New Amsterdam School — Local services in New York

The New Amsterdam School is one of the most extraordinary educational opportunities in New York City. Inspired by the Waldorf educational pedagogy, New Am honors the natural, intuitive learning process of children, a process that occurs in its time, un-rushed by political agenda or institutionalized educational flavors of the month. Children discover learning through stories, imagination, exploration, and play; not drills, worksheets, or test prep. The classrooms are enchanting places, the faculty delightful and caring, and the children experience nature every day of the year, rain or shine, hot or cold, in a community garden a short walk away.

As a parent of a New Amsterdam child I treasure the insights they have cultivated in me about how to be the best parent for our modern times. Our children create their play, they don't purchase it. They create their entertainment, they don't just consume it. And they expand their vocabulary and imagination with stories and songs that are steeped in tradition and wisdom, not in marketing and merchandising.

It is no wonder that Waldorf schools score highest in intrinsic motivation reported by students than any other educational model; they learn because they enjoy learning. I teach middle school math in the mainstream public system, and I bristle at the external, and often arbitrary, pressures imposed upon my students. What Waldorf schools do is so unlike what I have been taught to do in my classroom. They have exceptional curriculum and an inspiring long-view of the child as a learner and citizen, something institutionalized testing does its best to extinguish. No Child Left Behind, Common Core, all the initiatives public schools roll out every few years feel like groping in the dark compared to the sophistication yet simplicity of the Waldorf model.

I have researched its pedagogy and have shared my discoveries with my colleagues and my students. Both have truly enjoyed the nuggets we've explored. In fact, my middle school students count our Waldorf exploration into geometric constructions as one of their favorite units of the year. Their work is gorgeous.

I encourage all parents to explore its offerings, take on the challenge, and experience life with the originality and...

New Amsterdam School has a lots of healthy and nourishment of childhood experience. Children will be spending a lot of outside experience,They will have so many discovery of beauty in the nature in the busy city everyday. The daily Meal for early childhood is offered by school made by Organic non gmo meal.They get to hear stories and songs along with seasonal cerebration of nature and culture everyday, play time with full of imagination with beautiful natural toys.Beautiful arts,crafts as a weekly routine, a lot of love,warmth and attentive care to individual children from teachers,and warm community members and friends are opening arms. Children loves to go school everyday, and have love of learning experience. Highly...

Words cannot express how wonderful this school is. We have moved to LA yet my son still speaks of his teachers nearly every day, especially Ms. Anke, who is absolutely brilliant. He would ask to go to school even on the weekends(!) It is the most nurturing environment you’ll find. He grew so very much emotionally and intellectually there. He began school as sort of a picky eater. Through cooking with his class and their garden to table philosophy, he became more and more adventurous with food. He’ll try nearly anything now. Even I have found that it really influenced my parenting style for the better. I strongly feel this school is the biggest gift you can give your child in this important stage of...