I’ve been busy putting together my lessons for the year (we’re starting with math and you can read all about it here) but I’ve also been working on going back through my first grade materials and reflecting on the year.
First grade is so magical! If you’re teaching first grade this year, consider yourself in for a treat.
I’m so happy to announce that my thoughtful retrospective has come together in a new curriculum guide for all of you first grade teachers! Waldorf Grade One Form Drawing is now ready to fly into your downloads folder!
I just loved this block and looking through my lesson plans really brought back to mind those all-important first days of first grade. I was full of intention and thoughtfulness about getting us off to a great start, so that’s what this block is all about. We learned all of our rhythms and habits, as well as many of the guiding principles that would ensure a healthy, social first grade year.
We also had a lot of fun!
This downloadable digital guide will lead you through the first short form drawing block (2 1/2 weeks of lessons) and it includes the following:
- Day-to-day lesson plans, including stories, new material and suggestions for review activities
- A basic outline of the images I used to introduce the forms and the stories that I told
- Photographs of student main lesson pages
- A guide to creating enlivening circle activities, with instructions for crafting your own circle exercises
- The content of the circle activities I used this September block — including specific songs and poems
If you’re looking for a little bit of guidance on how to teach this first block, this guide will give it to you.
I’ve got a bunch of other first grade guides, too. Grade One Basics, Language Arts #1 | The Consonants, Language Arts #2 | The Vowels, Math #1 | The Quality of Numbers and our first grade play The King’s Son Who Feared Nothing.
You can check out the whole selection of first grade guides here.
Fall Support Group
Enrollment for my fall support group is now open. I’m really excited to work with a small group of teachers, offering coaching, advice and a listening ear. If you’re looking for the benefits of a collaborative relationship with a group of teachers who are striving together (who isn’t?!) this group could be for you.
Because group size is limited, you’ll need to fill out an application form so I can make sure your needs will be met in this group. We want to make sure this group is full of teachers who are committed to working together towards a common goal. Our Summer Planning Group has been so successful and people are raving about how much they’ve gotten out of it, I’m so excited to keep the good energy going.
I’m determined that it will be a TRUE support to your teaching — not just another thing to do.
For more information about the group — check out this thorough description.
And if you’re ready to apply, you can do that here.
Whether you’ve already started the new school year or are making the most of the last glimpse of summer, I hope you’re finding satisfaction and fulfillment with your teaching. Helping teachers find that peaceful, healthy and energizing relationship with their work is what I’m all about and I love that the blog and podcast help me do that.
I’d love to hear from you with any questions you might have about your teaching. People email me all the time with their off-the-cuff questions (“What’s your favorite Rocks and Minerals resource?” or “Do you have a good Michaelmas song?”) and I absolutely love it. I’m a teacher who loves talking shop, so let’s start the conversation. Email me at meredith@awaldorfjourney.com or leave a comment below.
Happy teaching!
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