When you’re looking up various forms and philosophies of schooling, you’re probably going to come up with more than one name. One such name is Waldorf, which has a similar approach to Montessori.
What are Waldorf schools?
Waldorf schools, also known as Steiner education, was founded by Rudolph Steiner. Steiner was a keen follower of anthroposophy. It’s a spiritual movement that advocates the existence of a spiritual realm that humans perceive.
It is why concepts such as karma, reincarnation, and spirituality are all topics heavily delved upon in a Waldorf classroom.
When it comes to comparison with Montessori, there are some major similarities. The similarities include
- An individualized curriculum and pace
- Focus on cognitive, behavioral, and imaginative development instead of just focusing on academics
- Mainstream standardized subjects such as mathematics, English, and science aren’t introduced heavily until the child is a little older.
- There is a lot of focus on nature. Whereas Montessori classrooms are filled with natural light, Waldorf schools also encourage playing outside to develop social skills.
- Lots of focus on creativity
Suppose you were to look at some differences to figure out what school would be the most suitable for your child. The differences are:
- The schools still focus on standardized core subjects, even though they might not be named the same. For example, English is usually called language, and culture is a combination of various zoology, history, and arts. On the other hand, Waldorf schools don’t introduce core academics until elementary school.
- The schools encourage more work and less play. The teachers don’t encourage pretend play at all, whereas pretend play is a huge part of the Waldorf system. The Waldorf philosophy incorporates pretend play as it enhances creative thinking and imagination.
- Though the schools also have plenty of artistic activities in their curriculum, Waldorf focuses more on the arts. Waldorf educators try to weave music, dance, drama, and other performing arts into academics so students can stay engaged in long classes and understand better.
Here are some alternative options.
| School System | Main Focus |
| Democratic Education | Student-led learning and decision-making with a focus on autonomy. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | Multicultural, international education with a focus on critical thinking. It has a focus on global awareness. |
| Project-Based Learning | Real-world problem-solving through hands-on and collaborative projects. |
| Reggio Emilia Approach | It’s child-centered, using project-based learning emphasizing communication and collaboration. |
| Waldorf Education | A holistic and artistic approach to child development. |
