4th Grade in Waldorf:

Prepare to meet with Goblins and Trolls! 

with Philip Guest and Ania Kubik

With curiosity, boldness, stamina, thoughtfulness, and social spiritedness, some 4th graders are completing the 9-year-old-change during their tenth year, while all eventually begin entering the "heart of childhood."

 4th Grade begins a new phase of education - the class teacher has a bountiful curriculum with which to meet these budding youngsters: Math takes a significant leap forward with the introduction of fractions (only Algebra in 7th Grade provides a step of such significance); English grammar supports students' expanding abilities in writing and reading comprehension; Geography and History of the surrounding locale both begin, although in opposite directions; and Natural History begins too, with studies of the animal kingdom and exploration of human characteristics, although Steiner gives contradictory indications for how to proceed. Good! You will have to make some decisions for yourself! 

Then there's Norse Mythology. Waldorf Education began in Central Europe, and Norse Mythology meets the students at this age in such an exciting way, but why does it meet the students at this developmental stage? Is this a topic suited for students on all continents or are there local alternatives? Isn't exporting Norse Mythology worldwide just another example of Western Colonialism? This century feels like a transition point; Waldorf is a worldwide movement now and such questions should not be shirked! How can Waldorf Education develop roots that live in each geographic location, but also guide students through the development of consciousness in a way that best prepares them to meet the needs of our times, and those that are to come?

This week will be in a hybrid format. The goal is to be essentially practical in both academics and the supporting arts. How do you prepare lessons for students at this age of child development? Ania and Philip aren't going to lecture you about it, but rather provide you with guidance, materials and an opportunity to rise to the challenge!

Philip Guest has been a Waldorf Teacher in South California for approximately three seven-year cycles, serving as class teacher for the Waldorf School of Orange County Class of 2005 and the Westside Waldorf Class of 2012 and subsequently offering Waldorf based classes to homeschooled students in a variety of environments, including seven years of "village school" style classes through Urban Homeschoolers.

Philip Guest sees himself as a tour guide for students through the fossil-beds of human thought, with the hope that, through experiencing these developments themselves, students will, in due course, be capable of producing new, living thoughts of their own, given confidence by the past but suited to the needs of our own age and building a more humane future.

Ania Kubik holds a BFA in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Waldorf completion certificate from WISC. She has greatly enjoyed stepping out into the world with each of her fourth grades on a bounty of field trips to local surroundings, thereby having the students experience local geography amid the four elements, the three kingdoms, and the celebration of First Peoples. She sees the fourth-grade year as a bridge from the first three early grades through a door to each increasingly worldly year that follows. Her upbringing of sailing, swimming, skiing, hiking, and camping gave her an understanding of the need for the movement in the outdoors that she brings to her students as well as the active social learning opportunities that she provides for daily participation. Ania currently enjoys class teaching her combined sixth and seventh grade class at Maple Village Waldorf School in Long Beach, CA as well as teaching art and co-directing at WISC in the year-round program. 

8:30 AM - 5:15 PM

Course Fee:

$715 (In person)

$475 (Online)

Register by June 1st for a 10% discount (only for in person)

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Highland Hall Summer Camp 

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