Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach: Early Years Education in Practice

by Nicol; Janni

• ISBN13: 9780415597166
• ISBN10: 0415597161
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2012-04-19
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Understanding the Steiner Waldorf Approach is a much needed source of information for those wishing to extend and consolidate their understanding of the Steiner Waldorf High Scope Approach. It will enable the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice. Exploring all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment this book: describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood with examples from Steiner settings; provides students and practitioners with the relevant information about a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom; highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing and reflecting on their own practice; can be used as the basis for continuing professional development and action research Written to support the work of all those in the field of early years education and childcare, this is a vital text for students, early years and childcare practitioners, teachers, early years professionals, children "s centre professionals, lecturers, advisory teachers, head teachers and setting managers.

Author Biography

Janni Nicol has worked as a Steiner kindergarten teacher in South Africa and the UK She is now the UK early childhood representative for Stonier Waldorf schools and kindergartens and writes, consults and lectures on Stonier early childhood in the UK and internationally. Jill Tina Taplin works in teacher education in the UK and internationally, advising, teaching and writing, after many years as a Sterner kindergarten teacher in Scotland and England.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. vii
Introduction	p. ix
History and foundations	p. 1
Key pedagogical principles	p. 13
Child development: the first seven years	p. 29
The environment	p. 38
Imitation and example	p. 52
Play at the heart of the Steiner Waldorf setting	p. 67
Rhythm and repetition	p. 82
Domestic and artistic activities	p. 97
Observation and assessment	p. 111
Working at partnerships to support the child	p. 123
Current issues	p. 132
Steiner Waldorf education: its challenges and possibilities worldwide	p. 150
Typical equipment and activities in a Steiner Waldorf early-childhood setting	p. 158
An example of a seasonal ring time for October	p. 160
An example of a child observation schema	p. 166
Key texts and resources	p. 168
Index	p. 171
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.