Painting at School: A handbook for elementary and secondary education in Waldorf schools by Dick Bruin and Attie Lichthart --- Reviewed by David Kennedy: The beauty of Painting at School is that, like the curriculum in Waldorf schools, it proceeds from the whole to the parts. What is the world of color like for a child? How do children perceive color? How does artistic activity support soul development? How do painting, form drawing, and sculpture act differently on a child? The first two parts of the book, Painting in education and Basic exercises for the teacher, offer a comprehensive overview of painting in Waldorf schools and practical exercises for both new and experienced teachers. There's a chapter for each grade from one to twelve. Much of the material and many of the examples in the younger grades are drawn from the main lesson curriculum. The chapters for seventh to twelfth grade weave in other techniques, including black and white drawing, veil painting, linocut printing, color dynamics and portraiture. The photos of student art are beautiful. Painting at School concludes with a chapter on Color research. Dick and Attie are very experienced painting teachers and have painted for decades with children in Waldorf schools, primarily in Holland. Painting at School has recently been translated into English and published by Waldorf Publications. Anyone who paints with children will find this book inspiring and useful. Heartily recommended. Painting at School is available here.
How a predictable structure can help families gain quality time and reduce end-of-day frenzy --- By Heather Miller
The word “structure” can evoke less than positive associations. It suggests constraints, which are never a good thing, right? Wrong. It turns out that everyone benefits from a certain amount of daily structure, so long as that structure is pleasant, productive, and meaningful. Whether it’s the most inventive minds in history, or those people who live in good health past 100, a daily routine or set of micro-routines is correlated with productivity, health, and longevity. As beneficial as routines are for artists and centenarians, they are even more essential for children. “One thing we know is that children do best when they know what is coming next, “ says Brenda Carrasquillo, principal of Icahn Charter School 2 in the Bronx, New York, a National Blue Ribbon School. A positive, predictable home routine helps children feel safe and secure. And doing the same things the same way at pretty much the same time each day facilitates the acquisition of skills and knowledge bit by bit, day after day. This is as relevant for learning one’s ABCs as it is for learning how to tie shoe laces or learning how to participate in mealtime conversation. By Heather Turgeon (New York Times)
“I feel a sense of dread as bedtime rolls around. Here we go again.” A dad said this in our family therapy office one day, describing his son’s pre-bed antics. The child would go wild as bedtime approached, stubbornly ignoring his parents’ directions and melting down at the mention of pajamas. The parents felt frustrated and stumped. They asked us a question we hear a lot: Should they sternly send him to time out and take away his screen time when he acted this way (punishments)? Or set up a system to entice him with stickers and prizes for good behavior (rewards)? Many parents grew up with punishments, and it’s understandable that they rely on them. But punishments tend to escalate conflict and shut down learning. They elicit a fight or flight response, which means that sophisticated thinking in the frontal cortex goes dark and basic defense mechanisms kick in. Punishments make us either rebel, feel shamed or angry, repress our feelings, or figure out how not to get caught. In this case, full-fledged 4-year-old resistance would be at its peak. So rewards are the positive choice then, right? Not so fast. Rewards are more like punishment’s sneaky twin. Families find them alluring (understandably), because rewards can control a child momentarily. But the effect can wear off, or even backfire: “How much do I get?” a client told us her daughter said one day when asked to pick up her room. Hear from some of the world's most successful dyslexics including Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Chris Robshaw, and Maggie Aderin-Pocock about dyslexic strengths and thinking skills so you can really understand what dyslexia is and why we should celebrate it. Though the winter months have a reputation for being quiet, January is anything but quiet at the Biodynamic Association! While farms and gardens turn inward, much of the BDA's work is outward, meeting thousands of human beings who are drawn to the healing impulse of biodynamics. This month, BDA staff are bringing the spirit and practical applications of biodynamic agriculture to the NOFA Winter Conferences in Massachusetts and New York, the Future Harvest Conference in Maryland, the EcoFarm Conference in California, and the Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society Conference in North Dakota — connecting with gardeners, farmers, land stewards, researchers, entrepreneurs, and other nonprofit leaders. Next month we will be present at just as many conferences in other regions of the United States, as well as the International Biodynamic Conference in Dornach, Switzerland. This outreach work is vital, enabling us to connect with new people who are seeking a deeply holistic approach to working with land and food, and to sense what is alive in the broader food and agriculture movements and how the BDA can best respond to the questions, needs, and inspirations that are arising in the field. In order to continue this vital connecting and energizing work, we need everyone who cares about biodynamics to step up and support the Biodynamic Association. This winter, our goal is to raise $60,000 from our community to start 2019 on strong footing. We are so grateful to have received more than $21,000 in gifts so far. Will you give generously to help us reach our goal? Upon returning from the NOFA-Mass conference, Raphael told me "the BDA table was just buzzing with activity — so many people coming with enthusiasm and questions throughout the conference." The interest in biodynamics is truly growing, and the Biodynamic Association is meeting that interest with warmth, openness, and connection. Please help us continue to meet the wider world by making a gift today. Two-week residential intensives in summer 2019 and summer 2020, with guided study and practice during the year. Core Faculty: Craig Holdrege, Henrike Holdrege, Jon McAlice, John Gouldthorpe. "If we want to attain a living understanding of nature, we must become as living and flexible as nature herself." — Goethe This new program offers the challenge and the opportunity to move beyond the static, object-like abstractions of contemporary thought toward a fluid, transformative way of perceiving and thinking. When we begin to apprehend the dynamic and relational nature of the world, we embark on a scientific pathway to its living qualities. Nature begins to show herself in surprising new ways, and our connection to her deepens. More ... The curriculum ideas for gardening with Waldorf students should include essential tasks and educational goals for this subject which is of great importance for the future as fewer students participate in farming and gardening at home due to the increasing urbanization in modern society. Including such activities as harvesting herbs for making teas and using natural dyes for coloring food items or craft projects potentially deepens the experience for the students in a significant way An interesting aspect in this connection is so called urban farming. For more info please watch the video provided above.
The Libera Scuola Steiner-Waldorf “Novalis” is situated in north-eastern Italy, between the Dolomites to the north and Venice and the Adriatic Sea to the south ...
In 1924—in response to questions about the depletion of soils and a general deterioration of crops and livestock—Rudolf Steiner gave eight lectures on “the spiritual foundations for a renewal of agriculture.” Based on his suggestions and spiritual science, generations of farmers, gardeners, viticulturist, and researchers developed biodynamics as a healing, nurturing, holistic, ecological, organic, and spiritual approach to a sustainable care of the Earth. Biodynamic methods consider the farm or garden to be a self-contained organism, embedded in the living landscape of the Earth, which is in turn part of a living, dynamic cosmos of vital, spiritual energies. The aim is to increase the health and vitality of the whole, including the farmer or gardener. The biodynamic practitioner follows an alchemical, transformative path of working with the Earth through the nine “homeopathic” preparations created by Steiner. What Is Biodynamics? collects seven seminal lectures—four on developing a spiritual perception of nature and three from his Agriculture Course that deal with the preparations. Hugh Courtney of the Josephine Porter Institute for Applied Biodynamics contributes an informative, passionate, and visionary introduction. Whether you are concerned with the quality of agriculture and gardening in particular or have a broader interest in the ecological crises facing us today, this book offers a transformative approach that can truly change the way we live together on Earth. |
Sophia Institute offers a variety of programs, courses, publications and other resources to anyone interested in Anthroposophy and Waldorf/Steiner inspired education. Currently there are students from all over the world enrolled in the Sophia Institute online courses. Sophia Institute publications are available worldwide. The Sophia Institute newsletter and blog provide insights and information concerning the work of Anthroposophical initiatives, Waldorf/Steiner Schools, the Camphill Movement, and related endeavors. More ...
|