Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
For Waldorf teachers, math is often one of the more difficult subjects to teach. On the one hand, memories of our own schooldays can cloud our view of children's developmental needs, whereas on the other hand, Steiner's many indications do not form a cohesive structure for the math curriculum. Thus, many different ways of teaching were developed during the seventy-year history of Waldorf education. This diversity underscores the responsibility teachers carry for their lessons. This guide does not in any way intend to diminish this responsibility, but seeks to contribute to a unified view of Steiner indications for a developmentally appropriate math curriculum. Our approach may differ from some existing programs--mainly in its direct and quick beginning to math activities and its avoidance of pictures when introducing numbers to young students. There may be other differences as well.
Synopsis
For Waldorf teachers, math is often one of their most difficult subjects. Memories of schooldays mathematics can cloud one's view of the students' developmental needs, whereas Steiner's many pedagogical suggestions do not indicate a structure for a cohesive math curriculum. Thus, teachers have developed various ways of teaching math during since the beginning of Waldorf education in 1921. Such diversity underscores the unique responsibility teachers carry for mathematics lessons.
This guide is not in any way intended to diminish that responsibility, but to help establish a unified view of Steiner's statements for a developmentally appropriate math curriculum. The approaches suggested here might differ from existing programs in several areas--for example, in its direct and immediate beginning to math activities and reluctance to use images for introducing numbers to young students.
This guidebook will be useful for teachers and schools in moving toward a more collegial and systematic approach to teaching mathematics in Waldorf classrooms.