Abstract
This chapter gives an outline of the curriculum, pedagogical approaches and teaching methodologies that are unique to Waldorf Schools and underpinned by the educational philosophy developed by Rudolf Steiner. In discussing these aspects in detail, the chapter addresses the way in which the Steiner curriculum from Kindergarten to Class 12 recapitulates aspects of the developmental pathway of humanity through history which informs and reflects the growth pathway of the child into adulthood; and how this philosophical orientation informs the teaching methods at different age-appropriate stages.
Emphasis is placed on the importance of a synchronised approach to the rhythms and patterns of the daily lessons, the school week and the yearly timetable, including an explanation of the Main Lesson, the celebration of seasonal and cultural festivals, and the integration of the arts and sciences in a holistic and phenomenological approach to presenting knowledge in a sequenced way that balances cognitive, aesthetic and experiential learning.
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Stehlik, T. (2019). Steiner Education: The Curriculum, Pedagogy and Methodology. In: Waldorf Schools and the History of Steiner Education. Palgrave Studies in Alternative Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31631-0_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-31631-0_3
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