Waldorf Grade 1

In the elementary years, Waldorf makes lively use of a time-honored practice: teaching children through stories that recount the deeds of heroes, the qualities of animals, the history of a people, cultural wisdom and spiritual truths. Stories also promote solid learning in every academic subject from the alphabet and basic arithmetic through zoology and Greek history.

First grade is the commencement of formal schooling marked by children's new interest in learning. Students establish good habits of classroom life and work that will form the basis for all subsequent learning at school. The students and teacher build the foundation for an ever-deepening relationship while forming a socially cohesive group during this special year of beginnings.

2024-2025 Grade 1 Class Teacher:  Ms. Dooley

Grade 1 Assistant Teacher:  Ms. Oz

Learn more about Waldorf Grade 1 Academic Benchmarks

Main Lessons

The children begin each morning in a 90-minute Main Lesson with their class teacher. During this time, when their minds are freshest, they intensively study one of the core academic subjects: language arts, mathematics, history, or science. Subjects requiring regular repetition in shorter lessons (foreign languages, for example) occupy the later part of the morning.

Grade 1 Literature:

Fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories help to cultivate imagination and awareness of the environment. Teachers utilize language that is clear and rich in expressive vocabulary, including poems with strong rhythms.

Grade 1 English and Grammar:

Writing and reading evolve out of the oral tradition. Letters are introduced pictorially through stories, and then letters evolve into words and sentences. Writing evolves from drawing. Capital letters, simple words, speech exercises, short plays, and phonetics are all part of the first grade curriculum. A class play may be performed during this year.

Grade 1 Science:

Stories from nature help children build awareness of and sensitivity to their surroundings.

Grade 1 Mathematics:

Whole numbers to 100 are introduced. Elements of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are explored through imaginative stories and tactile experiences. Counting, rhythms, mental arithmetic, Roman numerals, and number riddles help to reinforce arithmetic skills.

Grade 1 Drawing, Painting, and Modeling:

Children are introduced to a variety of artistic materials including beeswax, crayons, and watercolor paints. Through painting, students learn about the qualities of color, and through drawing, they learn about the qualities of form. Beeswax is modeled to create small figures and scenes from fairy tales. All work is imbued with color and beauty.