The two Waldorf high schools in Boulder, Colorado are Shining Mountain and Tara. As an aside, there is also a Waldorf high school in Denver. It is quite remarkable, and unique in the United States, to [...]]]> Please click to find general information about choosing a private school in Boulder, Colorado, or general information about Waldorf education.

The two Waldorf high schools in Boulder, Colorado are Shining Mountain and Tara. As an aside, there is also a Waldorf high school in Denver. It is quite remarkable, and unique in the United States, to have three Waldorf high schools so close to each other.

According to Steiner’s philosophy of child development, the high school age of adolescence is all about a search for self and quest for truth. An adolescent has a capacity and a need to question everything and everyone, including himself.

Waldorf high schools meet the needs of adolescence by maintaining a broad education while also preparing students to exceed college entrance requirements. Subject teachers bring specialized expertise in their areas of authority. Waldorf seeks to help adolescents find examples in the world that match their own inner experience, and includes subjects that are metaphors of the various experiences of adolescence. Adolescents are developing social awareness and a grasp of world events, so the curriculum supports this development. Gifted students have opportunities for doing advanced work. Analytical skills, independent thought, self-discipline, and creative resourcefulness are cultivated.

Both Shepherd Valley and Shining Mountain offer middle school grades within their grades 1-8 program, rather than having a middle school as a pre-high school. This comes from a belief that it’s useful for children of [...]]]> Please click to find general information about choosing a private school in Boulder, Colorado, or general information about Waldorf education.

Both Shepherd Valley and Shining Mountain offer middle school grades within their grades 1-8 program, rather than having a middle school as a pre-high school. This comes from a belief that it’s useful for children of those ages to interact together socially with mutual respect. It benefits the younger children, who look up to the 7th and 8th graders with anticipation for the day when they will have those expanded capabilities. It also benefits the 7th and 8th graders, who develop compassion and a sense of social responsibility for those who are younger. They also learn by teaching.

An example of this is the Halloween celebration. For the younger ones, there is a non-scary Halloween Journey, while those 12 and older have a Perilous Path. However, by the time children are in the 8th grade, they often have an awakened sense of social responsibility, such that they want to create and perform a skit for the younger ones on the Halloween Journey.

Boulder, Colorado is blessed with two Waldorf elementary schools: Shepherd Valley and Shining Mountain.

While mainstream schools are increasingly focusing on the three R’s, Waldorf elementary schools are incredibly well-rounded, while turning out graduates that also excel in [...]]]> Please click to find general information about choosing a private school in Boulder, Colorado, or general information about Waldorf education.

Boulder, Colorado is blessed with two Waldorf elementary schools: Shepherd Valley and Shining Mountain.

While mainstream schools are increasingly focusing on the three R’s, Waldorf elementary schools are incredibly well-rounded, while turning out graduates that also excel in standard academic subjects. From first grade, children in the Boulder Waldorf elementary schools learn two foreign languages, learn to play musical instruments, learn handwork skills, listen to stories, and still have lots of time for physical activity. While these types of study are typically considered “frills”, in Waldorf schools they are considered part of the core curriculum, because they develop the full capacities of a whole human being. It may be a little counter-intuitive for some, but these types of non-academic learning also seem to support a greater capacity for academic learning, as well, in the long run.

Waldorf really differs from mainstream education in that reading is taught more slowly through the early elementary grades. Foundational skills are taught in first grade, with gradual development through second grade. Full reading skills can develop at different rates for different students, and they are taught comprehensively in third grade. Waldorf starts with an emphasis on learning to listen and speak, then to write, and finally to read, which allows the learning to unfold in a way that is natural and stress-free for most students. By about fifth grade, Waldorf students are reading at least as well as children with a mainstream education, and there is some evidence that children who learned to read at a later age enjoy reading more, and spend more of their leisure time reading.

There are several private Waldorf kindergartens in Boulder, Colorado: Shepherd Valley, Shining Mountain, Blue Sky Preschool/Kindergarten, and Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten.

Like the Waldorf-inspired preschools, a Waldorf kindergarten also has a primary emphasis on play, imagination, social development, [...]]]> Please click to find general information about choosing a private school in Boulder, Colorado, or general information about Waldorf education.

There are several private Waldorf kindergartens in Boulder, Colorado: Shepherd Valley, Shining Mountain, Blue Sky Preschool/Kindergarten, and Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten.

Like the Waldorf-inspired preschools, a Waldorf kindergarten also has a primary emphasis on play, imagination, social development, and physical development. They get the children out walking, with as much contact with nature as possible. Children get to play with natural toys designed to leave room for the imagination. Children are served healthy whole-grain snacks.

And again, there is evidence which backs up Steiner’s philosophy that even in kindergarten, it is better not to begin teaching reading and math skills yet. I have learned from Waldorf teachers that at this age, developing the imagination and also motor skills are strongly associated with the cognitive skills that will later enable them to do well at reading, math, and other academics. And Waldorf certainly has a fantastic track record of graduates’ proficiency with academic subjects.

Also, since Waldorf schools really work with the parents to help limit TV and other electronic media exposure for the children, the imaginative games in a Waldorf kindergarten tend to be created more organically, rather than being constrained by images that were absorbed from the TV (which may or may not be wholesome)!

Waldorf kindergartens typically include two years, which gives the older ones a chance to learn by helping the younger ones, while the younger ones look to the older ones and can anticipate the growth they will soon be experiencing.

Although Rudolf Steiner did not design curriculum for preschools, he did publish writings about early child development from his philosophical perspective. In modern times, “Waldorf-inspired” preschools are widely available, especially in areas where there is one [...]]]> Please click to find general information about choosing a private school in Boulder, Colorado, or general information about Waldorf education.

Although Rudolf Steiner did not design curriculum for preschools, he did publish writings about early child development from his philosophical perspective. In modern times, “Waldorf-inspired” preschools are widely available, especially in areas where there is one or more Waldorf schools. These preschools work in harmony with the young child’s special needs and abilities, as described by Steiner and as observed by Waldorf teachers and parents.

In the Boulder area, preschools are available at Shepherd Valley, Shining Mountain, Blue Sky Preschool/Kindergarten, and Boulder Waldorf Kindergarten. In addition, there are quite a few in-home Waldorf-inspired preschools, which in many cases accept only up to six children. When my son was four, he really needed a very small group to be comfortable, so we found an in-home group for him. Some other children are naturally gregarious at a young age, and can benefit from a somewhat larger group with more people to make friends with. Both Shepherd Valley and Shining Mountain keep lists of in-home Waldorf-inspired preschools, which is how I found the one we used.

A Waldorf-inspired preschool has a big emphasis on play and opportunities for developing socially, developing the imagination, as well as physical development. They typically have times for coloring with crayons and for water color painting. They generally serve healthy whole-grain snacks. Each preschool will have its own style and personality, and it can be worth checking out several to find the best fit.

When I was looking for a preschool, that is exactly what I wanted. Since there is evidence to support Steiner’s philosophy that teaching reading and math skills at an early age is not only unnecessary, but actually harmful, I was happy to have a place where my child could make friends and play in a nurturing, caring environment, without his attention being diverted to academic activities that I believe are more appropriate for an older child.

We feel there is a big benefit in being part of a school where all the parents are strongly encouraged to keep their child’s [...]]]> Parents who are choosing a private school are often concerned about safety in the classroom, just from watching the news and hearing horror stories of things that have occurred in public schools.

We feel there is a big benefit in being part of a school where all the parents are strongly encouraged to keep their child’s environment healthy and positive. The reality is that your child’s environment will be strongly co-created by the other parents in your child’s class.

Details may vary from one Waldorf school to another. One way that Waldorf increases safety is by encouraging parents to protect a child’s innocence. A big part of this is limiting a child’s exposure to TV and other media. A child who is exposed to sexual or violent behavior will likely be driven to act it out with his friends, thus exposing even more children. Keeping children innocent makes that sort of thing less likely.

In addition, in my experience, most Waldorf parents are very dedicated and care a great deal about their children. It is not easy to pay private school tuition and to go against the cultural currents by avoiding media exposure and electronic toys. Parents who are willing to do this for their children are, by and large, very loving and attentive with their children.

Waldorf teachers also contribute to the safety of children by being so attuned to each student as an individual. It’s a focus of Waldorf philosophy for teachers to really get to know each student as a unique person. This watchfulness also contributes to greater safety. Of course, Waldorf teachers are each unique individuals, too, and you should ask to meet your child’s potential teacher in advance. Whenever the class size is small, this also contributes to a teacher’s ability to attend to each child. (At our Waldorf school, there is a limit of 24 students per class in grades 1-8, and the classes are often smaller than that.)

For grades 1-8, intellectual learning activities are concentrated in the morning, with more of the physical activity in the afternoon. The specific balance and mix, of course, changes from one grade to another.

The day begins with a “main [...]]]> Here I can make some general comments; for more detail, ask the specific Waldorf school you are considering.

For grades 1-8, intellectual learning activities are concentrated in the morning, with more of the physical activity in the afternoon. The specific balance and mix, of course, changes from one grade to another.

The day begins with a “main lesson block”, in which the class engages in a variety of activities that are all focused on a single subject for a long, uninterrupted stretch of time which may well be two hours. This includes movement, review, practice and introduction of new material. For more detail on this lesson structure, as well as information about the curriculum, you may want to check out this article published by AWSNA.