Hours: 8:15am - 3:15pm

2008-2009 Annual Tuition: $14,965

First Grade is a bridge between the kindergarten and the grades. With the second dentition, children have completed the formation of their physical bodies and are ready to begin to work with their minds. The mood of the classroom is no longer that of the kindergarten. The children have now arrived ready to take up the tasks of the first grade curriculum. Creating form through a strong rhythm is the task of the teacher; rhythms through the day, through the week, and through the seasons of the year which will help the children grow and learn in a healthy way. That first step into academics provides many challenges for the young child; their day is full of stories, artistic experiences, and social interactions. By 1:30, they need time for rest and space to replenish their forces for the next day. At this time, it is ideal if those children who are able can go home. However, we realize that this is not always possible for those in carpools and whose parents both work; therefore, we provide a more relaxed afternoon program to accommodate the children who remain.

The year begins with the discovery that behind all forms lie two basic principles: the straight and curved line. The children find these shapes in their own bodies, in the classroom, and in the world beyond. The straight and curved line are then practiced through walking, drawing in the air and sand, on the blackboard and finally, on paper. Striving for symmetry and harmonious balance of form strengthens the being, while form drawings train motor skills, awaken the children's powers of observation and provide a foundation for the introduction of the alphabet.

Through fairy tales and stories, the children are introduced to each letter of the alphabet. In this way, the children experience the development of language in a very concrete yet creative way: instead of abstract symbols, the letters actually become lively imaginations within the children. "S" may be a fairy tale snake sinuously slithering through the grass on some secret errand; the "W" may be found in the formations of waves in a blackboard drawing.

Pictures drawn on the blackboard by the teacher, and in notebooks by the children illustrate the classroom stories. The class may then compose short descriptive sentences to accompany these pictures, which are first written on the board, then copied from the teachers' model. In this way, the children joyfully create their own illustrated books for their first reading material.

In a similar way, the children first experience the qualities of numbers before learning addition or subtraction: What is "oneness"? What is there only one of in the world ("one sun, one moon, one unique being who is me!")? So the characteristics of one, two, three, etc. are explored in the children's inner experience and in nature. Stones, acorns or other natural objects are used to introduce counting. Children take delight in this, especially when stepping and clapping accompany the strong, rhythmic choral speaking of the numbers. Through these activities, the children befriend themselves with the form and movement of the number element. Only after considerable practical experience in adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, are the written symbols for these operations introduced.

Children learn best at this age by entering with love, sympathy and wonder into the world they are studying; the imaginative pictures and stories help to inspire the love and sympathy and wonder they will need for the task. The curriculum also includes nature studies through the child's own experience and stories. They learn the true facts of nature, but always in vivid, dramatic story form.

First graders enter the world of music through the pentatonic scale. In this scale, all the notes have a harmonious sound in any order they are played. The songs often come of seasonal moods.

Aside from a rich musical experience, playing the pentatonic flute develops finger coordination, concentration and breath control.

Handwork serves several important purposes. Knitting is an indispensable first grade activity, as there exists a close relationship between finger movement, speech and thinking. Painting in the first grade is intended to give the children an experience of working with color rather than attempting to create formed "pictures". The children's feelings for form are encouraged through honey-fragrant beeswax modeling and crayon illustrations. In coloring, the children imitate the teacher's work, attempting to draw whole shapes rather than filling in outlines.

The imitative genius of early childhood makes this an ideal time to learn through hearing and speaking another language. Spanish is frequently taught as the second language in California schools. Both Spanish and German are taught at Marin Waldorf School.

Eurythmy, an art of movement developed by Dr. Steiner, is taught by specially trained teachers. Exercises affect the children's grace of movement, sensitize hands and fingers, heighten spatial awareness, and stimulate musical, poetic and dramatic senses.

The concentrated nature of the first grade work makes new increased demands on our children's energy levels. Some children find themselves exhausted at the end of the school day, and may require more rest than before, or perhaps a more consistent routine at bedtime. They may also need more nutritious snacks and meals, even in cases where their appetites seem to wane. Any of these changes are common and should not alarm parents. However, children may exhibit some resistance to changing home routines (e.g. bedtime). Parents may need special encouragement from one another, and suggestions to achieve the desired changes that they know will benefit their child.

When the sun sends down his glow,
Children and animals and flowers do grow;
And they joyfully receive
Light and Strength and Warmth to live.

My own heart is like the sun,
Giving warmth to everyone;
Lovingly it shall unfold,
Opening out its shining gold.

Curriculum: Fairy tales, folk tales and nature stories; pictorial and phonetic introduction to letters; form drawing, reading approached through writing; qualities of numbers; introduction of the four processes in arithmetic and multiplication tables.