The Waldorf School of Philadelphia
Classroom
Home Early Childhood Grades 1-8 Admissions Tuition
Waldorf Philosophy Events Community Links Employment
Grades 1-8
Waldorf teachers recognize that children learn best when their hearts and feelings are engaged. Subjects are introduced to stimulate the naturally emerging faculties at each stage in a child's development. When children are met with developmentally appropriate challenges and support, they are able to realize their full potential.

The Grades Teacher
In a Waldorf school, the class teacher ideally follows his or her class from First through Eighth grade. The teacher is then able to build on the educational experience of the year before, and meet the growing child's needs more effectively. 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.

Schedule
8:15am - 3:15pm

Each day begins with a two-hour Main Lesson, where the class intensively studies one of the core academic subjects: language arts, mathematics, history or science. These subjects are taught in blocks of 3-5 weeks. After Main Lesson, the day is divided into 40-minute periods. The subject studied during the Main Lesson in the morning is often woven into artistic activities during these periods. The challenges and joyful benefits of handwork, music, movement and the fine arts are not separated from academic subjects, but are presented as vital parts of a complete education. Class teachers also have extra Main Lesson periods throughout the day with their class to reinforce academic subjects (such as reading, spelling and math) or offer special subjects (such as watercolor painting, perspective drawing, and nature studies).

Curriculum:
    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8  
Language Arts                                  
Writing, reading   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Speech, drama   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Spelling, grammar   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Composition       *   *   *   *   *   *  
Research, formal & informal               *   *   *   *   *  
Mathematics                  
Arithmetic   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Word Problems   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Measurement       *   *   *        
Geometric Form Drawing   *   *   *   *   *        
Geometry           *   *   *   *  
Algebra             *   *   *  
Business math                     *        
History                  
Ancient legends   *   *   *   *   *        
Old Testament stories       *            
Norse mythology         *          
Indo-European mythology           *        
Ancient Egypt, Greece           *        
Ancient Rome; Medieval period             *      
Renaissance period; exploration             *    
Revolutions, modern history                 *  
American history               *             *  
Science                  
Geography         *   *   *   *   *  
Nature study   *   *   *   *   *        
Zoology         *          
Botany           *        
Geology; astronomy             *   *    
Physics             *   *   *  
Chemistry; physiology                         *   *  
Foreign Language                  
German   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Spanish   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Music                  
Singing   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Chorus         * *   *   *   *  
Wooden flute   *   *              
Recorder       *   *   *   *   *   *  
Orchestra*               *   *   *   *   *  
Eurythmy   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Fine and applied arts                  
Painting, drawing, modeling *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Perspective drawing             *   *  
Clay sculpture       *   *   *   *   *  
Handwork *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  
Woodwork             * *   *   *  
Physical education                  
Games   *   *   *   *          
Sports           *   *   *   *  
Greek Olympics                   *            
    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8  

* Students should begin study of a string instrument in the 3rd grade in preparation for Orchestra class in the 4th grade.

As a dynamic process, each grade 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.

Upcoming Events
07-08 School Calendar

Observation Mornings
Adults Only: RSVP Please
May 15
  8:30am-10:30am
Oct 16
  8:30am-10:30am
contact us for more info

Open House
Oct 25
  10am-12pm

 
 

© 2008 by The Waldorf School of Philadelphia
7500 Germantown Ave  •  Philadelphia, PA 19119  •  (215) 248-1662  •  philawaldorf@verizon.net

Photography by Aaron Warkov