Culturally Relevant Inspiration

1. Culturally Relevant Inspiration
Barbara Dickerson
EDU 692
Eileen Dial
11.30.15

2. EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL
6211 NEW JERICHO ROAD, CHAPEL HILL,
NC 27516
(919) 967-1858

3. The Emerson Waldorf School provides a creative, supportive learning environment based on the philosophical
and pedagogical of Dr. Rudolf Steiner.
We offer a time-tested curriculum designed to bring interdisciplinary and multi-sensory learning in response to
the needs of the child at each stage of development, with a rich blend of academics and arts.
The Emerson Waldorf School is a full member of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA),
the Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America (WECAN), the National Association of Independent
Schools (NAIS) and the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS). Emerson is fully accredited
by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), the Southern Association of Colleges Schools
(SACS), and AdvancEd.
Grades: PK - 12
School Type: Private
Student Enrollment: 285
Students Per Teacher: 8
http://www.emersonwaldorf.org

4. The Waldorf school day is divided into three main parts: head, heart and
hands. The head lesson is also referred to as the main lesson and is done first
thing in the morning.
After a break, the heart subjects follow. Heart subjects include drawing,
painting, drama, eurhythmy, foreign language, music, and so on.
The afternoon is dance, handwork, gardening and other types of gross motor
skill activates.

5. •Music, art, and movement are greatly employed in the learning process.
Those emphasized are dance/eurhythmy, watercolors, flute/recorder and
in later years violin/cello, songs in the round, knitting and crocheting, wood
carving and nature crafts.
•Storytelling: Storytelling is used to awaken imagination, build vocabulary
and oral language, retain attention and teach subjects such as math,
history, geography, social studies, writing and reading.
•Nature: The Waldorf method emphasizes nature and environmental
stewardship. Children spend time outside exploring the world around them
gaining a deeper understanding of science and nature studies.
•Real Life: Children learn real-life tasks such as housekeeping, cooking,
fiber arts and gardening.
•Main Lessons: Main lessons include all traditional subjects and are
typically taught in 6-week sessions, thereby allowing children to gain a
deep and personal relationship with the material and therefore retain it
longer.
•Seasonal Study: Seasonal studies and festivals are taught and celebrated
throughout the year

6. In the early grades, the curriculum inspired by Waldorf provides an unhurried way of learning that minimizes
modern stressors and protects childhood while encouraging children’s creative expression and fostering their
imagination. As children mature, the learning process accelerates and provides a program that meets
students where they are developmentally. The teacher’s aim is to draw out the child’s inherent capacities by
creating an atmosphere in the classroom that fills the children with interest, wonder, and enthusiasm.

7. 2856 Horse Pen Creek Rd Greensboro, NC 27410
http://www.thegms.org/contact-us

8. The Greensboro Montessori School was founded in 1974 by three local parents who sought an alternative
way to educate their children. Their search led them to the Montessori approach, which was gaining
popularity all over the country. Parental involvement and concern has remained a cornerstone of GMS. Our
growth has been driven by parents who want the best for their children. Today, over 40 years later, GMS
serves children from toddlers through middle school.
Grade Range 18 mths - 8th Grade
Min Grade Toddlers
Max Grade 8th grade
School Type Day
Student Body Coed
Accreditation Status SAIS/SACS
Website www.thegms.org

9. The whole child approach. The primary goal of a Montessori program is to help each
child reach his or her full potential in all areas of life. Activities promote the
development of social skills, emotional growth and physical coordination as well as
cognitive preparation for future intellectual academic endeavors. The holistic
curriculum, under the direction of a specifically prepared teacher, allows the child to
experience the joy of learning, the time to enjoy the process and ensures the
development of self esteem. It provides the experiences from which children create their
knowledge.
In order for self-directed learning to take place, the whole learning environment –
classroom, materials, social setting and atmosphere must be supportive of the child. The
teacher provides the necessary resources, including opportunities for children to function
in a safe and positive environment. Together, the teacher and child form a relationship
based on trust and respect that fosters self-confidence and a willingness to try new
things.
Dr. Montessori’s observations of the kinds of things children enjoy and go back to
repeatedly, led her to design a number of multi-sensory, sequential and self-correcting
materials to facilitate learning.
Originally called a directress the Montessori teacher functions as a designer of the
environment, resource person, role model, demonstrator, record-keeper and meticulous
observer of each child’s behavior and growth. The teacher facilitates learning

10. Creativity and critical thinking and problem-solving
have been the foundation of Montessori education.
In a Montessori classroom children are given the
freedom to follow their interests, because there are no
grades and no tests, children can dive into the
curriculum without the fear of failure. Children who
are allowed to learn from mistakes, rather than being
punished for mistakes .
Montessori education is based on the idea that
children want to learn, it’s a natural instinct.
A Montessori classroom is a place of joyful learning
like no other. A classroom where every child, from
age 18 months to 14 years, has the opportunity to
transform the 21st Century

11. Students at GMS will have a deeper understanding of
their education because they use it, feel it, and touch it
during their experiences in our three extensive organic
permaculture gardens and at the Land Laboratory in
Oak Ridge.
children thrive on direct experience and that their
hands are their primary teachers. Through direct
interaction with the materials, children come to
understand a concept using their own senses. They
enjoy learning and are fulfilled by learning. They draw
on this primary experience later when they begin to
understand and explore concepts abstractly. The same
is true in the natural world. Children, and all people,
require direct personal experience to fully understand
the world around them. Nature’s materials awaken a
child’s senses in ways that even classroom materials
cannot. Nature demands the integration and use of all
the senses.

12. Hands on in a prepared, accessible
environment
At their own pace
The environment is serene, uncluttered, natural,
beautiful, inviting, orderly, precise,
immaculate, safe, empowering and enjoyable.
Montessori supports a child’s natural and
spontaneous desire to learn.
Help children become independent and critical
thinkers
Promote imagination, increase insight and
create a desire for quality

13. 1200 Arlington Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 378-7700
http://guilfordchilddev.org/

14. Head Start and Early Head Start programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children
from birth to age 5. In addition to education services, programs provide children and their families with health,
nutrition, social, and other services. Head Start services are responsive to each child and family's ethnic,
cultural, and linguistic heritage.
Head Start encourages the role of parents as their child's first and most important teachers. Programs build
relationships with families that support positive parent-child relationships, family well-being, and connections
to peers and community. Head Start began as a program for preschoolers. Three- and 4-year-olds made up
over 80 percent of the children served by Head Start last year.
Early Head Start serves pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. Early Head Start programs are available to the
family until the child turns 3 years old and is ready to transition into Head Start or another pre-K program.
Early Head Start helps families care for their infants and toddlers through early, continuous, intensive, and
comprehensive services.

15. Head Start gives children the opportunities
the be successful in the life and in their
education. Head Start not only educate the
child but the family about the importance of
family/ classroom, collaboration for the
development of their whole child. Head
Start is required to have children with
disabilities. Those children are given the
same opportunities to develop inclusive
environments.

16. The 21st century skills that Head Start
offer is their children are creativity, critical
thinking, problem solving, collaboration, &
innovation.
Head Start’s experience promote cultural
relevance by treating all children with
equity base on their individual need and
differences. Head start is known for having
numerous community partners that offer
services to children and families. Some of
which offer services as early intervention
and wellness for the families. Head Start
prides itself for working with the whole
family not only the child.

17. Head Start promotes creativity by
allowing the children to be explore their
environment . The environment is set up
I learning areas with developing toys &
materials. A big part of Head Start is to
encourage children to be confident
learners while
Trying out their ideas, problem solving
and discovering trial and error.