Page 6 - CfA

Week 1

This year Renewal is offering grade-specific courses by four experienced

Waldorf educators. Christof Wiechert, who was Leader of the Pedagogical Section
in Dornach for decades, will teach the first hour of the day to benefit both his own

group and the grade-specific participants. The titles of his four morning lectures are:

1. Becoming human between above and below. 2. Becoming human between past

and future. 3. Becoming human between inner and outer. 4. The becoming human

being between heaven and earth.

Getting off on the Right Foot: Teaching Grades 1 & 2

With Christopher Sblendorio

Entering the First Grade is a monumental turning point in the life of a child. If
going from home life to kindergarten is a big step, going to First Grade is

a giant step. One may meet giants in the First Grade, or elves, or noble

knights, or simpletons, or princesses, or witches, or any number of wonderful

characters including “my teacher.” The relationship of children to their teacher

is profound—a match made in heaven, so to speak.

In this course we will consider that relationship: how to create it, how to

develop and maintain it. The world of the fairytale will serve as backdrop for

this adventure. We will delve into that world through play, movement, drama,

song, dance, drawing, painting, writing, and reading. We will find methods

to deepen our relationship to these tales, and how to include parents in this

process. We will explore using fairytales as meditations to allow them to
reveal their inner meanings.

Having set the stage with these themes for First Grade, we will see how they

develop among Second Graders, those well-experienced players who “know how

to go to school.” With a firm foundation laid, Second Graders are ready to make

progress in learning to read and write and do arithmetic. They will be able and
willing to delve into the realm of the fables, showing the foibles of our humanity

through the lives of animals, and legends of great men and women and their

loving deeds.

Teaching children is so much fun through all the grades, but First and Second

Grades are filled with an especial magic. During these two precious years, in the
eyes of the children, the teacher is a magician and a saint.

Materials fee: $30

Christopher Sblendorio, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree

in education, undertook his Waldorf teacher training at Emerson

College in England, with Francis Edmunds as his teacher. Having
taught various subjects in different classes for a year at the

Rudolf Steiner School in NYC, Christopher took his first class at

the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School. He has taught there

for the past thirty-five years. He has just graduated his fourth

class and is happily on sabbatical again. He is also noted as a

teacher of teachers, a dancer, a musician, an actor, and a clown.

4 Center for Anthroposophy — Renewal Courses 2014