Specialty Classes
Beyond the main lesson, our specialty classes develop the whole child through music, movement, languages, and practical arts. These subjects are taught by dedicated specialists who bring deep expertise and passion to their work.
Why Specialty Classes Matter
Balance
Specialty classes balance intellectual work with artistic and physical activity, supporting healthy development.
Integration
Specialty subjects reinforce and deepen main lesson content, creating meaningful connections across the curriculum.
Development
Each specialty develops specific capacities—fine motor skills, listening, coordination, willpower—at the appropriate age.
Music
Music is woven throughout the Waldorf curriculum, developing listening skills, mathematical thinking, and emotional expression.
Program Highlights:
- Daily singing in all classrooms
- Pentatonic flute in early grades
- Recorder ensemble in grades 1-5
- Strings program (violin, viola, cello) in grades 3-8
- Choir and instrumental ensembles
- Music theory and history in high school
Handwork
Handwork develops fine motor skills, patience, and the connection between thinking and doing. Each grade level takes on increasingly complex projects.
Program Highlights:
- Knitting in grades 1-2 (finger knitting to needles)
- Crocheting in grade 3
- Cross-stitch in grade 4
- Hand sewing in grade 5
- Doll making and stuffed animals
- Machine sewing in middle school
- Basketry and fiber arts
Spanish
World language learning begins in first grade, when children are most receptive to new sounds and language patterns.
Program Highlights:
- Oral immersion approach in early grades
- Songs, games, and storytelling
- Reading and writing introduced in grade 3
- Grammar and composition in upper grades
- Cultural studies and celebrations
- Conversational fluency development
Movement & Eurythmy
Movement education develops coordination, spatial awareness, and the healthy integration of body and mind.
Program Highlights:
- Eurythmy: "visible speech and music" in movement
- Circle games and movement in early childhood
- Games and physical education
- Gymnastics and circus arts
- Folk dancing from around the world
- Team sports in upper grades
Visual Arts
Art is not taught as an isolated subject but integrated throughout the curriculum. Students also have dedicated art instruction.
Program Highlights:
- Wet-on-wet watercolor painting
- Form drawing (precursor to geometry)
- Block crayon and colored pencil
- Clay modeling and sculpture
- Drawing from observation
- Art history and techniques in high school
Woodworking
Working with wood develops will forces, problem-solving, and practical skills while connecting students to natural materials.
Program Highlights:
- Whittling and carving in grade 4
- Tool use and safety
- Joinery and construction in middle school
- Functional and artistic projects
- Boat building and larger projects in high school
- Connection to physics and engineering concepts
Our Specialist Teachers
Our specialty teachers are experts in their fields with specific training in Waldorf education. They work closely with class teachers to ensure a cohesive educational experience and to meet the developmental needs of each age group.