good feeling from his teacher.

[maurakdh]

Hello, I'm new and the post that I am refering to is from november 2001--i'm looking for a waldorf school for my son who is entering first grade this year--or a really good montessori--or even an alternative--we have visited waldorfs in oregon, chapel hill, nc (on a waiting list for a class of 26 kids--too big), vermont, wisconsin and we have been accepted at an initiative in vermont and we are trying to work out housing and work there--he is seeing an ot who has said that he is extremely intelligent and has some sensory integration disorder--we live in greensboro, nc--i would love ANY guidance from the mom's in this forum--thank you

[maurakdh]

looking for help on this school issue--thank you for any help!!!!:confused:

[Hannahsmummy]

looking for help on this school issue--thank you for any help!!!!:confused:
You might want to post this on the Waldorf board and see if you get any responses.
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=285

[jalilah]

What exactly is the Waldorf style of teaching? How is it different from Monessori?

Hi miasmom,
They are very different.You can check out the articles listed in the "comparisons" forum.
It is interesting to note however that many more people have bad expereinces with Waldorf. There are many kinds of "Waldorf survivors" support groups for people with bad experiences. As far as I know there are no Montessori survivor support groups or anti-montessori web sites.
Here are some posts from people who have had bad experiences on MDC:

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=368640

There is also a thread in the Personal growth forum