We provide custom and individualized curriculum to fit the needs of students, drawing on a foundation of Waldorf and other curricular materials. You can learn more about Waldorf education here. While we find some of the principles of Waldorf education very helpful, some others we do not use. We do not adhere ridgidly to any pedagogical system and prefer to incorporate what we find most helpful to meet the needs of the students, for example, we also often draw on play-based and classical education methods. Our curriculum far exceeds the expectations of the State of Florida educational standards.
Children grow as readers through focused phonics practice & their capacities naturally increase though our group and guided reading.
Instead of the children completing an endless series of unconnected worksheets, the children develop their own textbook as I introduce new subject matter. This book they maintain is their Main Lesson Book.
An example:
Is mastered with form drawing and sentence practice. In their Main Lesson Book the children reflect on the lesson and learn to express their thoughts into detailed writing.
Poetry and verses are practiced as we enter new seasons or holidays.
Kindergarten and 1st grade covers a wide range of mathematical understanding from time, measurement, fractions, money, arithmetic, geometry, and patterns with focus on numbers in motion.
We introduce students to the methods science through direct observation & inference, hypothesis and experimentation, cover the earth's patterns of rotation and orbit, physical science such as properties of matter and its changes, and the organization and development of living organisms.
We introduce the children to historical inquiry & analysis, obtain historical knowledge of differences throughout time and traditions, practice chronological thinking, map explorations, beginning economics, and civility in a community.
We interweave Art through all the subjects as young children enjoy learning most with integrated chances for expression. Skills are taught to aid this expression through watercolor, sculpting, handwork, illustrating, geometry and purposeful movement.
Rhythm is practiced through movement and song. We will identify music from different genres and cultures. The children practice singing in tune together. We do introduce pentatonic flute to practice music reading and recognizing notes.
9:30 Morning circle
9:45 Themed hike with a verse/ poem or story
10:15 Writing skill development & Illustrating in Main Lesson books
10:45 Outdoor snack break
11:15 Meditation/ Quiet time
11:30 Art for the day (rotates through watercolor, sculpting, handwork, and nature journaling)
12:00 Math Activity in Main Lesson Book and through outdoor play
12:40 Lunch break
1:00 Children's choice of activity
1:30 Pick up