Teaching Waldorf in the Early Grades: An Interview with Renata Welker (Part 2)
We’re excited to share with you Part 2 of an interview with our Grade 2/3 Teacher, Renata Welker. Renata continues her in-depth discussion of various aspects of our Waldorf early grades curriculum and shares insights from her long experience as a teacher.
New studies show that a teacher educating the same group of students in multiple subjects over multiple years (looping) has lasting benefits. Students who stay with the same teacher see both academic improvement as well as reductions in absences and behavioral issues. Teaching a child for multiple years allows teachers to better understand each student’s learning style, to work with families to help support students, and to challenge them to do their best work. That's why in Waldorf education, teachers stay with their class for multiple years, building a safe and supportive learning environment and strong relationships. This multi-year student-teacher relationship helps each student to unfold their unique potential.
Teaching Waldorf in the Early Grades: An Interview with Renata Welker (Part 1)
We’re excited to share with you Part 1 of an interview with our Grade 2/3 Teacher, Renata Welker. Renata goes into depth about various aspects of our Waldorf early grades curriculum and shares insights from her long experience as a teacher.
The Important Role of Play in Education
Over the past few decades, American children have been given fewer and fewer opportunities for play, especially opportunities for free unstructured play. This has come with a host of negative physical, mental health, social-emotional, academic and developmental consequence for kids. The negative consequences of this shift away from play have highlighted how important play actually is for children.
Upper Valley Waldorf School’s Arts Integrated Approach to Education
As a Waldorf school we approach the arts, and the role of the arts in education, differently than many other schools. This starts with a view that the arts are not an add-on, or an extra, but are a fundamental part of how children learn, and a core part of our curriculum.
Winter Spiral 2020
The journey toward the Winter Solstice can be likened to the shape of a spiral. If one begins at the periphery and travels towards the center, one gets the sense of being drawn closer and closer inward –the same gesture we make during late fall when both the temperature and the light drops.