Waldorf Academy Toronto Announces Video Insight into a Year at Waldorf Academy

Jennifer Deathe of Waldorf Academy is happy to announce the launch of a video that provides insight to what a year at Waldorf Academy looks like. Waldorf Academy takes a holistic or whole child approach to nurturing a child’s learning experiences. Since many parents wonder what this looks like, Waldorf Academy has released a 9-minute video to provide a clear insight on this strategy.

When asked about this announcement, Jennifer Deathe had this comment to share, “It’s a unique approach, so many parents are hesitant. We can provide school tours, of course, but it is still difficult for the parent to understand the experience. You only get a brief snapshot of the approach in action without hearing about the results and impacts this approach has on children. We’ve decided to condense a year into a 9-minute video that gives so much more information than an hour-long tour ever could.”

Waldorf Academy Toronto caters to children as young as 2 and as old as 14. They specialize in an arts-based approach to learning that nurtures a community spirit. By integrating a hands-on approach with traditional education subjects, they make learning a fun and engaging experience for all ages. In the video, they explain that this approach activates several regions of the brain, which causes the lesson to leave a lasting impression.

Julia Wyncoll, a parent of Waldorf Academy, shared her review of the school on Google, “Two of our children went from kindergarten through grade 8 and have both made the transfer easily and well to high school academically and socially. As importantly they are interesting and inquiring young adults who we are eager to watch make their mark on the world.”

In the video, many people were interviewed in order to explain the approach at Waldorf Academy. Teachers explain the different experience parents can expect walking into a Waldorf classroom as opposed to a classroom in a public school. Parents praise the impact Waldorf had on their children and alumni’s describe what it was like to attend this school. These interview excerpts coupled with the video clips taken from classroom lessons and educational events can give parents an idea of what to expect from the Waldorf Academy experience.

Maria Spiegel was happy to share this glowing review, “Since our son transferred to the Waldorf Academy in Grade 2, we have watched him transform. He went from being from a child who hated school to a positive and engaged student. He is accepted by the teachers and fellow students and feels part of a community. At the Waldorf Academy, the Faculty truly care about the students and support them to succeed. Education is not rushed. It is holistic. The focus is not test scores or rote memorization of facts. Students learn through inquiry based model, one which will serve them best throughout life. Less emphasis on acquisition of facts, more about learning how to learn. There are many benefits of Waldorf's approach to education and child development, and we have been delighted by our son's academic and social development since joining the school.”

This independent school focuses on teaching practices that engage the left and right brain simultaneously while also involving the motor cortex. This style of teaching and learning allows students to enjoy the lesson while they are learning, almost in a way that doesn’t feel like learning. This is the hallmark of a Waldorf education.

In traditional classroom settings, a teacher is leading a lesson, many times spending more time talking than listening. At Waldorf Academy, the teachers pivot to an approach that focuses on guidance, instead. This child-centric approach steps away from the test and grade format. This approach encourages critical thinking, a primary quality that colleges and universities look for in their applicants. Most importantly, students learn the value of teamwork and the importance of contributing to a community. This promotes healthy friendships and relationships later on in life.