Hey there, Waldorf friend. Like so many people, I tend to get a little reflective at this time of year, and 2020 is no different. To say it’s been a challenging year is an understatement, but, the eternal optimist, I’ve found that this year has also brought some incredible gifts. Here are just a few of them.
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 You only have to look at the outdated PC’s in so many Waldorf faculty rooms around the country to know that our tech skills were back in the dark ages.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.
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