International House of Waldorf-Steiner
Feel your spirit grow
Address: 4-8-10 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku
Phone: 03-3400-1593
Email: ihousewaldorf@gmail.com
Conveniently located in Minato Ward, the International House of Waldorf-Steiner preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school (for children aged 2 to 12) is dedicated to fostering a lifelong love of learning through their unique curriculum. Their individualized approach to education is centered around three core values–heart, hands, and mind–in order to holistically develop each child. If you notice that your child has been struggling in traditional classrooms, a Waldorf education may be the perfect solution. The International House of Waldorf-Steiner School in Tokyo’s joyful approach to learning has helped many students become independent thinkers and responsible citizens of the world. As one of the only Waldorf schools in Tokyo, they offer a unique international experience for their students.
The Waldorf-Steiner educational philosophy is based on the works of Rudolf Steiner. It centers on recognizing the spiritual, intellectual, and physical capacities within each individual child and tailoring teaching strategies to meet and strengthen those abilities. The Waldorf philosophy supports the child as a whole and helps them thrive in every aspect of their life. The International House of Waldorf Steiner achieves this by incorporating physical and artistic activities into learning. Many students struggle in traditional educational environments because they are only taught with one approach. Keeping this in mind, the school uses different methods and monitors each student's understanding in order to meet their individual needs. For instance, instead of teaching the alphabet through repetition alone, they use stories and visuals to make learning more enjoyable and accessible.
The Waldorf teaching style is natural and artistic, making lessons a full sensory experience. They encourage students to draw and paint pictures as a form of communication beyond writing and teach basic concepts (such as counting and fine motor control) through activities like gardening. They also follow a blocked schedule, which provides more uninterrupted time to work through each subject and allows teachers to try different approaches until every student is confident in their abilities. This system celebrates imagination and allows students to form a deep connection with their natural environment, nurturing their hearts, hands, and minds.
The International House of Waldorf-Steiner is a naturally inclusive environment for children with different educational and support needs. They have notably small class sizes so every child can receive as much attention as they require. All students, regardless of support needs, are taught together, as the Waldorf curriculum utilizes a broad range of teaching methods during every lesson. For students with special needs, the school has several staff members who are specifically trained in special education and therapy. Their facilities are designed to be gentle and calming, with subdued tones and lighting, perfect for students with sensory needs.
The Waldorf-Steiner curriculum is unique in its emphasis on the arts and movement. Artistic and musical expression is woven into every lesson and activity. This continuous emphasis on creativity and expression nurtures the imagination of each child. In addition to the standard lessons, there are specific times dedicated to particular art activities. Throughout the week, the school provides students with structured lessons in activities such as dance, sculpture, or music.
With the youngest pupils in mind, the school offers a curriculum centered around self exploration and imagination. Little ones are given plenty of opportunity to discover what they are interested in during their supervised free time. They will learn how to care for themselves and their environment when working together to clean up. Their daily activities (such as painting or beeswax modeling) will allow them to embrace their creativity and work with their hands.
As students grow, they are introduced to more structured curriculums for standard courses. At the International House of Waldorf-Steiner, students are exposed to a vast range of courses across all typical areas of study. The school teaches all of the standard topics through the Waldorf method so all students will be prepared for their further educational pursuits. In addition to the core curriculum, they offer a wide variety of extracurriculars that are quite uncommon in educational institutions, such as woodworking, sewing, portraiture, and set design. This encourages students to follow their passions, tap into their imagination, and try new things.
The International House of Waldorf-Steiner is dedicated to helping children with many areas in their life. The school offers IB educational support to assist and determine children's strengths and weaknesses. They also offer more support for children who are learning how to speak another language. This is achieved through an interview with parents and children to ensure better support for children's educational goals. They offer support and patience to children with learning challenges as well.
As with any education system, the importance of positive student outcomes is impossible to understate. Helping students to grow in all aspects of their lives is a principal value of Waldorf-Steiner education. This includes nurturing in students the ability to adapt to and find success in non-Waldorf schools. Studies have found that Waldorf-educated students have higher motivation to learn and more developed moral reasoning skills than their traditionally educated peers. Waldorf students also score above average on standardized tests (such as the American SATs), which are essential for college applications.
“When my family moved to Hanover, I attended the Waldorf School there from the second grade until high school graduation. Afterwards I studied medicine and later pursued a career as a scientist, which soon led me to the USA, where I have lived for almost 40 years now. I like to recall my time as a Waldorf student, which was very influential for me and left me with mainly positive memories. Two aspects were particularly important for my development. First, the impressive teachers who taught me. Since that time, I have seldom met such convincing and interesting people, and the experience of these personalities has become a lasting contribution to my life, especially since I often argued with these teachers and we disagreed completely. Secondly, I appreciate the freedom of thought and action that I experienced in school. I was mostly allowed to develop my own projects and ideas, which taught me to be independent. For these reasons I am extremely grateful to the Waldorf School in Hanover and its teachers for the education they gave me.” —Doctor Thomas Sudolf, https://www.waldorf-100.org/en/#
Why should I send my child to a Waldorf school?
One of the reasons you should send your child to a Waldorf school is because Waldorf schools protect childhood and can give the child time to grow. A Waldorf education is based on the child’s developmental needs and what stage they are at in their development, and the teachers meet them at that level. Individuals who grow up in a Waldorf environment often move on to successful careers in fields such as science and art.
Why is art important in Waldorf education?
Doing any form of artwork can bring a sense of peace to one’s inner life. Creating art can help with self-esteem, spark imagination, and inspire deeper thinking and wonder as students look at the finer details of life.
What is the threefold human being?
Steiner created the concept of the threefold human being through his philosophy of “anthroposophy.” The threefold human being is the heart, hands, and thinking. Each of these characteristics plays a role during different developmental stages of a child's life. Thinking is academics, the heart is feeling and empathy, and hands represent acting on one’s ideas. Each of these characteristics combine to form a well-rounded person, giving them the academic knowledge, the empathy to help others, and the call to action to achieve their goals or help others. These characteristics are taught throughout early childhood, and are strengthened as they progress through a Waldorf education.
The school offers an open house where parents and children can observe what teachers and students will do inside a classroom. Here, the teachers will take you through the Waldorf curriculum and rhythm of the day. The teacher will explain the Waldorf curriculum and philosophy to parents while children can explore the classroom freely and safely.
They offer open houses at the following dates and times:
Saturday afternoons, 13:00–15:00: September 16, September 30, October 14, October 28, November 11, November 25, December 9
Friday evenings, 16:00–18:00: September 22, October 6, October 20. November 3, November 17, December 1