Seaside Community Charter Board,
First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to attend Waldorf training at Rudolf Steiner College. I have no experience with Waldorf Education other than reading a few articles and a book that Ms. Sanders recommended. With my background entirely in public school, there was a lot to learn. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical until I saw how the week progressed.
Our first day we attended some lectures on Waldorf Education and got a feel for what a 3/4 grade classroom might look like. I was a little concerned about where the rigor would be in the instruction. I soon learned that academics were blended with singing, movement, nature, and other activities. I began to realize children needed this structure for effective learning.
In my opinion, the most eye opening experience came on the morning of the second day. My wife and I attended a class on remedial instruction. The class focused on using movement to help children learn. The initial activities used bean bags to practice controlling our motions making us aware of our center lines. The instructor explained that children may have difficultly crossing their center lines and showed us some signs that might be exhibited by these children. The ability to cross these center lines is imperative for children to be successful. The class then moved into some balance beam and jump rope activities which would also be beneficial for all students. This was something a never heard while in public education.
Another lecture that stood out to me concerned the development of the brain and how it impacts children learning to read. If a child has not developed the process of the right brain communicating with the left brain, they have difficulty creating pictures in their heads as they read. These pictures help children remember and comprehend what they are reading. Without this communication, children only see the words and try to remember what they look like so they can recall them later. This is a very ineffective way to learn.
Through the week, we did many different “art” activities. We drew with chalk and crayons, painted with water colors, folk danced, sang songs and recited poetry. All of these activities are done to some extent in public schools, but none are developed as well as they are in Waldorf schools.
Personally, I think the biggest confirmation to my own opinion was the fact that children need to spend more time with nature. Too much time is spent playing video games where social skills are not developed and imagination is stifled. That is why children in public education typically have a hard time working in cooperative groups.
I came away from the training truly inspired to help Seaside Community Charter become a successful Waldorf inspired Public School. I believe our biggest challenge will be finding a way to blend the Florida State Standards with the Waldorf curriculum. Through the week my wife and I had several conversations on how to accomplish this and our looking forward to a wonderful year. Thank you again for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Rick Pinchot
First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to attend Waldorf training at Rudolf Steiner College. I have no experience with Waldorf Education other than reading a few articles and a book that Ms. Sanders recommended. With my background entirely in public school, there was a lot to learn. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical until I saw how the week progressed.
Our first day we attended some lectures on Waldorf Education and got a feel for what a 3/4 grade classroom might look like. I was a little concerned about where the rigor would be in the instruction. I soon learned that academics were blended with singing, movement, nature, and other activities. I began to realize children needed this structure for effective learning.
In my opinion, the most eye opening experience came on the morning of the second day. My wife and I attended a class on remedial instruction. The class focused on using movement to help children learn. The initial activities used bean bags to practice controlling our motions making us aware of our center lines. The instructor explained that children may have difficultly crossing their center lines and showed us some signs that might be exhibited by these children. The ability to cross these center lines is imperative for children to be successful. The class then moved into some balance beam and jump rope activities which would also be beneficial for all students. This was something a never heard while in public education.
Another lecture that stood out to me concerned the development of the brain and how it impacts children learning to read. If a child has not developed the process of the right brain communicating with the left brain, they have difficulty creating pictures in their heads as they read. These pictures help children remember and comprehend what they are reading. Without this communication, children only see the words and try to remember what they look like so they can recall them later. This is a very ineffective way to learn.
Through the week, we did many different “art” activities. We drew with chalk and crayons, painted with water colors, folk danced, sang songs and recited poetry. All of these activities are done to some extent in public schools, but none are developed as well as they are in Waldorf schools.
Personally, I think the biggest confirmation to my own opinion was the fact that children need to spend more time with nature. Too much time is spent playing video games where social skills are not developed and imagination is stifled. That is why children in public education typically have a hard time working in cooperative groups.
I came away from the training truly inspired to help Seaside Community Charter become a successful Waldorf inspired Public School. I believe our biggest challenge will be finding a way to blend the Florida State Standards with the Waldorf curriculum. Through the week my wife and I had several conversations on how to accomplish this and our looking forward to a wonderful year. Thank you again for this opportunity.
Sincerely,
Rick Pinchot