Summer Series 2016 course with instructor Karen Crandall of the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs

Professional development for Waldorf teachers and homeschooling parents

This course offers you an invaluable opportunity to focus entirely on your upcoming fourth grade school year in five full days filled with discussions, presentations, practical activities, and the arts. With the insights of anthroposophy, gleaned through a daily look at child development focusing specifically on your class’s age group, you will get to know the fourth grade child in depth as he or she steps into a more objective relationship to learning. Under the guidance of an experienced class teacher, you’ll discover ways to enliven your teaching and how to approach the blocks so that they may meet the fourth grader in a meaningful and lively way. There will be time and space to consider and hone your skills in such practical matters as main lesson books, block planning, projects and activities, and classroom management.

In addition to inspiration and guidance which will support your teaching throughout the year, you will gain many invaluable opportunities for building connections among a community of parallel colleagues from across the country, to carry with you into your teaching.

Your week will be chock-full of key fourth grade topics, including the telling of Norse myths; teaching local geography; building skills in language arts; and discovering the world of fractions. These subjects will be supported by explorations in art, music, and movement, giving you practical tools to take into your school year.

A useful grade-specific Resource Notebook, including poems, songs, stories, and main lesson book ideas, will be provided to you when you arrive on campus.

NOTE: This course is taught with the expectation that you have a background in Waldorf Education.

(Should you wish to further prepare for your work in the classroom, you may choose to register also for Managing Your Teaching, our 2-day workshop held immediately preceding your course. Should you wish to further expand your understanding of key elements of Waldorf Education, we also recommend Eurythmy and the Growing Child, our afternoon workshop held immediately preceding your course.)

Instructor

Karen Crandall is currently class teacher for the fourth grade at the Waldorf School of Saratoga Springs, NY. This is Karen’s third class cycle.  She led her first class, grades one through eight, from 1993-2001 and her second class from 2007-2012 (picking up the class in the middle of their 3rd grade year).  Karen has chaired the Teacher Development Committee in the school since 2010 and has been leading the All School Study in Anthroposophy since 2013.  She holds a BFA from Penn State University and an MSEd from Sunbridge College.

Students who took a Grades course with Karen in summer 2015 had this to say:

~ Karen Crandall: What a special, knowledgeable, artistic, authentic teacher of teachers.

~Karen is everything that a person could hope for in an instructor… experienced, knowledgeable, insightful, and encouraging. She gives us all what we need to move ahead with courage and confidence.

~ This course was excellent. Not only do I feel better prepared for the curriculum, with lots of songs, poems, and dances in my pocket, I also feel a deeper understanding of both the child at this age and the deeper anthroposophical meaning behind this stage of development.

~ To come together with such a wide variety of other Waldorf teachers, including our sensational captain, Karen Crandall, was wonderful and nourishing.

~ This course was very rich in content and even more rich in inspiration.

~ Quality could not have been better. Karen is amazing!

Your course also includes music with Patti Regan of Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School (MA) art with Dania Guido of Green Meadow Waldorf School (NY), and movement with Will Crane.

Course Schedule
Sunday: Optional campus tour 5:30-6pm; Registration 6-7pm; First class 7-9pm

Monday-Thursday: Classes begin each day between 8-8:30am and run through 5:30-6pm, with times for break and lunch. Each day includes a balanced mix of content-based work, artistic work, and discussions. Community-wide evening events are offered weekly.

Friday: Classes end early afternoon.

Course Fee
$775 (includes all materials and non-refundable $75 registration fee). Discounts are available. See Summer Series page for details.

Register

Questions?
Contact Amina Phelps, Admissions & Summer Series Coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20.

Sunbridge Institute reserves the right to cancel any offering at any time. If Sunbridge cancels, all registrants will be notified and will receive a full refund. If the registrant cancels, he or she will receive a full refund less the non-refundable registration fee.  Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary.