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This fully revised edition of 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 early childhood approach. It enables the reader to analyse the essential elements of the Steiner Waldorf Approach to early childhood and its relationship to quality early years practice.
Covering all areas of the curriculum including observation and assessment, child development, play, repetition and the environment, this new edition has been updated to reflect recent curriculum changes and explore the influence of media and technology. Including a new chapter on expanding the Steiner Waldorf approach to work with children from birth to three, the book:
describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood with examples from Steiner settings;
provides an accessible and objective overview of a key pedagogical influence on high quality early years practice in the United Kingdom;
highlights the key ideas that practitioners should consider when reviewing their own practice;
contains summaries of key points and reflective practice questions to help students and practitioners engage with the ideas in the book.
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 text is essential reading for students, practitioners, leaders, managers and all those wanting to improve their early years practice.
List of contents
Acknowledgements Introduction 1. History and foundations 2. Key pedagogical principles 3. Child development: the first seven years 4. The environment 5. Imitation and example 6. Play at the heart of the Steiner Waldorf setting 7. Rhythm and repetition 8. Domestic and artistic activities 9. Observation and assessment 10. Working at partnerships to support the child 11. The Steiner approach to working with children from Birth to Three 12. Current Issues Appendix I Steiner Waldorf education: its challenges and possibilities worldwide Appendix II Typical equipment and activities in a Steiner Waldorf early childhood setting Appendix III An example of a seasonal ring time for October Appendix IV An example of a child observation schema Key texts and resources
About the author
Janni Nicol has worked as a Steiner kindergarten teacher in South Africa and Cambridge, UK. She is now the UK early childhood representative for Steiner Waldorf schools and kindergartens, and writes, consults and lectures on Steiner 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 Steiner kindergarten teacher in Scotland and England.
Summary
This second edition describes the key principles of the Steiner Waldorf approach to early childhood supported with examples and case studies. Exploring all areas of the curriculum, the book has been updated to take into account curriculum changes and the relationship of media and technology to the Steiner Wardorf approach.
