Seminars and Workshops for Waldorf School Groups
On strengthening capacities for the whole class
To stand in front of students, parents and colleagues as a Waldorf educator is
to take on a responsibility for a never-finished journey of research,
professional development, and–especially–self-development. For newer teachers, the goal of penetrating the basis of
Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogy can only seem formidable, at best. In “The Spiritual Ground of Education", Steiner stated the following:
“Each child in every age brings something new into the world from divine regions,
and it is our task as educators to remove bodily and psychical obstacles out of
its way; to remove hindrances so that his spirit may enter in full freedom into
life. ... If we realize the full import of this we shall say to ourselves: the
main task of the teacher or educator is to bring up the body to be as healthy
as it possibly can be; this means, to use every spiritual measure to ensure
that in later life a man's body shall give the least possible hindrance to the
will of his spirit. If we make this our purpose in school we can develop the
powers which lead to an education for freedom.”
Thus, helping children accomplish the developmental stages of growth is
fundamental to our curriculum, and we know that curriculum subjects are taught
when the neurological and inner life of the child can meet the task at hand. To
reach this ideal however, all children (including those who are thriving in
basic academics) need environments and activities that allow them to grow in a
healthy way, strengthen capacities, and become confident in a variety of tasks.
When they have developed through the basic stages of growth and have healthy
organic processes, then they are more able to fulfill the tasks on their life’s journey and begin to recognize the gifts of others.
Fortunately when we delve into the educational writings of Dr. Steiner, we find
many practical suggestions to inspire us as teachers. And in the decades since
his time, a number of innovative educators–including Audrey McAllen, the founder of the Extra Lesson– have also developed movement, drawing and painting exercises consistent with
his indications. From these sources, we can find a repertoire of exercises
designed, for instance, to promote alignment with the currents of the earth, to
nourish the twelve senses, to help regulate breathing, to strengthen balance,
and so on.
These activities should be standard practices in our classrooms–and not just for a few children–because they strengthen every child. By weaving into the life of the school, an
understanding of these foundations and a shared palette of
capacity-strengthening lessons, we can experience an enrichment of the
educational journey of all the children who come to us.
A Scaffold for Waldorf Teaching
How to create/promote and support a school-wide understanding
of whole-class strengthening work
of whole-class strengthening work
EVENT TYPE Seminar/workshop
AUDIENCE Teachers; Pedagogical Chairs; Administrators
TIME 9 hours; follow-on telephone consultation available
In this seminar/workshop I will review with participants the twelve-session
course of guided group research completed by two cycles of teachers at my
school; this work greatly strengthened the sharing of “core values” that every teacher might aspire to study and incorporate. The goal is to fully
prepare participants to become leaders of a similar study course at their own
schools. Participants will receive a month-by-month study leader’s guide and a bound set of recommended reading materials. (See course outline at
right.)
Strengthening Capacities for the Whole Class
How to create/promote and support a school-wide repertoire
of whole-class remedial work
of whole-class remedial work
EVENT TYPE Seminar
AUDIENCE Teachers
TIME 3 hours
Certain exercises and activities based in The Extra Lesson are highly
recommended as part of a primary grades teacher’s repertoire of ways to help every child be ready to do his or her best, every
day. Experience has shown that students who receive these activities are able
to move ahead more solidly. Benefits of these exercises – if done regularly and with the indicated rhythm – include:
• Foundations for literacy - developmental capacities for all aspects of
language.
• Foundations for numeracy - the math/logical and spatial intelligences in
motion.
• Readiness for deskwork - enhancing focus and attention. Setting the stage for
harmonious receptivity to new material.
• Bodily/kinesthetic and spatial integration.
• Strengthening the will.
Participants in this workshop will be helped to map out a strategy for their
school.
About these presentations...
Jeff Tunkey teaches both Physical Education and Extra Lesson at Aurora Waldorf
School, near Buffalo, NY, and is the school’s Educational Support Team Coordinator. He has also taught teacher groups
through the Association for a Healing Education, the HEART Program in Toronto,
and at other schools. Other background:
• 16 years of teaching at Aurora Waldorf School; former Board president, Faculty
Chair, Leadership Circle facilitator.
• Graduate of the Spacial Dynamics 5-year Inservice training.
For additional information about seminars and workshops, or to inquire about
telephone or personal consultation, please email...
Course Outline: A Scaffold for Waldorf Teaching
The following is an outline of some of the core concepts that every Waldorf
teacher might aspire to study and incorporate; at best, it represents a “first page” of topics for study and contemplation.
A. Rudolf Steiner’s description of the human being
Fourfold man – physical, etheric, astral, ego; supersensible bodies
Threefold man – thinking, feeling and willing
Faith, love and hope
Four temperaments
Six constitutional types
Twelve senses
Spiritual psychology: anchoring the ego, etheric and astral bodies
Spatial man and the upper and lower triangles
Lucifer & Ahriman; man as the working of the product of balance; left and right brain
Reincarnation
Karma
Chakras
Currents of the earth
Structural Physical Body and Constitutional Physical Body
B. Rudolf Steiner’s pedagogical indications - general
Rhythm and breathing: the teacher’s primary task
Imitation and authority
Teaching from the whole to the part
Evolution of consciousness - in societies
Evolution of consciousness - from birth to old age; picture thinking;
intellectualizing; media
Preparation and lesson planning
The Pedagogical Law
Meditation
Goethean observation
Laterality; man and the currents of the Earth
C. Developmental aspects and other sources
Dealing with parents: the gifts of fear, shame and anger
Multiple intelligences
Six developmental keys according to “Take Time”
Development according to Dutch Waldorf Schools
The polarities of hysteria and epilepsy; kleptomania
Birth order
The organs as mirror of the cosmos
© 2011 Jeff Tunkey • Revised 12/15/2011
