Waldorf Schools

I have do some searching about the different on Montessori and Waldorf education. Get some useful information here : Source: http://waldorf2.intercast-media.com/2005/04/waldorf_and_montessori.html The educational philosophies developed by Rudolf Steiner (Waldorf Education) and Maria Montessori are similar in that they both involve a comprehensive view of the human being that goes beyond just educating the intellect. However, they differed in their understanding of how best to meet the needs of the growing child. While both agreed that young children shouldn’t be sat down with workbooks, Montessori education tends to introduce concepts tactilely, through specially designed “toys” that can be manipulated in only one way. Steiner, in contrast, advised to allow the young child to be in his or her natural creativity until the age of seven, so “toys” in Waldorf tend to foster children’s imaginative play. In a Waldorf early childhood program a great deal of time is devoted to free play and to artistic activity that comes from the child him or herself (water color painting, coloring with block crayons, beeswax modeling, etc). The play is nourished by seeing the adults do real work and by a rich storytelling tradition. This emphasis on nurturing a child’s natural creativity as a wellspring for future academic and creative work is absent in the Montessori programs. Montessori endeavored to provide children from 3-6 years of age with the freedom to choose activities and explore them deeply without interruption, but these were “learning activities.” The teachers introduce new materials and concepts as individuals and small groups become ready for them, and this can include early reading. In contrast, direct academics would be absent in a Waldorf early childhood program because Steiner felt awakening the cognitive functions before the neurological changes around the age of 6-7 can be harmful to children’s health-they don’t gain any advantage, and they lose a year or two of the kind of consciousness that a young child has and revels in-and will grow out of by age seven no matter what we do!

Waldorf preschool is based around the idea that the developmental task of young children is (1) to master their physical bodies; (2) explore the physical world around them; and (3) learn how humans should behave by imitating the adults and other children around them. As a result, the Waldorf preschool is a very homelike environment. Unlike many preschools, Waldorf preschools won't try to teach children specific academic skills such as letters or numbers. Instead, they offer an environment with lots of free play indoors and outdoors, homelike activities such as gardening, hiking, and cooking (kneading dough to make bread, for instance). There is also circle time with fairy tales told by the teacher and singing and movement games keyed to the seasons of the year. Waldorf schools won't have any high-tech equipment, computer games, or plastic toys. The emphasis is on nature, human relationships, and creating a safe and embracing environment for a very young child. I have two children who have been through Waldorf schools up to 8th grade, and I highly recommend the Waldorf curriculum because it respects the child's stage of development and doesn't rush the children into academics before they are ready.