Specials Classes
Main lesson subjects and specials share content extending and enriching core subject matter. Not all specials will be available in the virtual setting.
Music
Our music program, inspired by Waldorf Education, reflects the moods of nature, seasonal changes, and festival celebrations. It develops the whole child by focusing on nurturing the “Head, Heart, and Hands”. Every class follows a consistent daily rhythm by providing class structure, discipline, and routines. Music classes are used as a platform to learn about the self, others, and the world. It fosters a fondness for group singing, movement, and learning about a variety musical instruments, styles, and cultures. Students gain hands on experience with a variety of musical instruments and explore many musical genres and their origins. The curriculum provides a well rounded experience by incorporating other subjects such as Science, Math, Visual Art, Theater, Foreign Language, History, Physical Education, and Spelling into the daily lessons.
Handwork
The Handwork curriculum is designed to develop the will of the child. Students work with their hands to transform materials from the earth into items that are both beautiful and useful in everyday life. They learn persistence and perseverance, and strengthen not only their physical dexterity, but also dexterity in their thinking.
Grades 1 through 3 are taught as a parent-child class to ensure students have the physical support they need during class and that parents have the foundational skills they need to support their students outside of class. Beginning in grade 4, students start to work more independently with a parent close by for support as needed. In grades 5 through 8, most students can attend handwork classes and complete their work without much parent support.
Spanish
Spanish language and culture classes at TRCVS work to broaden students’ global perspective and build empathy for diverse perspectives and cultures. The experience of being in an environment of a secondary language and culture opens the heart to different ways of living and thinking, enabling students to develop their own view of the world. From early on, classes mimic how students acquired their first language and work towards full immersion through playing games, story telling, singing songs, and creating stories in the target language. Spanish classes are full of abundant, personalized, comprehensible input (or in other words, Spanish that students can understand). The foreign language curriculum strives to complement the Main Lesson curriculum, seasons, holidays/festivals, and personal interests to build greater connections across classes at TRCVS.
Nature Studies
In first through third grade, students connect with nature through open minded observations that maintain their interest in the outdoors. Students use their senses, compare and contrast, and make predictions to connect with the environment. The nature studies curriculum follows the yearly and seasonal rhythm of the earth. Careful observations prepare students to become stewards of the earth and leads to deeper inquiry in the upper grades.
