THE WALDORF READING APPROACH
Implicit in the broad Waldorf curriculum and innovative methodology
is the recognition that children learn in different ways at different
ages, that intellectual learning is only part of the full human
experience, and that the arts are central to the learning process.
When it comes to the experience of how children learn to read,
many folks ask what approach Waldorf education takes to this most
wondrous of experiences. Well, before learning to read, Waldorf
educators place before the children the experience of writing.
In other words, the children learn to read their own writings
initially. Waldorf education works with a whole language approach.
First graders hear stories, paint and illustrate pictures, and
discover the letter in the gesture of the picture. This process,
which echoes the way letters originated in the course of human
history, is accomplished by lively phonetic work in songs, poems,
and games that help to establish a joyful and living experience
of language. Through the grades, texts taken from the rich humanities
curriculum-Fairy Tales and Folk Tales from around the World, Genesis,
the Bhagavad-Gita, the Kalevala, the Iliad, etc.-provide material
for reading practice, recitation and drama.
Returning to the early years for a moment: in the writing experience
of Kindergarten there is a spontaneous use of developmental motifs
in drawing which serve as a forerunner of the use of straight
line and curve in future writing (see 1st grade); expressing themselves
through painting and drawing, the child's Kindergarten year lays
a foundation for later self-expression through writing. The Reading
approach in Kindergarten is through storytelling. Through storytelling
there is an awakening of the child's picture imagination, which
later brings books and stories alive. Creative play is also a
strong force in developing imagination. For the First Grader,
the teacher prepares writing through form drawing, painting, modeling
(bees wax) and movement. The children derive letters from story
material and initially draw letters in picture form. The beginning
letter emerges from the picture form. Once the beginning letter
is experienced, the children write whole words and sentences from
stories. They work with word families and once all the capital
letters are introduced, the short vowel sound is brought forth.
They also learn to identify vowels and consonants. In First Grade
the path is from Writing to Reading. The Reading experience is
prepared with coordination and concentration exercises. Children
read what they have written into their Main Lesson books. They
read in chorus and individually. They comprehend by hearing and
retelling age appropriate imaginative stories and by responding
to questions by using new vocabulary.
What Waldorf Education does is create a rich language arts environment.
It accomplishes this because it is steeped in authentic language
and stimulating stories. Waldorf provides a steady diet of literature
from the earliest years through which language competencies of
listening, speaking, reading and writing can be developed in an
integrated, meaning-centered fashion. Also encouraged is oral
language development through storytelling, discussion, retelling
of stories, poetry recitation and drama. This approach to the
language arts also provides opportunities for children to work
cooperatively and individually on composing stories. Finally,
the Waldorf approach integrates practice in writing, listening
and speaking.
- Merrill Badger, Principal
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Happening This Week:
This Thursday, April 1st , 4th
grade Sonoran Desert field trip drivers Planning Meeting 6:30-8:00
pm.
Friday morning is Tea Garden. Please join us.
Next Tuesday, April 6th is the 4th grade Parent
Class Meeting from 6:30—8:00 pm. Childcare available.
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All highly qualified MOCS Teachers resumes are
available in the office. The recent federal legislation of NCLB
(No Child Left Behind) invites all parents to become updated with
teacher qualifications. |
"The Music Man"
is coming to town,
to the Elk's Theater, the Last weekend in April & First weekend
in May.
Tickets available:
1st Wednesday in April (half-day)
During Friday Tea Garden &
in the Office anytime.
Tickets are $5 and MOCS gets a dollar for every ticket
sold!
For more info call Susan 776-8885
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Lost and Found
Please remember to check our lost and found
and our recycle bins.
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