Every now and then, as the teacher read her story, she tapped out a series notes on a mini xylophone-like instrument and sang out a vowel sound. After a few times, all the parents in the room were singing out the vowel sounds too.
Jill Christie was demonstrating one of the ways she teaches Grade 2 though 4 students vowels at Cedar Valley School, a Waldorf school.
Waldorf education is an independent school movement that teaches without focusing on just on academics.
It's about educating the hand, head and heart, said Christine Martin, who teaches the kindergarten class at Cedar Valley.
Waldorf schools are designed to foster a sense community, a reverence for nature, and a social conscience. There are no vending machines in the school, and children learn in a hands on manner. And they get to be kids.
"They play in the dirt. That's what kids are supposed to do," said Jacki Willcox, whose children attend the school.
There are no electronic media in Waldorf classes. Instead, in the younger grades, the children make and bake bread together.
There is a holistic side to the school, as well as an academic one, Martin said at a recent parent information meeting.
The education is designed to teach and develop the whole child.
"It's really encompassing the entire being of a child," Christie said.
Her students learned how to build a fire, and then created drawings of the fire and labelled what is needed to make a fire.
The Cedar Valley School has 15 preschool age students, 18 kindergarten and 15 students in Grades 2 through 4 registered. Next year, there will also be a Grade 5 class as the students move up.
The Cedar Valley School is holding information meetings about Waldorf education and the school the next several Monday evenings at 7:30 at Coast Garibaldi Health Unit. For more information about the school or meetings, see www.squamishwaldorf.com.
