As a dynamic process, each grade's curriculum is intended as a descriptive guide for teachers, providing latitude for each teacher's creativity and imagination as they seek to enliven the subjects for the students. In addition, the art of teaching in Waldorf schools celebrates the teacher’s dedication to their own pursuit of a lifetime of learning as they move through the grades with their students.
Waldorf education is based on a comprehensive understanding of human development. The uniqueness of the Waldorf system lies not so much in what the children are taught (they pursue a rigorous classical curriculum) but in how and when.
Waldorf education is cautious about introducing abstract intellectual concepts too soon, aiming instead to bring the intellectual faculty to full flower in a deliberately gradual way. We believe that many dilemmas of the modern world are the direct result of intellectual knowledge that has outstripped our capacities for empathy, morality, and creativity in solving problems. Waldorf education is designed to help children develop strengths for a lifetime.
Click here for a curriculum overview, broken down by subject and grade.
