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The
EarthWalk approach to “new paradigm education”
Our approach is to follow and
foster the child’s natural impulse and enthusiasm for learning, to create a
safe, supportive and kindly environment, and to educate children thoroughly
and thoughtfully so that they emerge with the skills, background and
knowledge necessary to achieve their desires.
Emphasis on Creative Problem
Solving
The ability to “think outside
the box” is becoming a critical life skill in our ever changing society. A
traditional approach to education presumes that there are specific sets of
questions with corresponding correct answers. EarthWalk education is more
open-ended allowing children to develop a higher level of intellectual
inquiry, exploration and creativity in devising solutions to problems. Does
two plus two still equal four? Absolutely! But two plus two also equals
three plus one. A creative approach does not mean that we suspend all the
accepted laws of nature, science, grammar and reality in favor of a child
designed alternative reality which fosters individual creativity above all
else. Many child-centric alternative approaches make this error. Unlimited
creativity can occur in tandem with a more linear tract of fact and formula.
The two are not mutually exclusive.
Parent Focused
Parents, rather than teachers
and administrators, are considered the “expert” on their child. We deeply
respect parents and the role they play as primary caregivers. The insight,
intuition and practical knowledge garnered from an actively involved parent
is far more valuable than any educational theory or expertly designed
curriculum. Parents are welcome in the classroom at any time, with no
advance notice, and for however long they wish to be there.* Parents are
encouraged to express their concerns and opinions and are kept constantly
up-to-date and involved in their child’s educational experience through the
use an on-line system where observations and insights about their child can
be reviewed daily.
*All parents are expected
to participate in an orientation program that outlines proper school
etiquette and acceptable levels of interaction with students other than
their own children.
Customized Education
Before the school year
begins, an ILP (Independent Learning Plan) is established for each student
to ensure that the child’s unique learning styles, individual needs and
particular interests are built-in to the educational experience. Parental
and student input is of primary importance in developing these plans.
Student’s participate in the establishment of the ILP and take ownership for
achieving their personal milestones in education throughout the year.
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Educational Guides
EarthWalk Schools provide
highly trained Educational Guides skilled in supporting and gently guiding
students to pursue their interests while concurrently meeting their
educational goals. They are not “teachers” in the traditional sense of
lecturing facts and information to be memorized and regurgitated by the
students. They act instead as the student’s personal educational consultant,
helping the child to focus, find resources and follow through with the
natural course of learning. Educational Guides know how to engage reluctant
students to explore subjects that aren’t of interest in new and creative
ways that make them personally relevant. Educational Guides are cognizant of
each child’s inherent wisdom and humanity and cultivate deeply respectful
and mutually rewarding relationships with their students. We are always
mindful that our children are teaching us as much as we are teaching them.
Individualized Pace
Students don’t have to catch
up or slow down to stay with the group. All children proceed at their own
pace, pursuing subjects of interest to them. Since parents and the
Educational Guides establish each student’s personal curriculum together,
there is no external arbitrary standard for a child to meet. And the level
of personal interaction and attention makes it easy for the students to
rapidly master and move beyond the basic core content of foundational “grade
appropriate” material.
Spiraling Curriculum
Traditional schools use a
linear approach to curriculum so that the entire group can progress together
in an orderly fashion toward pre-determined goals. This is necessary in a
highly structured classroom with unfavorable student to teacher ratios.
EarthWalk schools have a less formally structured program with a very
favorable ten-to-one student-teacher ratio. This allows students to pursue
their own interests and fascinations in subjects, often taking them outside
the prescribed boundaries of traditionally implemented curriculum. The
personal attention of Educational Guides enables us to ensure that students
will cover all the required fundamentals, including basic knowledge and
skills acquisition, without having to dampen their natural affinity and
interests in learning what matters to them most.
Child Led, not Child-Centric
Many alternative educational
theorists place extreme emphasis on the child’s need for self expression and
self determination without a balancing and equally necessary emphasis on the
child learning how to relate to others effectively and thrive in community.
EarthWalk takes a grounded, sensible approach by supporting each child in
knowing and understanding themselves, recognizing their effect on the world
around them, and learning how to accomplish their desires with awareness,
balance and integrity.
Conceptual Wholes in Early
Education
Early education tends to
presuppose a very simplistic level of intellectual ability and reduces
subject matter to a rudimentary and almost perfunctory level of explanation.
This minimizes the need for additional explanation and keeps the educational
process “on track” for meeting pre-determined milestones and goals. By
offering our students easy-to-comprehend, yet more thorough and complex
information, the educational process becomes more engaging, open-ended and
free flowing. The material presented has context and greater meaning and
serves as a spring board to further intellectual exploration. We have found
that children are capable of far more than many people realize.
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Thoughtfully Educated Children
We have given considerable
thought to the question, “What constitutes a well educated child?” and to
whom do we look for the answer. The EarthWalk approach acknowledges three
external layers of responsibility in determining the educational standards
for the child. The most basic layer is comprised of State Regulations with
which we are bound to comply. The next layer is determined by the school
itself. And the final layer is determined by the parents’ own educational
inclinations and beliefs.
State Requirements
The State of Delaware has no
specific curricula regulations or academic standards regarding the education
of primary students.
School Requirements
The EarthWalk School believes
that a thoughtfully educated individual is one who
o
thinks clearly
o
is able to understand multiple points
of view
o
can express thoughts well verbally and
through various
mediums
o
knows the social, emotional,
political, economic, and
historic roots of humankind from different perspectives
o
understands the natural world
conceptually through
science and mathematics
o
has well developed faculties of
imagination and artistic
expression
o
has attained self-awareness, and
o
understands the nature and origins of
human behavior.
EarthWalk K - 6 curricular
requirements include core knowledge and basic skills acquisition in the
subject areas of reading, composition, literature, mathematics, English,
history, science, geography, languages, music, arts, dramatic expression,
research, and presentation. Additionally all students are required to
acquire knowledge and skills in personal well being, human nature, and
global consciousness through the EarthWalk Life Skills curriculum. Source
material, rather than textbooks are utilized whenever possible and we
emphasize high quality classic children’s literature as a cornerstone of
developing a well educated child.
Parental Requirements
Parents share their personal
educational goals for their child during the ILP meeting prior to the
beginning of each school year. Any reasonably attainable goal that will not
cause undue stress to the child will be included in the ILP. Each child in
the EarthWalk School will have an individual set of educational goals based
on this process. Parents of students who require extreme accommodations
outside the norm may have to participate in cost sharing for the additional
resources necessary to implement the ILP.
Children possess an inherent
drive for learning and a natural desire to be actively engaged in their
environment. When given the proper support, tools and resources, they tend
to achieve more than we can imagine. At the EarthWalk School we recognize
that the ultimate barometer of excellence resides within the unlimited
potential of each individual child.
Instructive Fundamentals
The EarthWalk educational
approach does not subscribe to the current fashion of arbitrarily
implemented standards absent a cohesive and comprehensive knowledge-based
academic experience. Instead, our program is designed to cultivate
multidimensional mastery of Instructive Fundamentals.
Instructive Fundamentals are
broader than standards and their relative benchmarks are organically related
to a conceptual whole. Mastery of these Fundamentals are not solely assessed
based on test performance, but are comprehensively evaluated relative to the
various dimensions of knowing including cognition, recognition, awareness,
perception, discernment, application, expression and capability. This
approach results in each student developing a robust and personal
synthesis of knowledge well beyond basic standards.
Live Education
EarthWalk School minimizes
the use of electronic education. Many traditional schools are beginning to
use computers for instruction in the classroom. Our low student-teacher
ratio makes this unnecessary. Our focus is on the dynamic interplay of ideas
and the vibrant interactions of human beings. Computers will be maintained
at the school for basic research purposes and for the use of students whose
ILP require extreme accommodations (eg. highly advanced mathematics
instruction, voice recognition software, etc.) Basic computer competencies
and computer safety skills are included in the general curriculum.
Open–Concept Education
Most educational institutions
adhere rigidly to a specific methodology or approach. EarthWalk education is
based on the premise that most educational approaches have some merit, but
adherence to just one methodology is inherently limiting. Our Educational
Guides work directly with the students to determine which aspects of
different methods would provide the best fit for the particular student and
the particular subject matter being mastered. We draw heavily from the basic
principles of Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, Sudbury, and Classical
Child/Well Trained Mind programs. We also have access to and familiarity
across a vast selection of specific programs we feel are particularly
effective.
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EarthWalk Life Skills
One of the greatest
challenges facing educators today is how to facilitate the healthy growth
and development of the next generation in light of the fast paced, object
oriented, and increasingly cynical culture in which we live. Today’s
children are exposed to a steady diet of violent and negative imagery,
bombarded with persistent alarming messages about our planet and the future,
and are pressured to aspire to constantly elevating economic and consumer
standards. The EarthWalk Life Skills curriculum is designed to support
students in a deeper appreciation of themselves and their relationship to
the world. Students learn core life skills that help to minimize stress,
improve concentration and well being, enhance relationships, and provide a
foundation of personal integrity that will last a lifetime. EarthWalk Life
Skills were developed by Valerie Thea Vandermeer and include:
-
meditation and
breathing techniques
-
use of creative
visualization
-
dynamic body
language awareness
-
sensory
integration techniques
-
understanding the
mind-body loop
-
body awareness and
personal care
-
open hearted
conflict resolution
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the process of
change
-
imagination as a
doorway to creation
-
integrity and
consciousness
The principles of the
EarthWalk Life Skills curriculum are not only taught to the students, but
are also learned and constantly modeled by all participants in the school
setting. As a result, EarthWalk Schools will provide an environment of
consciousness, integrity and peaceful relationship.
Evaluation
Grades and testing are not
utilized in the EarthWalk approach. Mastery of content material is
demonstrated in a variety of ways including Educational Guide observation,
use of worksheets, student presentations, verbal inquiry, and self testing
to determine competencies. Content mastery is continuously noted and updated
via the parents’ on-line interface with the school. Grade six students are
provided with specific instruction and practice in test taking and necessary
life skills to make a successful transition to a traditional grade seven
placement in another school.
Nurturing Environment
The EarthWalk School
environment is designed to be supportive and nurturing for all children
including those with sensitivities. Non chemical cleaning agents will be
utilized whenever possible in the facility. Harsh overhead lighting will be
minimized or eliminated in favor of full spectrum natural lighting. An
ergonomic, balanced and soothing setting will be enhanced with living plants
and tabletop fountains. We will create “mini sanctuaries” to provide spots
for children to remove themselves from the group energy to recharge. The one
room school house approach and low student to teacher ratio ensures that
children are always properly supervised.
Safe access to nature and a
protected play space will be provided. Natural exploration and exuberant
physical activity will be encouraged out of doors. Non competitive sports
programs will be organized around individual student interests.
Above all, each individual
child will be respected and appreciated in a safe and calm environment with
caring and nurturing adults to guide them.
The
EarthWalk
School
A new paradigm in primary education
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