our environment
is inspired by Rudolph Steiner’s Curative Education within a Waldorf Curriculum. In a small, mixed-age setting, the student-teacher ratio is under 8 students one teacher in order to ensure individualized learning and attention.
Each piece of the schedule is intentionally designed to prepare and encourage balance within the child to encourage learning.
Blackboards are never found in the classroom as copying is never a part of the students work. All efforts are created and drawn from the student which makes their work truly meaningful.
movement
Steiner’s Curative Education emphasizes the importance of movement layered in the child’s educational experience. For this reason, you will find the children using movement to prepare themselves for learning as well as using movement to enhance their learning.
We start each day with a walk/run, followed by therapeutic gymnastics that use a combination of specific and safe tumbling skills, trampoline sequences and balance beam work.Breaks during the day inspire free-play and innovative social time, while snack and lunch invite opportunities for preparing raw vegetables & fruit, baking and cooking, preparing the place settings and washing dishes. Work while gardening and chores may include watering plants, raking leaves, digging in the dirt, building or mending a garden bed, or transferring materials with a wheelbarrow.
daily rhythm | schedule
Creates a sense of balance, familiarity that also inspires a sense of security. This is another way to encourage an ideal space for learning. Activities will begin and end promptly at their scheduled time. We begin each day outdoors (rain or shine) with movement, gardening and chores to prepare the child for their lessons. Daily snacks and lunch are fresh, nourishing foods free of processed sugar and undesired ingredients. Breaks are strategically placed throughout the day to encourage meaningful absorption. Lilikoi offers a half day on Fridays for renewal & dedicated family time.
“One can ascend to a higher development only by bringing rhythm and repetition into one’s life. Rhythm holds sway in all nature. The only knowledge which satisfies us is one which is subject to no external standards but springs from the inner life of the personality.”
Daily Schedule
Monday - Thursday
Music
Walk/Run & Therapeutic Gymnastics
Artistic or Extra Main Lesson
Languages
Snack & Recess
Main Lesson
Lunch & Recess
Math Skills
Movement
Practical Arts & Gardening
Lifestyle Work & Chores
Music - we will open each day with group singing, a rhythm or drumming circle & ukulele playing.
Walk|Run & Therapeutic Gymnastics - one of the most important pieces of the day is to begin each morning with breath and movement. A reflective & quiet time during a walk|run involves movement in the body, breath, observation and using the senses. Following is Therapeutic Gymnastics which centers on specific movement and games to awaken the connection with the mind and body, this beings with light tumbling on the mat, then work on a trampoline and lastly balance beam work. The therapeutic gymnastics also aims to prepare the child for their learning later in the morning.
Practical Nature & Gardening Chores - there is something about reaching hands into the dirt, and massaging it or watering plants with a sprinkler or hose. This is meaningful work to learn about plants, fruits, and the process of growing & sustaining a food source. It requires commitment as well as attention to detail which inspires a sense of accomplishment. Chores inspire working the will, which is also key in awakening the mind. The chores may be transferring dirt or mulch in a wheel barrow, mowing the lawn, raking leaves, or weeding the garden. Spanish will be infused during this time.
Culinary Arts - the students will hold responsibility for preparing all of their meals. During this time they will prepare their snack for the morning, and also begin preparation for their lunch. They will use the garden a source of their cooking, and when the weather is permitting, cooking will be outside over a campfire or grill. Students will learn the importance of each ingredient used in different recipes, and how to become more innovative as they cook and bake. Spanish will be infused during this time.
Languages - we bring Spanish as a full immersion with daily activities during meal time or practical arts depending on the conversational topic.
Snack & Recess - although we may view sitting at a table amongst friends or playing outside together wasted time, it invites positive social interaction as well as spontaneous play and problem solving. It is perhaps one of the more important times of the day.
Main Lesson - individualized lessons stimulating the students interest in the presented material will be worked on independently or with the teacher during this time. This lesson will be specific and homework, a privilege rather than a burden, will be rewarded based on the students work during main lesson.
Artistic Lesson - this may involve work with clay, painting, of handwork
Lifestyle Work - is another way to describe the work that needs to be done daily. Different from chores, this may include cleaning up the kitchen after baking or cooking, folding rags, putting equipment away, preparing to return home for the day.
Gym - a beautiful out breath to close on the day, this will include activities that encourage hand-eye coordination, team camaraderie, or agility and strength with fun and healthy activities. This may look like a game of kickball or tennis, riding bikes or various tag games. In the heat of the summer, it will involve water play of some form. It allows the students to familiarize themselves with activities in a healthy and safe environment.
Excursion Day - an outing to experience something new or doing work at the horse farm.
Artistic Expression - distinct from an artistic lesson, this is purely the students discretion as to what they would like to create. It is a reflection of their experience of the day.