by Amber Gates, Under the Canopy School Instructional Leader
I’ve only just begun my journey into the world of Waldorf education. In August, I joined the team at Under the Canopy School as the Instructional Leader, tasked with creating a curriculum for Pre-K through 5th grade that draws from Waldorf, a nature-based approach to education, and the mission and values of Under the Canopy. Over the course of the last 5 weeks, I have read multiple books, listened to countless podcasts, participated in online learning courses, and enjoyed conversations with Margaritte and others who are familiar with Waldorf. To call it an educational philosophy is to grossly understate the elegance, the care, the loving intention, and the pure magic of Waldorf.
This magic is particularly on display in Early Childhood. From the colors on the walls to the quiet simplicity of the morning snack time, a Waldorf Early Childhood setting creates calm and inspires exploration. There is a deep reverence for each moment in a child’s development integrated into every aspect of Waldorf education. You can learn more about the history of Waldorf education by watching this video.
The Early Childhood program at Under the Canopy School includes the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes. We will feature and part-time Pre-K, as well as one Kindergarten class of up-to 24 children*.
UTCS teachers will create an environment in which the children have plenty of time to be out in nature and plenty of time for unstructured, imaginative play. Children will play with beeswax, watercolor painting, and as they develop into the upper grades in the school, sewing, knitting, crocheting and other handworking arts. They will harvest foods from our gardens and learn to chop them up for soup, they’ll learn to bake bread and other practical activities which their teachers will model.
One of the goals for teachers at Under the Canopy and throughout Waldorf schools is to be worthy of imitation. Our Early Childhood teachers will complete the daily practical tasks of the classroom with the knowledge that the children are watching and learning. If the teacher cleans the table with joy and gratitude, the student learns that cleaning the table is done with joy and gratitude. If the teacher erases the chalkboard with care and attention to erasing it completely, the student will learn to do it in the same way.
Early Childhood is a sacred time. Children are learning to come into their physical bodies, they are learning how to interact with the world and the people around them. It is a great privilege to work with children during this time in their lives, to ignite their curiosity for learning through storytelling and songs, and to honor each developmental milestone as it happens.
As we continue to work toward the fall 2025 opening of Under the Canopy School, I am so excited to continue my journey of learning about the Early Childhood experience in Waldorf and combine that with my 20 years of experience in education to build the Under the Canopy School curriculum.
*If demand exists, there is a possibility for us to have two Kindergarten classes.
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