The methods of education are constantly changing, which is good news. Maybe we will gradually move away from the red pen fails in the diary, school uniforms and other harsh methods of education, focusing on the emotional state of schoolchildren? This is what distinguishes the Waldorf school, which develops the creative abilities of students.
What is the method of the Waldorf school
The Waldorf school system was invented by Rudolf Steiner: for him, the spiritual development of a person and work on himself were important, so he created an educational institution where his teachings would become the main guideline in the education of children.
The main thing in the Waldorf school system is the emphasis on the creative potential of the child. The important thing here is not that children sit at their desks all day long, but that they do things that are interesting to them.
There are several main methods of this Waldorf school:
- A child must remain a child, so here he plays with toys, has fun and indulges;
- Children of different ages study in classes - this teaches them to communicate with each other on an equal footing;
- No computers and TVs! On the contrary, children should spend a lot of time in nature, take care of plants and animals;
- The program is based on how the child's brain is formed at different ages. So, in the first grades, everyone draws, plays music, tells each other oral stories, and then discusses them, talks about their feelings and emotions. Teenagers from the fifth to the eighth grade stage performances, organize festivals, and so on, because at this age abstract thinking develops, and already in high school, schoolchildren purposefully study academic subjects;
- All material is taught in blocks that last 3-4 weeks;
- Emphasis is placed on the interests of the student: the student learns what he likes and what he does not reject;
- Eco-toys and the ability to negotiate. Since all education is based on a creative approach, all objects for schoolchildren's performances and lessons are made of natural materials, often children create them themselves;
- The rhythm of classes is constantly changing: from outdoor games to calm lessons;
- Parents participate in the learning process, they are invited to organize festivals together with children, make toys and stage performances;
- There are unique items in the schedule. For example, eurythmy is taught - this is a combination of dance and pantomime, during which they sing or read poems.
How do teachers behave in this school?
All teachers are specially trained specialists who must be comprehensively developed and emotionally stable. In fact, the class teacher conducts lessons from the first to the seventh grade + must pay attention to each student. A teacher of primary and secondary school teaches mathematics, language, drawing, the world around him, history, needlework, and must know various outdoor games.
The teacher is a very important figure for elementary school students, he becomes their role model. Therefore, the teacher must be a creative person who can skillfully interest all students and find a common language with everyone. If ordinary teachers must graduate from a university and you can go to work, then there is a special preparation program for teachers of Waldorf schools.
How are the lessons held in this unusual school?
At first, the so-called rhythmic part takes place: the teacher says some text or sings a song, while focusing on the necessary moments, and taps the rhythm. Children must repeat exactly what the teacher says so that they can easily memorize any text, and it also trains the articulation of schoolchildren. Sometimes they need to perform this exercise from 3 to 25 minutes.
Then there are the main lessons, where the students show their homework, and the teacher asks the children to retell the paragraph they have read, etc. Sometimes students conduct experiments and then write down their results.
At the end of the main lesson, there is an artistic and narrative part, where the teacher himself chooses the topic of the lesson depending on the class: for example, in the first - a fairy tale, and in the fifth - myths of Ancient Greece.
Strengths and weaknesses of the Waldorf school
Let's start with the good:
- There are no grades, all classes are stress-free for both children and teachers;
- Emphasis on creativity: in the learning process, teachers focus on the creative potential of each student, so everyone knows what he is good at;
- Students develop a high level of emotional intelligence, so they have a positive attitude to life and a non-standard approach to solving problems;
- Parents participate in lessons, so they directly see how their children learn, which only unites families.
Of course, the Waldorf school has disadvantages:
- Students are a bit disconnected from other students because they are learning in a "hothouse ecosystem";
- Schoolchildren emphasize spiritual wealth, so it will be difficult for them to communicate with materialists;
- Quite expensive education, in addition to monthly fees, you need to buy additional materials for lessons;
- It is difficult to transfer a child to another school, because the system is different from the one that exists in general education institutions.
