Our Program
Language Arts
A rich oral tradition of stories, songs and rhymes accompany the children throughout all ages, building a bridge from mental pictures to the abstract world of letters and words. Teachers recount classic and local fairy tales which are copied and beautifully illustrated by the children. Stories carry culture, morality and the life lessons necessary for learning. Children are gradually made aware of phonemics, word families and strategies for reading, decoding and spelling. In later years, emphasis is placed on research, composition and creative writing. At Madu we strive for excellence in the English language. Indonesian is also taught formally and is part of every day conversation. Children are also made aware of the many languages in our multi-cultural community.
Mathematics
Waldorf students jump, skip and toss bean bags as they learn counting and the four math processes. A kinaesthetic and multi-sensory approach reinforces concepts in a way that children understand and retain. The quality of number is experienced through stories, art and games, building a ‘sense for number’ and laying the foundation for long division, geometry, algebra and other math skills.
Nature Study
Children at Madu imbibe a natural sense of wonder and awe for Bali’s exquisite natural surroundings. Time spent outdoors plays an essential role in better learning and overall health, well being, and brain functioning for children of all ages. Nature is ‘open-ended’, so children are encouraged to learn about it in a creative, hands-on way that is flexible and magical. A sense for beauty and respect are natural to the Balinese way of life. Gardening, farming, botanical studies, local geography, geology and astronomy are just some of our core subjects in the grade years.
Arts and Crafts
At Madu we strive to use our hands creatively. Steiner said: “[…] when you know that someone […] is good at working with their fingers, you also know they are likely to have supple thoughts and ideas…” A rich and sensitive feeling life keeps our children holistically engaged and enthusiastic in all areas of learning. Our program includes music, singing, playing the flute, dancing, knitting, felting, building, drawing and painting. Bali, and Ubud in particular, is a hub of arts and crafts. At Madu every teacher is an artist.
