What Makes Waldorf Schools Unique?

When families come to Cedarwood they are often looking for an alternative to the structured and formulaic public school system. They want their child to be seen as an individual and to receive an education that inspires them and helps them to find their path in the world. Waldorf education offers that and so much more, with focuses in the arts, community, and out-of-the-box thinking. Our students thrive in high school and beyond, but often these families are looking at Waldorf, Montessori, other independent schools, and International Baccalaureate programs and have questions about the difference between all of the options available to them. They may be considering language immersion, magnets, or art schools and it’s a challenge for families to identify how each type of school differs in the kind of education their child will experience. It can be overwhelming to look at the similarities and differences, so we wanted to give a clear description of the types of schools below:

Language Immersion - Usually private or magnet school where students learn language from an early age by being immersed in it. Often teachers mostly or only speak the language of the school. In Portland, we have Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, Russian, Vietnamese, and Japanese immersion schools. Many of these are magnet schools and still have to follow all public school requirements and standards. At these schools, students learn academics and select subjects but leave school fluent in at least one language other than English. 

Magnet or Charter Schools - These are schools that are part of the public school system but are not controlled by zoning. Magnet schools usually have a specific curricular focus in addition to regular academics. Magnet schools often are centered around science, technology, engineering, or math and many of the subject classes relate specifically to the focus of the school. Students usually experience an education based on inquiry and performance-based learning.

Art Schools - These schools thoroughly integrate art into the curriculum. Often these are also magnet, charter, or independent schools. If they are a magnet or charter they will still have to follow all public school requirements and standards, but will likely have subjects that heavily relate to the arts. 

International Baccalaureate -  These are often public schools that are registered as IB schools. They are focused on learning through inquiry and transdisciplinary studies with an emphasis on real-world application. Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and the school centers around 5- 6 themes like “identities,” “experiences,” and “human ingenuity.” There is an emphasis on personal development beyond just academics in a public school environment.

The above schools are the ones that most regularly align with the public school system. If you are looking for a truly unique education for your child that will give them a new way of thinking, expose them to new ideas, and enhance their problem-solving, you may consider an independent school. These include Montessori and Waldorf schools. 

Montessori Education continues to be one of the more popular forms of Early Childhood education. It usually begins at age 2 or 3 and can continue all the way through 12th grade. The curriculum is grouped in 3-year cycles with students learning in mixed age groups all the way through high school. There is a minimal formal structure and the curriculum is based on the concept that all children are more capable if they are internally motivated by their own choices. Learning is child-directed and students progress at their own pace. Classrooms are designed to stimulate the senses and multi-age classes are meant to promote mentorship between students which is why you will have grades 4, 5, 6 or 7, 8, 9 or 10, 11, 12 all in the same class together. Despite this, the focus of the school is on individual achievement and development, so students are often given uninterrupted blocks of time to work on exploring their own ideas and do not have as much formal instruction or social education. 

Waldorf Education has been growing more and more popular in recent years with families flocking to schools that focus more heavily on community and creativity. These schools nurture imagination and each child’s unique potential along with an emphasis on the social life of the class. They affirm independent-thinking and holistic development and support children to learn using art, music, and craftsmanship. Schools generally begin between ages 2 and 3, and the education is broken up into seven-year stages of development. There are traditional grade divisions once children reach 1st grade and class teachers often stay with their students for 5 to 8 years. The curriculum aims to foster students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual capabilities through experiential learning. Waldorf students will not be found often behind a desk doing worksheets, they will be outdoors making simple machines for physics, learning fractions in the kitchen while baking bread, and performing Shakespeare as they look at the complexity of the prose and characterization. Waldorf education is about creating well-rounded human beings who see themselves as part of a community and look for how they can better the world around them. 

Cedarwood Waldorf School brings Waldorf Education to life and strives to instill a love for learning. Our curriculum weaves together the arts, academics, and movement, with a reverence for the developing child. We nurture our children’s spirituality, cultivate their ability to think imaginatively and inspire them to seek the truth. 

Our Early Childhood (ages 3 to 6) is focused on play-based instruction that encourages imagination and problem-solving with a focus on social and emotional learning. These classes offer a warm nurturing environment of soft fabrics, gentle lighting, and natural materials where children participate in the community as friends. Cedarwood believes that the work of childhood is play and creates a space where their youngest children grow and thrive through play and exploration.

Our Elementary School (grades 1-5) knows that our students thrive in experiential lessons in core academics as well as Japanese, Spanish, movement, Practical Arts, eurythmy, and music. Regular field trips help connect us with our broader community and as class communities form, the social life of the students and parents supports the learning journey.

Our Middle School (grades 6-8) is a warm community where students are comfortable expressing themselves and are truly seen by their teachers. In Middle School, the core academics and subjects from grade school continue and are enhanced with Cyber Civics, advanced math, and a culminating 8th-grade project. Experiential education and adventure brings learning to life for middle school students as they explore the Pacific Northwest together and have fun doing it!

Schedule a tour of the campus and experience the Cedarwood difference. Visit https://www.cedarwoodschool.org/welcome-to-cedarwood to learn more.