Class Teacher

A distinctive aspect of Waldorf education is the class teacher, who typically leads the daily Main Lesson instruction for all blocks, and across all subjects. She or he will also often hold parts of the creative development for the class, including art, music, and drama.

At Aurora Waldorf School, the teacher who provides the daily academic core stays with the same class for multiple years. This offers the opportunity for a deep, meaningful relationship to form between teacher and students. The teachers truly know their students and can help them overcome obstacles over a longer educational span. In turn, students feel secure in their learning environment and can focus on growing their knowledge and skills rather than finding their place.

Classes develop strong social cohesion because of the consistent, supportive environment created by the class teacher.

Class Teacher Variable Cycle Teaching

For some teachers and classes, the traditional eight-year class teacher cycle may be appropriate, while for others, a shorter term focusing on lower, middle, or upper grades, is healthiest for all. Our variable cycle teaching option permits the faculty as a whole to adjust the term of each class teacher, depending upon the best interests and needs of the students, and the realm in which each teacher is best suited. In addition, we have adopted a middle-school model, in which Grades 6, 7, and 8 teachers may share block teaching of main lessons, a slightly more “high school” schedule, and a homeroom-style beginning to the day, to help prepare these older students for the transition to high school.