Increasing the talent stack.

We Waldorf teachers were probably the least prepared for this new way of teaching. You only have to look at the outdated PC’s in so many Waldorf faculty rooms around the country to know that our tech skills were back in the dark ages.

Well, my friends, no more. This year we got a crash course on Google Classroom, Zoom, iMovie, and so many other platforms. And we’re using them to deliver the phenomenal lessons we would have presented if we were in the physical classroom. And guess what. Those skills can translate in all kinds of ways. Start thinking about your work as “instructional design.” If you can bend these tools to your will well enough to teach long division to 10-year-olds, you’re ready for anything the professional world might throw your way.

Of course, learning all of these new skills came with a cost. The Waldorf teacher’s work was already demanding, with long hours and insufficient compensation. But this year, we set all that aside knowing that we had students and families who were counting on us.

So we doubled our work — not only planning the content as usual, but also learning new methods and strategies for delivery. And now, dear colleagues, I know you’re exhausted. Promise me you’ll take at least a few days away from work this holiday break.

Partnering with parents.

One of the greatest gifts of this situation is how involved my class parents have become. They have their finger on the pulse of their child’s education in a way that I just cannot in our current situation. They’ve got all of the observations, and they’re sharing them with me.

• “I’ve noticed he forms his cursive O in a strange way.”
• “Why does she keep misspelling this word?”
• “What are some other ways we can practice the 6 times tables?”

Oh my gosh. I can’t tell you how much it makes me smile when parents share these questions and comments with me. I always want to shout, “Yes! I’ve noticed that too!” And though, really, it’s always been the case, I feel like I have real partners in this work, who are just as invested as I am (maybe even more so.)

It’s made me wonder what this will look like when we do finally return to in-person instruction. I suspect that these parents will want to continue to be in the loop and informed about their children’s progress. I mean, I’m sure they’ll be relieved to return to life as usual, with their students in the classroom with me every day. But I’m sure they’ll wonder and want a bit more of an inside view.

Using technology as a tool for connection.

It’s pretty remarkable, really, how well Waldorf schools around the country have embraced technology. And as we were putting together our distance learning plan this summer, I remember various groups of people wondering if there would be resistance among teachers and families. Would we hold our anti-screen-time values, even in this new normal?

Of course, we’ve embraced these technological tools, and there is one big reason for it — connection. The biggest change I’ve noticed in my students during the pandemic is that they are absolutely hungry for connection.

Of course, they’d love to connect with their classmates on the playground. When I think about games of tag, building fairy houses and wrestling in the mud, I wipe a nostalgic tear from my eye.

But without that possibility, they’ll take whatever kind of connection they can get. Zoom? We’ll take it. And we’ll make the most of it. Google Classroom? Let the comments fly! We may not love screens, but if that’s how we can connect with each other, it’ll do. And we’ll push the bounds of those platforms to make true human connection actually happen.

Enjoying the lives we’ve created.

I’ve found it so interesting to observe how the boundaries between professional and personal have become blurred for so many of us this year. And I’m determined that this is a good thing.

I mean, I think it is good for my students, families, and employer to know that I am a whole human being who has a life beyond the classroom. And I love that I’m getting a glimpse at the whole lives of my colleagues, as well.

I mean, we talk the talk about teaching to the whole child, it’s time we walk the walk by acknowledging our own whole lives, too. Our lives are more than teaching, and it’s time we recognized it and shared it with others.

It brings a smile to my students’ faces when they hear Walter bark in the background, or when one of my kids pops into view to share something they learned about the subject at hand.

And I LOVE that I can spend my lunch break working in the garden or walking the dog. We spend so much time creating lives that we love — taking care of the house, cultivating hobbies, connecting with family members — isn’t it a blessing that we got so much more time this year to enjoy those lives?

Instead of fully dedicating a third of my 24-hours to being away from home in the classroom, this year I got to weave that important and satisfying professional experience into my personal life. The result has been a holistic life experience that has been incredibly satisfying.

New projects.

This year has also marked tremendous success for A Waldorf Journey in so many ways.

• Teaching digitally has allowed me to seamlessly share my work with other teachers.
• With endless days at home and the kids off at college, I’ve been creating content like never before.
• Parents who have found themselves suddenly homeschooling have been able to access my curriculum materials and understand the why of Waldorf, just as much as the what.
• I’ve discovered how I can use the tools of connection that I use with my students to better support my teacher clients and customers.
• I’ve started thinking about how I can help teachers to appreciate their talents and use them in other ways.

This last point has led to a new project that I’m really excited about. I want to help teachers realize their potential. This year teachers were appreciated like never before. Though they’ve always known it, the people of the world suddenly realized, in a very concrete way, just how valuable teachers are.

I want for this realization to manifest in the kind of appreciation that will make a real difference in teachers’ lives. And I want for teachers to value their own work and realize how their skills can translate to other areas, and ultimately make a big difference in their financial lives.

This project is brand new, and I’m still not sure exactly what form it will take, but I’m super-excited about it. If you want to learn more, head over to The Real MFP (MFP has come to be my nickname among colleagues and families.)

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and an enthusiastic rounding the bend into 2021.

The post Bidding 2020 a Fond Farewell appeared first on A Waldorf Journey.

Home Resource Guide
This free Waldorf-at-Home Resource guide goes through 4 of those basic ideas that can help you create a harmonious Waldorf home, and maybe even realize that you’re doing a pretty good job of getting there already.

To get this free guide, just go to awaldorfjourney.com/homeguide and I’ll send you the free pdf.

Holiday Gift Guides
To see my Waldorf art gift guide, which gives indications for art supplies that will be useful throughout the grades, just head to www.awaldorfjourney.com/artsupplies.

And to find a list of recommended books, head to www.awaldorfjourney.com/giftbooks

Waldorf Distance Learning

Devices

• MacBook Pro
• external monitor
• 2 webcams
• Apple trackpad
• Varmilo mechanical keyboard
• iPad and pencil
• HP printer/scanner

Furniture

• standing desk from Fully — whiteboard
• hand-me-down chair — next on my list to upgrade
• arm for camera
• the chair I want to get
• a standing stool possibility

Software

• Zoom
• Google Classroom
• Notion

Routines

• sharing my desk — main lesson pages and dictation
• correcting drafts on the iPad
• breakout rooms
• chat, virtual backgrounds, profile photos, etc.

The post My Waldorf Distance Learning Set-Up appeared first on A Waldorf Journey.

Many of us are teaching in ways we never expected before and it’s pushing us far beyond our comfort zones. We miss working with our students in person, but the news isn’t all bad. I, for one, have been amazed at how much learning and connection is actually happening in our distance learning arrangement.

In this episode we’ll talk all about distance learning, some things I’ve learned and how you can make the most of this medium.

This episode is being brought to you by my free workshop, the 3 classroom management strategies every waldorf teacher needs to know, which is being released the week this episode goes liv

I’m really excited to offer this workshop because I think it is something that isn’t talked about enough in our training courses and it is exactly what Waldorf teachers need to be thinking about right now.

Just head over to www.awaldorfjourney.com/workshop to sign up for the workshop.

Also, registration opens soon for my new course, The Practical Art of the Waldorf Classroom. In this course we’ll talk about some big topics that should be on your mind during the school year.

• Rhythms and Routines
• Classroom management
• Imagination in the classroom
• Working with parents
• Working with students

Content Outline

• Where we’ve been and where we are now
• Student engagement
• Assessment and feedback
• Self-Care

Links to Things Mentioned

• The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12
• Compassion Fatigue resource
• The Caregiver’s Bill of Rights

The post Waldorf via Zoom, Lessons Learned appeared first on A Waldorf Journey.

This episode is being brought to you by my free workshop, the 3 classroom management strategies every waldorf teacher needs to know, which will be released in later this month (October 2020.)

I’m really excited to offer this workshop because I think it is something that isn’t talked about enough in our training courses and it is exactly what Waldorf teachers need to be thinking about right now.

Just head over to www.awaldorfjourney.com/strategies to sign up for the workshop.

Also, registration opens soon for my new course, The Practical Art of the Waldorf Classroom. In this course we’ll talk about some big topics that should be on your mind during the school year.

• Rhythms and Routines
• Classroom management
• Imagination in the classroom
• Working with parents
• Working with students

This is my signature course and it’s been really popular in the past. I’d love to have you join, though enrollment is open for a limited time. Just head to awaldorfjourney.com/practicalart to get more information.

Episode Content

Read the blog post that goes with this episode.

• parent participation and involvement
• growing independence
• taking responsibility for your education
• realizing the importance of human connection

Ways to connect with me:
email: meredith@awaldorfjourney.com
website
facebook
Instagram

The post AWJ 52 | Lessons in a Pandemic appeared first on A Waldorf Journey.

We never thought we’d be teaching our students online, and despite the fact that we may have been the least tech-savvy teachers on the planet, we’re doing it anyway. It’s a good thing we’re pretty good at thinking outside the box.

But I know what you’re thinking. Even though you don’t have in-person classroom management to worry about, and you can teach in yoga pants without anyone knowing, I know that you’re still up at night worrying. And I know those worries are not about yourself.

Like you, every now and then, when I lift my head out of the online sea, I think about what things will look like when the pandemic is over. Because yes, it may be hard to believe, but one day it will be over.

Of course, I think about the skills we’re currently working on via Zoom and I consider the learning gaps that may be opening up as we learn in that less-than-ideal format. And I think about the healthy classroom habits that will have had a VERY long break. I think about my students’ habit of striving to do their very best, a value that I’ve worked so hard to cultivate every day in the classroom. How much of that work will need to be repeated, reinforced, and reestablished?

But ultimately, I know that the work will be waiting for us. We’ll do all of that reviewing and rehashing. And I know that when we get back in the classroom, it will all come back like riding a bicycle.

But what about those kids who just don’t stick with us long enough to get there? As I’m sure you know, independent Waldorf schools are struggling. Across the country, enrollment is down, and schools that were once thriving communities are being forced to close their doors. Of course, this means teachers, administrators and staff lose their jobs. (By the way, if you are one of those teachers, my heart goes out to you. Let me know if you’re interested in substitute teaching via Zoom!)

But schools are just macrocosms that magnify the huge challenges that individual families are enduring. Every day I’m filled with gratitude for the families that have remained a part of our school community. This mama hen is quite pleased that all of her little chicks came back to the roost for this year. But I know it is at tremendous sacrifice, and I wonder how long it will last.

I just cross my fingers that they’ll all be there on that day when we do finally return to the in-person classroom. And when we get there, of course, the catch-up work will begin, but I have no doubt that we’ll also realize the blessings that came with this remarkable experiment. Here’s what I think a few of them will be.

Parent participation and involvement.

Waldorf parents are incredibly involved and active participants in their children’s education — and I mean that in the very best way. This spring, they were so involved that they delivered the lessons that I prepared. Now that we’re meeting on Zoom and I’m doing the teaching and supervising student progress, I’ve heard from more than a few parents who are adjusting to not being as connected with their child’s learning. I mean, many of them are very glad that they have time to get their own work done, but they’re also grateful for the opportunity to understand and help guide their child’s learning. How can we hold onto this golden nugget of parental engagement and involvement when we return to school?

Growing independence.

When we returned to school this year on Zoom, I was prepared to see that my students’ skills may have taken a step backward. I was pretty sure that some pretty unfortunate habits may have developed. And though there is some of that, the more optimistic side of that coin is that they are remarkably independent. These 9-year-olds have figured out how to navigate Google Classroom so that they can find their lessons, locate Zoom links and include attachments when they turn in assignments. They’ve figured out all of the super-fun intricacies of Zoom (profile photos, virtual backgrounds, and, of course, the chat feature.) And though I am definitely a teacher who likes to guide my students with authority, I have to appreciate the benefits of this independence. How much independence is appropriate for them to maintain when we return to school? I’m curious to explore that idea.

“All education is self-education.”

I’ve heard this quote attributed to Rudolf Steiner, Charlotte Mason and even Louis L’Amour. I don’t know who really said it first, but whoever it was had the right idea. Learning doesn’t really happen unless students are actively engaged, and the truth is, it is a whole lot harder to engage when you’re learning online. At the same time, once you’re engaged, it’s a whole lot easier to create your own path and explore your own interests. I have a feeling that some of my students are developing a habit of following their curiosities and taking their education in their own hands. Just today, after I left today’s story off at a cliff-hanger, a student said, “Ms. Floyd-Preston, that’s such a cliffhanger I want to go look it up and read the rest of the story.” Gotta love that enthusiasm, even though it means I won’t always be the keeper of the magic.

There is no replacement for human connection.

I think my biggest question as an educator is about the social learning that my students are missing during the pandemic. I consider this to be a huge aspect of my work, and it is SO strange not to spend SO much time every day helping students work out their difficulties.

After so many years in the classroom, I’ve seen a whole lot of growth come about because of those social difficulties. They may be hard in the moment, but I know those struggles serve my students.

But when we finally come back, will they have become so accustomed to social harmony that they won’t see the benefit of all of that challenging togetherness? Will they long for the days when they could comfortably laze about in their bedrooms, without worrying about interacting with others?

I think not. I actually think that this is the single most important lesson that the entire world is learning as we move through this pandemic. So I’ll say it again.

There is no replacement for human connection.

I mean, think of it. Not long ago, we all felt so satisfied with our human interactions that we took them for granted. We may have even argued that our virtual interactions, on Facebook and Instagram, were a pretty decent substitute for connecting in person.

Now, after months of meetings, happy hours, and birthday parties on Zoom, I can’t think of a single person who would say that those experiences are just as good as being together in person.

And now that our kids are a part of this digital world — much earlier than we ever thought they would be, we might worry that they’ll be just as seduced as we have been. Will they be so captivated by technology that it will replace their in-person lives?

Again, I think not. All of us, but these kids especially, are getting a real tough-love lesson about the value of human connection. No one knows better than these kids that on-screen interactions just can’t compete with the real thing.

I’m honestly curious to see how this phenomenon impacts their futures. Maybe we’ll see a big downturn in social media engagement when this whole thing is over.

What does this mean for learning?

As we explore new territory and find new ways of working, it’s no surprise that many people are starting to think about the possibilities that delivering curriculum online can create. I’ve had families connect to my Zoom classes while they’re vacationing on the coast or road-tripping in the national parks. Who’s to say I couldn’t deliver my lessons to a much wider audience all over the country, or the world?

And as exciting as these ideas are, we need to recognize that teaching is very different than delivering curriculum.

Teaching is about human interaction and understanding. Teaching is an art that requires connection, give and take. We need to recognize that our teachers are not just delivering curriculum, and this is what makes Waldorf Education so remarkable.

We Waldorf teachers pride ourselves on being masters of human understanding. We may not know all the intricacies of the content (we’re teaching a new subject every year, after all), but we are experts when it comes to the individual students who are in our classes.

It is this connection that keeps our families coming back year after year. And it is this connection that makes our students such willing, lively participants. You can bet that I tap into the knowledge that I have of my students any time I tell a story or teach a new phonics lesson. This job would be SO much harder without that understanding.

So, as exciting as it is to think about all of the children out there who could benefit from a Waldorf Education if we were to make it more widely available online, I don’t think we should fool ourselves that it would be the same.

You can deliver curriculum to students you don’t know. But teaching requires connection.

And thank goodness we’re all getting an opportunity to realize just how important it truly is.

The post Personal Connection | It’s What We’re All About appeared first on A Waldorf Journey.