First Grade

In first grade we build upon the rhythms established in the kindergarten, extending to a full day of joyful learning imbued with wonder, creativity, music and movement.

Topics introduced in first grade include:

  • Pictorial and phonetic introduction to the letters of the alphabet
  • reading from writing
  • rhythmic poems
  • speech exercises
  • form drawing of curves, straight lines and patterns
  • qualities of numbers and elements of addition, subtraction,  multiplication, and division
  • counting, Roman numerals
  • fairytales
  • foreign language
  • songs, games, and poems
  • pentatonic recorder
  • seasonal songs
  • wet-on-wet painting using the three primary colors
  • knitting using two needles
  • beeswax modeling using scenes from fairy tales and simple figures
  • the wonder of nature through simple observation
  • nature studies from stories in an imaginative manner
  • circle games

MEET THE TEACHER

Laura Blake

Laura Blake was born in 29 Palms, California and has lived in Idaho, Hawaii, California, Alaska, Utah, and Oregon. She attended Oregon State University and obtained her BS in Elementary Education. In addition, she attended Pacific University graduate school and obtained endorsements in special education and reading. Her long career as a teacher has been primarily at the elementary school level but she has also taught special education in middle school too. During her first teaching position in Alaska, she discovered Waldorf Education and then moved to Eugene, Oregon to get her Waldorf teaching certificate at the Eugene Waldorf Teaching Education Program. She has devoted herself since then to applying Waldorf methods and pedagogical principles in her teaching. Her path in Waldorf Education led her to Waldorf charter schools in Chico and Napa California as a class teacher for 4 years and in Utah as a special education teacher and educational director.
Laura has finally realized her dream of moving to Southern Oregon and is happy to settle down in beautiful Jackson County in Talent with her husband and son. She looks forward to exploring the area with its abundant farms and community events. She is thrilled to begin with her class of first graders at Madrone Trail and bring them the joy of learning through the Waldorf curriculum.