Primary
Waldorf Education Approach
The child’s changing consciousness is the beginning, middle and end of our curricula. We ask: how does the subject support the needs of the growing child? The curriculum serves the needs of the child. This is the reverse of the normal dynamic and is a hallmark of Waldorf education. The children therefore can experience their education as highly meaningful, which has a tremendous impact on their motivation in later life.
The Waldorf method integrates the arts and movement into all academic disciplines, from preschool to twelfth grade, to enrich and enhance the learning experience. This approach is designed to inspire lifelong learning and enable every student to fully develop their unique capacities.
Research into human resilience shows that a child’s health and inclination toward life-long learning is promoted neither by intellectual instruction nor by cognitive reflection, but rather by cultivating [bringing to maturity] the emotional and volitional life.
Tobias Richter, Tapestry of a Waldorf Curriculum.
“The development of any school subject needs to relate intimately with the overall help the teacher is trying to give to the growing child as its incarnating spirit takes stronger command over his bodily and psychic organisms.
Each year of childhood sees new requirements in soul and moral capacities as well as in physical life. So mathematics teaching has to align itself, not just to intellectual development but take into account the whole human being, who has lungs, limbs and a heart as well as a head.” - Ron Jarman
Other Subjects
Specialty subjects such as art, crafts, eurythmy, foreign languages (Mandarin and German), gardening, cooking, music, and physical education are taught year-round at Waldorf schools. These subjects provide students with a more holistic education often continuing the theme of the main lesson (q.v.) and likewise determined by the soul and moral requirements.
Subjects are Experiential
At Waldorf schools, students are encouraged to experience subjects such as music, dance, theatre, writing, literature, legends, and myths, rather than simply reading about them and taking tests. By doing so, Waldorf students cultivate a number of their capacities and become individuals who are certain of their paths and ready to serve the world.
Main Lesson Period
The school day at Waldorf schools begins with a two-hour “main lesson” period, where students focus intensively on one theme for three to four weeks. This approach allows for a deeper exploration of the subject matter and encourages different modes of expression and experience to be incorporated.
Main Lesson Books
Students create their own ‘textbooks’ based on material presented by their teacher. As they progress through the grades, group discussions, reference books, independent research and classic literature increasingly supplement the teacher's oral presentations. This approach encourages students to take an active role in their learning and helps to develop their creativity and critical thinking skills.
Class 6
The child takes a firm, intentional step into the outer world and becomes aware of the changes in their body. With increasing awareness of the physical self, the time is right for study of the physical body of the earth.
Class 5
The Class 5 child has crossed over into harmonious balance where they can begin to flourish. This is the time to establish foundations for their future.
Class 3
This is the “Crossing Point” for a child. They start to question everything and feel separate from the world. They sometimes suffer from loneliness and fear. At this time it is important for the child to learn self sufficiency.
Class 2
The child is like a butterfly who has just emerged from the chrysalis sitting upon a leaf poised for flight. This is the time when they discover their relationship with the world around them. They are eager to participate in everything that comes to their attention.
Class 1 - The School Journey Begins
Children arrive at school with great expectations: “how” and “why” are their questions to help them on their way into the world. Imaginative answers that satisfy their imaginations let them feel at home and accepted in this world.
The child receives an image, internalises it, recalls it, and generalises it into a concept that can be applied.
Classes
Get to Know Garden House
We would highly recommend that, whenever possible, all parents/guardians visit us before beginning the admissions process. It is a wonderful way for us to meet our prospective children and their families, and for new families to get a sense of Waldorf education. School tours are available weekly (by appointment); please contact our Admissions Officer at admission@gardenhouse.edu.hk or 2358-1177.
Our school began in 2008 when our founder, Cannie Pang, began with playgroups and kindergarten on this site.
In 2021, Cannie and Jane Song shared their passion for holistic education and co-founded the Waldorf Primary School on the 1st floor of our existing building (above Garden House Waldorf Kindergarten). Their vision was to provide a seamless learning journey for children, all under one roof.
Since then, we have grown to offer a comprehensive learning experience for children from Playgroup through to Primary School (Class 1 to Class 3 in 2022-3, growing to Class 1 to 8 by 2027-8).