News from AWSNA             March 2017
The official e-news of the Association of independent Waldorf schools

On behalf of the International Waldorf100 Planning Committee, I am pleased to share our new Waldorf100 video in celebration of Waldorf Education around the world. We invite you to share it broadly! Additionally, a new international website, Waldorf-100.org, has been established. It highlights shared themes and activities that will take place around the globe in 2019-2020. Here in North America we are partnering with numerous continental sister organizations, including the Alliance for Public Waldorf Education, in taking up a number of exciting joint projects around these themes. If you'd like to get involved and be on the Waldorf100 e-mail list please let us know at webeditor@awsna.org.  

Also: Is a Waldorf preschool right for your child?

Recently I was invited to address this question on the "Your Parenting Mojo" Podcast. The  episode was the second in a mini-series on making decisions about preschools. During the show I tried to help parents of young children to understand the philosophy behind a Waldorf approach to early childhood education, as well as answer those all-important questions like "Can I send my child to a Waldorf preschool even if s/he has plastic toys and watches TV?."

You can listen to the podcast hereLet me know what you think! 

Beverly Damico

Sincerely,


Beverly Amico

for the AWSNA Executive Team  
bamico@awsna.org

Long Beach's own Maple Village Waldorf School was just named a 2016 Gold Level California Green Ribbon School! MVWS was one of only four private schools in the state to be given this prestigious distinction, and the only private school in Los Angeles County to achieve a Gold Level designation. This is the second year in a row that Maple Village has received this award-they were also named a Gold-Level Green Ribbon school in 2015. The Green Ribbon program honors schools for conserving resources while promoting health and environmental literacy. 

Read   more on Waldorf Education  

"As a result of our collaboration with The Resilience Hub, MCWS received a $2,000 grant from Whole Kids Foundation that will be used to create our first edible forest on campus. An edible forest is a food producing ecosystem, including mature fruit and nut trees at the canopy level, with blueberries, raspberries and other native fruit and nut bearing shrubs beneath, and wild herbs and perennial vegetables forming the ground cover. An edible forest (also called a food forest) is not only a key educational component of our permaculture master plan, it also furthers our ability to engage the greater community through collaborative workshops."

Read   more on Waldorf Education  

From an article in the Conway Daily Sun "Being musical is something that is encouraged for everyone, not just those labeled "talented." All are seen as capable and the Zimbabwe quote, "If you can walk you can dance, and if you can talk you can sing," is practiced in Waldorf education.  The music curriculum, like the main lesson curriculum, is based on the developmental stages of the child." 

Read more on  Waldorf Education .
Photo: Highland Hall Waldorf School

The Chicago Waldorf School explores science and math in the Waldorf curriculum. "In Waldorf Education students use investigation and observation to inspect how the world works. In the grade school they engage in scientific inquiry in the same way that our greatest explorers approached the creative act of understanding the world. In the High School study of Math and Science they explore the world of ideas and abstraction, and learn expertise in performing complex computational methods that develop adroitness in conceptual thinking."

Read more on Waldorf Education.

As neuroscientists investigate how humans learn, they often find that newer skills and aptitudes are mapped onto areas of the brain that also control basic body functions. Here are some interesting discoveries from an article in Mindshift:  "Scholarly study goes back a long time in history, but in terms of human evolution, many of the academic skills now required for successful functioning in the world are fairly new to the human brain. As neuroscientists investigate how humans learn, they often find that newer skills and aptitudes are mapped onto areas of the brain that also control basic body functions. Increasingly, this work is helping to illuminate neurological connections between the human body, its environment and the process of learning. In order to really engage our students and help them perform at their best we have to move beyond what's happening in the head."

Read more on Waldorf Education.
Photo: Halton Waldorf School

Letting Kids Be Kids

In the Washington Post, Valerie Strauss wrote an article to the effect that when young children are forced to sit still at a desk all day, they do not develop the core muscle strength they normally would when allowed to run, skip and play and as a result, they feel agitated and restless.  In Green Child Magazine, Alicia Walters expounds on this.  "I have a problem with how we expect children to sit quietly and listen in classrooms at a very young age. Young children especially need to be allowed to exercise and play freely."

Read more on Waldorf Education.
Photo: Marin Waldorf School

Creating is not just a 'nice' activity; it transforms,
connects, and empowers

From an article in The Guardian: "Making connects the hand, eye and brain in a very special way. It's empowering for both maker and viewer. The act of making is optimistic; it's an act of faith. People of all ages feel better for doing it.

Making can also be very social - conversations can meander while hands are kept busy. But it can also be very personal and give confidence to children who listen to their own internal monologue that takes place as they make in solitude.

If we want a world full of creative, entrepreneurial thinkers, we need to enable and sustain making from a very young age. Not all of us will become sculptors or engineers or designers, but we will become more connected, rounded and creative people."

Read more on Waldorf Education
Photo: Lakota Waldorf School

In Praise of KindergartenSpeaking to a child's experience and level of development is the key to reaching students, and teaching well, in all grades. But nowhere is this more essential than in kindergarten. Children ages four to six experience their world with their will. They are the center of every action and activity, and they move through their day by the force of their self-centered, self-driven curiosity.

 K-8 Comeback: Clear Merits over Middle School Model : Middle school has a particular reputation, and it's not necessarily a good one. Children often approach these years of schooling (6-8 or 7-8) anxiously - concerned about cliques, closed-off cafeteria tables and bullies roaming the halls. Parents send children into these schools with trepidation as well. But, for some, it may come as a surprise to learn that educators are also regarding middle school environments with increasing criticism.

You can read these articles and more in Essentials In Education, AWSNA's blog that explores topics that matter to educators, researchers, policy experts, and thought leaders - from a Waldorf Education perspective.

Previous topics include: 
  • Teach Children to Seek Significance over Success
  • Make Them Scientists - Redirecting the Science Instruction Paradigm
  • The Powerful Force of Curiosity
  • Happiness in the Classroom
  • Be Worthy of Imitation: Why Modeling Matters at Home and in Class
  • Fostering Lifelong Learning
  • The Importance of Productive Solitude
  • Outdoor Education - Beyond Environmentalism
 
Read more on Waldorf Education
Photo: GBRSS


AWSNA's 2017 Summer Conference will be hosted by Cedarwood Waldorf School, in Portland, OR from June 26 - 29, 2017. The theme is You And I Are We...Now What? Exploring Collaboration and Leadership in Waldorf Schools. Keynote speakers are Elan Leibner, Chair of the Pedagogical Section Council, Jessica Heffernan Ziegler, Executive Director of Sunbridge Institute, Valerie Colis, Trustee at the Chicago Waldorf School, and Kay Hoffman, Pedagogical Director at the Santa Fe Waldorf School. Online registration is available here

Check out the complete listing of events on  our website .

Details and contact information for all events can be found on WaldorfEducation.org.

We'd like to extend a special thank you to 
and
and 
for supporting AWSNA  as members of our Partners Circle. 
Their supporting funds help our Association  to drive strategic initiatives and services  to our member schools and ins titutes.  Thank you.







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AWSNA provides leadership to schools by facilitating resources, networks and research as they strive towards excellence and build healthy school communities. The Association performs functions that its member schools and institutes could not do alone, including:
·    Outreach and advocacy
·    Accreditation and school support services
·    Professional development activities
·    Research and publications
Please contact us if you have any questions about AWSNA or this or any other newsletter. 

Questions please contact webeditor@awsna.org or an AWSNA executive director:  

Executive Director, Finance & Operations: Stephanie Rynas
srynas@awsna.org
515 Kimbark, Suite 106, Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x104   Fax 720-633-9543
    
Executive Director, Advancement: Beverly Amico
515 Kimbark, Suite 106Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x106    Fax 720-633-9543

Executive Director, Membership: Melanie Reiser
515 Kimbark, Suite 106Longmont, CO 80501
612-870-8310 x105     Fax 720-633-9531