Waldorf - First Grade

For the past six weeks before school ends, every Waldorf class is in review mode - where the students review their work for the past year. Sounds boring? IT'S NOT!! Nothing in Waldorf is boring or meaningless. It is truly an intentional education based on human development.

Lunch

My girl is generally a good eater. But, oftentimes, she will come home with a full lunch. Barely touched. And several of the parents, when we get together will lament about that. They've brought it to the teacher's attention and at the beginning of the year, he did say he would try to be more conscientious about it and make sure the children are eating...

A peek into Waldorf 1st Grade

Mind you, the "peeks" I offer are either taken from something I've learned from parent meetings or directly from what the kid tells me. The following is a song she asked me to transcribe for her. She asked me to do this probably in October of last year when they were learning their vowels.

On Silence

When I drive, I usually do not have the music on. I might put NPR or KPCC on for a minute and then I'll get tired of it and turn it off. I kind of just really like silence. And so when I have D in the car, it's silence. No news.

Waldorf First Grade - Vowels

These are the vowel fairies. As per usual in a Waldorf classroom, the teacher draws the images beautifully on the chalkboard and the children draw their own into their main lessons books. These are the vowel fairies that were introduced in language arts. And immediately, the vowels go missing.

Blessed children...and their moms

I've mentioned before how when Waldorf first graders start first grade, they are paired with their 12th grader, if the school goes through High School, or they are paired (in our school's case) with their 8th grader.

I have to tell you, those 8th grade and 1st grade bonds run deep. At the beginning of school there was a school function - An all school Hoe Down and the babes waited and waited for her 8th grader. The minute her 8th grader showed up, she whisked the babes away

Rose Ceremony and First Grade

Today was a beautiful start to the school year. I've mentioned before in previous posts that in Waldorf schools, they place much pomp and circumstance around the start of first grade. It really gives the children a sense of importance, a strength of will.

Waldorf First Grade

This post is titled "Waldorf First Grade" because there definitely is a distinction between Waldorf schools' first grade and any other school that I know of...not that I am familiar with any other school except for public and my own experience - I don't know if some private schools might also celebrate the first grade. Seemed like first grade was just another grade when I went to school.