Waldorf Method
Not recommended by Public School Exit.
This is large group/teacher directed and includes programs such as Live Education, Oak Meadow and Christopherus Homeschool Resources and Life Ways North America. Imagination plays a key role in learning. It utilizes Rudolf Steiner’s development of the ego body. He is the founder of anthroposophy (“human wisdom”) and lived from 1861-1925 in Austria and focuses on early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. Academics are de-emphasized in the early years of schooling with no textbooks in grades 1-5 and no grades given in the elementary years. Currently, there are about 1,000 Wadorf schools in 60 countries (with 150 in North America). Creativity and free-thinking are encouraged. Dr. Steiner was a forerunner in the field of spiritual scientific investigation for the modern 20th century. He focused on four non-Christian festivals. Television and computer usage is discouraged. The same teachers stay with the children each year.