Why Waldorf? - Waldorf Knoll Academy

What is Waldorf?

Those who invent rather than follow convention increasingly shape the 21st century. The Waldorf approach is ideally suited to this world. Our goal is to engage young minds in the wonder of learning. Our students not only learn the core curriculum, but their curiosity and creativity are unleashed as they develop confidence in their own unique abilities.

Chief among our core principles and values is our abiding respect for each child that comes into our community and our belief that it is our job, in partnership with parents, to help them become fully and confidently themselves. Our environment is imbued with opportunities to connect with the world and with each other to enliven the senses and build empathy.

Aligned with the developmental stages of children at these ages, Waldorf applies pedagogical methods that are uniquely effective in bringing out each student’s full capacity. Our teachers are highly skilled and continuously engaged in advancing their training in the Waldorf method. The Waldorf approach ensures that the student/teacher relationship is consistent so that students are known by their teachers as the special individuals they are.

By the time their experience with Waldorf Knoll Academy ends, students are well prepared to go into the next phase of their journey having built a powerful academic foundation and the confidence to go with it. How to recognize a Waldorf graduate? Look for individuals whose thoughtful intelligence, creativity, originality and compassion make them leaders in any environment.

The Waldorf Approach: In a Nutshell

“We must still make the lifeless things live through imagination and always connect them with real life. It is possible to connect all the phenomena of physics with real life, but we ourselves must have imagination in order to do it ” (Rudolf Steiner, 1921)

While it’s difficult to boil a sophisticated learning method down to just a few points, the essence of Waldorf can be thought of as follows:

Creativity

An emphasis on engaging creativity in problem solving enhances a child’s ability to think independently and critically. The use of art and creative play across the spectrum of subject areas brings out a child’s imagination and the joy of learning.

Emotional Intelligence

Success in life, whether professional or personal, favours those who possess a high ‘EQ’. Waldorf Academy’s approach is designed to enhance a child’s sense of connection to the world and to grow spiritually. Gaining insight into the human condition and respect for nature help our students mature with compassion, empathy and grace.

Resilience & Perseverance

At Waldorf Academy we stress hands-on, experiential, inquiry-based learning that carries with it the ability to take risks, reach beyond our comfort zones and test our mettle. We work with a child’s natural tendencies to encourage their curiosity and figure out answers their own way. Sometimes they fail the first time, but then they learn how to get back up and see it through.

Intellectual Development

Our interdisciplinary approach to mastering subject areas across the academic spectrum encourages children to make connections and deepen learning. Our goal is to not simply teach a curriculum, but to make the curriculum meaningful and inspire a lifelong love of learning.