Curriculum
"If I had a child of school age, I would send him to one of the Waldorf Schools."
-Saul Bellow, Nobel Laureate
Innovative Programming
One of the things unique to Ashwood is its dedication to offering a classic education through the integration of academic teachings, the arts and the wonder of the natural world. Curriculum enhancements, in the form of innovative programming, reinforce this education process and are funded through the generosity of foundations and individual donors. Examples of innovative programming include:
The Vivaldi Project - Making a difference by making music
This collaborative program of the Ashwood Waldorf School, the Odeon Youth String Ensemble and Bay Chamber Concerts seeks to enrich the lives of children through musical education. Ashwood has established an instrument lending library and offers dynamic master classes with professional musicians.
Ashwood Trails Project - a gift to the community
With funding from the MBNA Conservation Grants Program, Ashwood students, faculty, staff and parent volunteers will expand its woodlands trail network, developing two outdoor learning environments and building small footbridges to open access to a greater percentage of the woodlands on campus. Upon completion, this project will provide the greater midcoast community with a sanctuary that promotes the study and respect of nature.
ABC Quilt Project
With topnotch new sewing machines purchased through the generosity of the MBNA Foundation, seventh- and eighth-graders constructed quilts for the ABC Quilts Project. The beautiful results were distributed to at-risk children affected by drug/alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDS, or family abandonment. This meaningful community service project inspired the students and gave them a deeper understanding of the problems impacting our society.
Grade School Curriculum
Ashwood places great importance on offering a rich interdisciplinary curriculum for every child. Below is a listing of the grade school academic curriculum by grade:
First Grade
- Pictorial and phonetic introduction to letters
- Reading approached through writing
- Arithmetic introduction to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
- Fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories
Second Grade
- Reading
- Writing
- Multiplication tables
- Numerical patterns and forms
- Legends, fables, and nature stories
Third Grade
- Reading and spelling
- Simple descriptive writing and cursive writing
- Grammar, punctuation and parts of speech
- Time and calendar work
- Multiplication with higher numbers
- Weight, measurement, money
- Study of practical life - farming, housing, clothing
- Hebrew stories as an introduction to history
Fourth Grade
- Reading, spelling, writing, composition and grammar
- Introduction to fractions
- Study of animal kingdom
- Local geography and map-making
- Norse myths
- Native American studies
Fifth Grade
- Reading, spelling, composition, grammar and letter writing
- Poetry
- Fractions, decimals, freehand geometry
- Study of plant kingdom
- Physical and economic geography of the United States
- Ancient civilizations through Greece
Sixth Grade
- Letter writing, grammar and essay writing
- Literature and library skills
- Earth science and astronomy
- Business math, geometry, pre-algebra
- Introduction to physics
- Physical and economic geometry of the Americas
- Roman and medieval history
Seventh Grade
- Grammar, creative writing, essays and compositions
- Algebra and geometry
- Physics
- Introduction to chemistry
- Biology - human physiology and health
- Cultural geography of Asia and Europe
- History of the Renaissance, Reformation and the Age of Discovery
Eighth Grade
- Creative and expository writing, poetry, drama, recitation, book reports
- Grammar
- Physics and chemistry
- Review of basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry
- Biology - human anatomy and physiology
- Cultural geography of Africa and Australia
- History - 1600 to present
"Most Waldorf-educated children are happy, intelligent, adaptive, cooperative, and above all love their school and love learning."
- Joseph Chilton Pearce, Author of The Magical Child