Deck 11: Waldorf Education: Harmony and the Whole Child

Question 1

What are the origins of Waldorf education?

A) Developed by Steiner in Germany in 1919.
B) Developed by Malaguzzi in Italy in 1945.
C) Developed as an early intervention effort in the 1960s.
D) Developed by Froebel in Germany in 1848.

Answer 1

Developed by Steiner in Germany in 1919.

Question 2

What is the goal of Waldorf education?

A) To develop students who follow authority by enforcing strict rules and promoting conformity.
B) To develop academic skills and solely focus on intellectual development.
C) To develop free and independent thinkers through a holistic approach to education and growth.
D) To develop professional artists and musicians.

Answer 2

To develop free and independent thinkers through a holistic approach to education and growth.

Question 3

When Waldorf education was created, four things were "must haves" by its founder; points that served as the basis for implementing the school. Which was NOT one?

A) That the schools be open to all children.
B) That the curriculum be unified K-12.
C) That the schools be run by a principal in charge of all administrative decisions.
D) That the schools be coeducational.

Answer 3

That the schools be run by a principal in charge of all administrative decisions.

Question 4

What is the three-fold nature of human beings, according to Waldorf philosophy?

A) Plan, Do, Review
B) Head, Hands, Heart
C) Thinking, speaking, moving
D) Think, Pair, Share

Question 5

First and foremost, Waldorf early childhood classrooms seek to create:

A) An academic focus.
B) An orderly space.
C) A brightly colored, cheerful space.
D) A home-like environment.

Question 6

Waldorf early childhood teachers emphasize what method as a primary means of instruction?

A) Lecture and reading
B) Oral storytelling and play
C) Skill-and-drill direct instruction
D) Board games

Question 7

To maintain the classroom tone, what do Waldorf teachers use?

A) Song and gentle voices.
B) Written class rules.
C) A reward-punishment point system.
D) A whistle and "three strikes you're out" system.

Question 8

During the influential earliest years (birth to 7), what does Steiner value as an essential task of adults in the child's world?

A) Ensuring safety through carefully designed rules
B) Creating brightly colorful settings with plentiful posters and visual stimulation
C) Creating stimulating spaces infusing the latest technologies and books
D) Protecting the child from unhealthful or inappropriate experiences and stimuli

Question 9

Of the program's overall view of how children grow, which of the following is NOT part of their beliefs?

A) Children grow through imitation and play.
B) Childhood is a time of innocence and beauty.
C) Children need clear academic experiences early.
D) Children's development unfolds naturally.

Question 10

Steiner believed that the young child's energies naturally focused on:

A) Developing academic competence.
B) Building strong social connections.
C) Building skills they need to succeed in the workplace.
D) Developing their physical bodies and imagination.

Question 11

What does the Waldorf philosophy claim is the primary means through which young children learn?

A) Cooking
B) Imitation
C) Lecture
D) Gardening

Question 12

Waldorf early childhood experiences are designed to develop strong intellect through all of the following, EXCEPT:

A) Imitating exemplary models
B) Communing with nature
C) Encouraging children's imagination and creative experiences
D) Essential early phonics training

Question 13

First and foremost, Waldorf early childhood teachers serve as:

A) Imparters of knowledge.
B) Deliberate models.
C) Safety monitors.
D) Playmates.

Question 14

What method of assessment do Waldorf teachers use?

A) IQ tests
B) Standardized tests
C) They don't believe in assessment
D) Observations and portfolios

Question 15

What does the practice of looping involve?

A) One teacher remaining with the same group of children over multiple years
B) Looping is a weaving technique
C) A style of team-teaching
D) A cohesive curriculum model