The
Waldorf Initiative of Gainesville
Waldorf Schools Rudolf Steiner Education
Waldorf students are educated in recognition of their own
individualities and in harmony with their own physical, mental, and emotional development. Their lessons are alive and interesting; they challenge and stimulate their imaginations—for the children are educated not as beings of head alone, but of hands, will and heart as well. They gain
the foundation within themselves to give purpose and direction to their life. Full preparation for higher education is achieved.
Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten and Heart Pine Waldorf
School in Gainesville, Florida, are part of a network of some 1,000 Waldorf schools worldwide that follow the educational principles developed by Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), the Austrian-born scientist and educator, artist and philosopher. Steiner’s approach to education is based on a comprehensive understanding of the human being and aimed at developing clarity of thought, sensitivity of feeling, and strength of will in the growing child. Waldorf Schools are non-profit, non-denominational and independent. All children regardless of sex, race, national origin or religion are welcome.
“Our highest endeavor must be to develop free human beings who are able of themselves to impart purpose and direction to their lives.” Rudolf Steiner
“I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing a soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to an extreme old age.” Henry David Thoreau
The effectiveness of the Waldorf curriculum lies in how the
children are taught. In presenting material, first comes the descriptive image; then this image becomes experience; and out of experience the concept is formed. Perception, feeling, idea: three steps in a genuine learning process–one that is in harmony with the child’s need for practical and creative learning.
A Waldorf education prepares the student not only to enter
adulthood with self-discipline, independence, and mastery of analytical and critical faculties, but also with reverence for the world’s wonder and beauty, and a sense of responsibility for nurturing the earth.
The Curriculum for the Grades At Heart Pine Waldorf School, the whole human being is developed by educating the capacities of willing, feeling, and thinking during each school day. Enriched learning includes the experience of truth, beauty, and goodness. In a Waldorf school, students follow a course of study created to appeal to the natural interests and abilities of their changing developmental stages, thereby supporting strength of character and a deep appreciation for the world.
The main lesson is a two hour concentrated period
when the main academic subject matter is introduced by the class teacher. This uninterrupted time of study enables the children to immerse themselves completely in the subject matter. Teachers continue with a group of students from one year to the next, engendering a strong class community and allowing the teachers to gain a genuine knowledge of each student’s needs.
In late morning, students turn their attention to foreign language,
music, movement, and the arts. The afternoon is devoted to crafts, games and physical education. This balance in the school day nurtures and supports the growing child’s mental, emotional, and physical health.
Course Studies
Reading, writing, math, science, history, and geography are
taught in main lesson blocks of three to five weeks during the morning main lesson hours. All grades engage in singing and playing the recorder, painting, sculpting, music, and drama. Specialty teachers in foreign language, handcrafts, gardening and other “Every time we teach a child something, we keep him from inventing it himself. On the other hand, that which we allow him to discover for himself will remain with him.” Jean Piaget
subjects give classroom instruction as a part of the weekly schedule.
The Curriculum Grade 1 Fairy Tales Nature stories Alphabet and writing Arithmetic The four processes: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division Form drawing Grade 2 Fables and legends Stories of the Saints Writing and Grammar Arithmetic The four processes and story problems Form drawing Grade 3 Old Testament stories Farming Writing and grammar Arithmetic The four processes and measurement House building Cooking Clothing
Grade 4 Norse myths Native American stories Zoology Man and animal Composition and Grammar Arithmetic Fractions and the four processes State Geography Grade 5 Ancient civilizations: India, Persia, Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Greece Botany Writing and sentence construction Arithmetic Decimals and the four processes United States Geography Grade 6 Roman and Medieval History Writing and Speech Development Geometry Simple interest and percentages Astronomy World climatic conditions Mineralogy and geology Physics Perspective Drawing
Grade 7 History of the Renaissance and Reformation Composition Squaring, Cubing, and Equations World Spiritual and Cultural Conditions Physics Mechanics Inorganic Chemistry Physiology and Nutrition World Geography Charcoal Drawing Grade 8 United States History Creative Writing Epic Prose and Poetry Drama Algebra World Nutrition and Health Conditions Practical Physics Organic Chemistry Projective Geometry Physiology and Anatomy Drawing as Art
Waldorf Early Childhood Program
Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten, preschool is an
extension of the family experience, a transition for the child between the home and formal schooling. The goal is to provide a warm, calm, secure, aesthetic environment in which the imagination and creativity of the child will flourish. The Kindergarten year provides balanced preparation for beginning academic learning in first grade. “When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.” Albert Einstein
The quality of the physical environment is integral to the
goals for the children. The feeling of warmth and security is created by using only natural materials such as wood, cotton and wool in the construction of decor and toys. In this warm environment are placed toys which the children can use to imitate and transform the activities that belong to everyday life.
The Kindergarten “3 R’s” are reverence, repetition, and
rhythm. Structured group activities consist of finger puppet plays, singing, reciting poems, and creative movement.
Art and crafts consist of water coloring with the three
primary colors to awaken a true appreciation of the nature of color, modeling with beeswax, drawing with beeswax crayons, sewing, finger knitting, and baking.
Preserving the reverence and imagination of the small
child creates happier adults who have more empathy and caring for others and a strong sense of responsibility toward all life.
“The assumption that children at play are not learning anything valuable —not developing or being prepared for school and life—is distressingly wide-spread. It couldn’t be more wrong.” Maria Piers and Genevieve Landau
History When Rolf Hummel opened the Dayspring Waldorf School in Gainesville in 1979 it set the path on which students and teachers still travel today. One such teacher is Sylvia Paluzzi who happened by the school one day. Intrigued by the lovely playground, she inquired if there were any job openings. It was not until several years later that she was hired as aftercare coordinator and began her lifelong exploration of Waldorf education. She started Morning Meadow in her home with five children. 2017 marks 25 years of Morning Meadow, now employing 8 wonderful teachers and serving over 50 children with three classes and a parent-toddler program. The Friends of Morning Meadow, which evolved into The Waldorf Initiative of Gainesville (TWIG) was founded in 2005 with the mission to promote Waldorf education; acquire a permanent home for Gainesville’s Waldorf Schools, which now included Heart Pine Waldorf School; and to support teachers to start and complete teacher training. Founded in 2010, Heart Pine Waldorf School began by serving the elementary school grades and has now expanded to include grades 1 through 8.
Sophia Study Group The Sophia Group of Gainesville is open to adults interested in exploring the philosophy of Anthroposophy, a discipline of research as well as a path of knowledge, service, personal growth and social engagement. Rudolf Steiner, whose work is the foundation of Waldorf education, began the development of the philosophy in the late 19th and early 20th century. Anthroposophy is a human-oriented spiritual philosophy that reflects and speaks to the basic deep spiritual questions of humanity, to our basic artistic needs, to the need to relate to the world out of a scientific attitude of mind, and to the need to develop a relationship to the world based on the freedom to make completely individual judgments and decisions. The Sophia Group of Gainesville meets twice monthly and is free and open to the public. The group also hosts several annual festivals. For more information please email morningmeadow9@msn.com
Faculty Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten employs lead teachers that are all fully trained and certified Waldorf educators. The assistant teachers are on their path for complete certification and have attended many training workshops and study groups in the pursuit of that goal. Morning Meadow is a full member of the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN). Our dedicated teachers are trained in CPR and first aid, have undergone all background screening for state and national regulatory bodies, and have completed all DCF required classes to work with young children. Heart Pine Waldorf School faculty are fully trained Waldorf-certified teachers or on the path to completion of their Waldorf training. All teachers hold either a BS or Masters in a related field. Heart Pine teachers have undergone background screening with both state and national regulatory bodies.
Parent Groups In order to support full parental involvement from early childhood through the grades, parents are encouraged to participate in the Gainesville Waldorf Parent Association. The GWPA has two subgroups, at Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten and at Heart Pine Waldorf School. The two groups work together to create unity in our Waldorf community while each focuses on its respective school for teacher support, parent volunteer recruitment and coordination, and fundraising.
Children experience the world differently from adults. The child is not a miniature adult who grows bigger; the differences in the child’s experiences of the world can be illustrated by how memory functions at different stages. In the early years (0-7) visual memory dominates. As the child matures (714), her feelings emerge in strong combination with story memory. Finally, with adolescence (14-21) comes the “ah-ha” of ideas, thoughts and concepts through logical insight. Jean Piaget
After School Care
Extended afternoon care for children of all classes is available at
both schools until 5:00, Monday through Friday. A balanced program of creative play and guided activities is offered.
Summer Enrichment Program Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten offers a six-week summer program from early June through July. The summer camp program is open to children ages 21/2 through 7. Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with an extended day until 5:00 p.m. if needed.
“Accept the children with reverence, educate them with love, send them forth in freedom.� Rudolf Steiner
The camp enriches the summer months with Waldorf-based classes and fun activities. These include painting, sewing, water play, cooking, storytelling, crafts and creative play. Heart Pine Waldorf School offers week-long summer sessions. Summer programs each support a different aspect of the Waldorf curriculum with a fun twist! These can include fiber arts, Native American legends and lore, art, marionette making and storytelling, and science camp.
Morning Meadow Preschool & Kindergarten MorningMeadow.com morningmeadow9@msn.com
TWIG The Waldorf Initiative of Gainesville
WaldorfGainesville.org
Heart Pine Waldorf School HeartPineSchool.org Info@HeartPineSchool.org