Dear Colleagues,

We are all experiencing the strain of uncertain times; no matter what one’s political perspective is, the news cycle is overwhelming and the feeling of instability and unpredictability is pervasive. In such times, a few key points seem essential. 

First, the practice of gratitude is truly a support. The natural world in its abundance makes this easy. It is Spring here in Northern California, with signs of life bursting forth everywhere. I am fortunate to be able to take a walk at the start of most days; I have taken up the practice of finding and focusing on something of beauty in nature that inspires a moment of awe. As examples, over the past few days I have marveled at tiny green buds on a bare tree branch, drops of dew on a blade of grass, and the song of birds. At a recent conference, a colleague introduced me to the practice of “morning altars”: gathering a few objects from nature and making a beautiful, impermanent arrangement from them (then sweeping them away at the end of the day). I have not taken this up yet, but I started to imagine what this might look like in a classroom, what I or the children could find. The beauty of practices like finding an object of beauty or a morning altar is that they are simple and accessible; they don’t add to our already-too-long to-do list, but they feed our souls for the day ahead.  

Second, I think we need to remind ourselves on a daily basis that what we are doing is really important. In a society that devalues schools and teachers, we need to validate one another and be really clear about what we are doing and why. You and your work really matter!

Aligned with mattering, we also need to be clear about what our students really need. Last Saturday, we offered another reminder through our arts workshops - this time, with a focus on Handwork. Heartfelt thanks to Elizabeth Seward, who packed a remarkable amount into 90 minutes. Her presentation was a testament to “why we do what we do” - in this case, the many gifts our students receive through using their hands. Elizabeth’s many years of experience in this field allowed her to seamlessly cover the developmental aspects of Handwork, how to differentiate instruction, classroom management, and so much more. I was particularly struck by her references to Handwork for integration and healing. Brain development, sensory integration, dominance, hand-eye coordination were all discussed, leading everyone present to understand more deeply that our emphasis on arts, crafts, and movement is not frivolous or a luxury, but is absolutely essential for the young people of today.

Elizabeth also spoke of the deeply therapeutic nature of Handwork and its important role in trauma-informed pedagogy and stress relief. She quoted a young student who said: “When I knit, all the bad things go away.” There is important guidance here for all of us - as Elizabeth explained when we engage our hands, our attention is pulled right down to the fingertips, resting our minds. It is not just for the students - we all need a break from our busy minds. Everything we do to help our students engage their hands, all the way to their fingertips, helps compensate for the “finger blindness” that is accelerating in our digital, hurried age. Differentiated hand use supports differentiated thinking. Handwork, movement, and the arts are core to wellbeing and learning. They help build agency, confidence, resilience, and trust. We recorded Elizabeth’s session - you can explore its many gems and her references to research and use of language that helps with advocating for precious time and resources and with explaining why we are convinced that knitting and similar skills are so important.

It is a bit incongruous to point you to videos while advocating for more use of our hands, but I am recommending a YouTube that was forwarded to me (thank you, Helen Lubin). In this, English actress Sophie Winkleman offers a clear, compelling, accessible argument against screens and social media for young people and the dangerous, unproven experiment we are conducting as their use is steadily expanded within and outside of schools. She combines her conviction and passion for this topic with considerable, current research. I urge you to take 20 minutes to watch it. It is good to have a fresh voice on this challenging topic, and I can imagine it being of help and interest to teachers and parents. Watch here.

Videos, conviction, nature, gratitude, and moments of awe: these should sustain us for a bit. 

Sending warm wishes,

Liz Beaven

Executive Director

Past Virtual Workshops Recordings Available

David Sewell McCann

A Virtual Course in Storytelling

Workshop Overview:

Intentional Storytelling in Emergencies.

Mary Ruud

Eurythmy Workshop

Workshop Overview:

A Taste of Eurythmy.





Elizabeth Seward

Handwork Workshop

Workshop Overview: Overview of the handwork curriculum, grades 1-8: What, when, why, and how.

Upcoming Professional Development

and Teacher Preparation

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

Spring & Summer, 2025: Online

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

WECAN: Parent and Caregiver Events

Spring 2025, Online

https://waldorfearlychildhood.org/news-and-events/parent-and-caregiver-events/

Leading with Spirit: Training programs: The Art of Facilitation, Prepared to Serve, and The River Raft and You

Spring 2025 offerings: Online

leadingwithspirit.org/

Sunbridge Institute: The Art of Storytelling

Apr. 4-5, 2025: Online

https://www.sunbridge.edu/courses-workshops/summer-series/

Bay Area Center for Waldorf Teacher Training: Weaving Wonder into Everyday Life with Toddlers

Apr. 27, 2025: Online

https://events.humanitix.com/taster-day-weaving-wonder-into-everyday-life-with-toddlers

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf Leadership Development 

May. 10, 2025- April 2026: Hybrid (In-Person & Online)

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-administration-and-leadership-development-program/

Gradalis:

Teaching as an Art Week

Jun. 22-27, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/teaching-as-an-art/

Teacher Training

Jun. 22- Jul. 11, 2025: In-Person, Boulder, CO

https://gradalis.edu/

Sunbridge Institute: Summer Series-

Leadership, Early Childhood & Grades 1-8

Jun. 22-27, 2025: Early Childhood, In-Person, Chesternut Ridge, NY

Jun. & Jul. 2025: Online

https://www.sunbridge.edu/courses-workshops/summer-series/

Center for Anthroposophy: Renewal Summer Course

Jun. 29-Jul. 4, 2025: In-Person

July 7-11, 2025 Online

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/renewal-courses/

Great Lakes Waldorf Institute: High School Summer Professional Development

Jun. 30-Jul. 3, 2025: Online

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Milwaukee, WI

https://www.greatlakeswaldorf.org/high-school

Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need

July 6-11, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

bit.ly/Kairos2025te-emergency-pedagogy/

Journey School: Summer Renewal 2025- Art of Teaching

Jul. 7-11, 2025: In-Person, Aliso Viejo, CA

rsvpartofteaching2.pdf

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education: Virtual Summer Professional Development

Week #1 July 9-11, 2025: Online

Week #2 July 14-18, 2025: Online

Details coming soon!

Antioch University Waldorf Teacher Education

Jul. 12-27, 2025: In-Person, Wilton, NH

https://www.antioch.edu/academics/education/waldorf-education-med/

Center for Anthroposophy: Waldorf High School Teacher Education Program

Class of 2027 enrolls this summer, July 2025. Online & In-Person

https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/waldorf-high-school-teacher-education/whistep/

New Adult Learning Institute: Grounded in Practice: A New Waldorf Foundation Year

Aug 18, 2025 - April 30, 2026: One Week In-Person (Vancouver Island, Canada) & 8 months Online (bi-monthly)

https://haven-wood.ca/nalinstitute

Gradalis: Understanding Waldorf Education Program

Sept. 2025-April 2026: Online

https://gradalis.edu/uwe-mentorship/

Center for Biography & Social Art

In-Person or Online

Awakening Connections; Creating Community

Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl: Renewal of Literacy

On-demand support courses for literacy and language arts in the grades; access for 6 months or 1 year, Online

renewalofliteracy.teachable.com/

Ashley Radzat Consulting: Comprehensive support for educators and school communities

On demand In-Person or Online sessions & workshops

radzatconsulting.com/school-services

Alma Partners: Consulting for Schools

Workshops, Online Courses, Inclusion and Belonging Assessments, Student Leadership Conferences, and more

almapartners.net/services

Kentahten Institute for Waldorf Instruction (KIWI)

Waldorf training for public school teachers tailored for your school -- we come to you

https://www.kiwiky.com/ / Contact Dr. Mary Goral: drmarygoral@gmail.com

Upcoming Conferences:

WECAN Birth to Three Conference: Companionship through Communication: Caressing the Seeds of Self

Apr. 4-5, 2025, In-Person, Seattle, WA

https://web.cvent.com/event/

Please visit our website to find out about job postings at our member schools.

https://www.publicwaldorf.org/job-postings

For more information:

Liz Beaven, Executive Director 

Carly Fedor, Administrative Assistant

Alliance for Public Waldorf Education

1000 River Rock Drive, Suite 218

Folsom, CA 95630

Public Waldorf is a service mark of the Association of Waldorf Schools

of North America and is used pursuant to a license.

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