Waldorf Summer Training

Waldorf Summer Training

I’m currently in Sacramento at Rudolf Steiner College planning for my 8th grade year. It’s so fun getting together with all of the other 8th grade teachers that I’ve seen every year at this annual training. I started attending the Art of Teaching summer refresher courses with this group of teachers when I started teaching my current class when they were in 4th grade. This year we’re a mix of bittersweet emotions as this summer training is the first “last” that we’ll experience.

Many teachers and students experience that 8th grade year as a collection of “last” experiences. You’ll often hear the 8th graders sentimentally proclaim,

“This is our last Michaelmas!”

“After this we’ll never walk the winter spiral again!”

When they’re at their best, they’re recognizing the opportunity that lies in those “last” experiences, and the teachers who are here with me at RSC are certainly appreciating our final training together.

Collaboration and Commiseration

While this year our training is taking on a sentimental, bittersweet tone, it doesn’t always. Usually our annual training is a social time to share our experiences of the previous year (the first thing we always ask each other is, “How was your year?!”) and share inspirations and ideas for the coming year.

I always leave the training full of inspiration and bursting with enthusiasm for the year that is to come. And even though the training is far from over (yesterday was just the first of 5 12-hour days) I’m already excited about the coming year. The 8th grade curriculum is just incredible and though I’m still tweaking and working on the finishing touches, I thought I’d share what I think will be my block rotation for the year.

8th Grade Block Rotation

• September/October – Meteorology (with Civics during extra main)
• November – History (the American Revolution)
• December – Sacred Geometry/Class Play
• January – Chemistry
• February – The Short Story
• March – History (the French Revolution through the Industrial Revolution)
• April – Anatomy
• May – Geography
• June – History/Current Events (also known as Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll)

As I said, I’m not setting this in stone yet, but I’m getting so excited about the year to come. Don’t you just love the Waldorf curriculum?

Have you started preparing for the next school year? What are you working on? Share your ideas in the comments!