Professional development for Waldorf teachers and home school parents. Read Summer Series 2023 details here.

This course offers you an invaluable opportunity to focus entirely on your upcoming second grade school year in five days brimming with presentations, discussions, and practical activities.

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 second grader in a meaningful and lively way. 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 second grade child in depth.

Along with 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, your course will include such key topics for second graders—and their teachers—as:

• Multicultural approaches to saints and/or heroes block/s
• Topics in language arts and class plays
• Topics in math
• Second grade approach to science and gardening
• Second grade approach to social studies and festival life
• Second grade morning circle
• Second grade assessment
• Parent work and colleagueship

These subjects will be supported by explorations in art, music, and movement, giving you practical tools to take into your school year.

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

Grade-specific resource materials useful for your year, including poems, songs, stories, and main lesson book ideas, will be provided to you electronically.

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

 

Lead Instructor

Suchi Swift was a class teacher for many years at Green Meadow Waldorf School, where she sat on the collegium and served as lower school chair. Suchi began her teaching career in the New York City public school system in 2002, and after eight years working across a variety of grades decided to pursue Waldorf education professionally. Prior to joining Green Meadow, she taught at New Amsterdam School and The Brooklyn Waldorf School. Suchi earned her BA from Sarah Lawrence College, her MS in education from Hunter College, and her elementary teaching certificate from Sunbridge.

Previous Summer Series Grades participants had this to say about Suchi:

• Suchi was a wonderful instructor, and she provided a lot of very practical tips and ideas.
• The course exceeded my expectations from the standpoint of leaving me feeling excited and inspired to start planning out my year. The main highlight for me was the sharing of the idea that we should trust ourselves and the decisions that we make.
• Suchi is such a wonderful teacher. She is so generous of heart and willing to share so much with us. I also appreciated her thoughtfulness so that she was able to answer questions satisfactorily.  
• She presented all the subject matter clearly and straight forwardly, with a flow that was easy to follow. I was mostly impressed with the creativity, joy, and fun with which she approached every lesson.
• Suchi’s classes were upbeat, focused and informative. Her comfort with the material she presented made me feel like I could take it on and implement her creative and fun strategies.
• Suchi is very knowledgeable about teaching language arts to children. I like that she modeled the movement and singing exercises.
• She is a true wealth of experience and information.
• Suchi was an energetic speaker who brought a lot of perspective and engaging activities to the forefront. Thoroughly enjoyed and valued our time with her.
•  Suchi did a wonderful job of diving deep into topics. She stayed on task, despite the varied questions that came in. She was responsive, inclusive, playful and still professional. This class blew fresh wind into my sails after a challenging year.
• The class wasn’t just an overview of 2nd grade. It also renewed my connection to why I teach. I’m leaving inspired to start another year!

Your course also includes sessions in art with Kelly Beekman, music with Adam Petersen, and movement and games with Charlie Orphanides.

 

Schedule

This course takes place June 25-30 in a synchronous online classroom.

ALL TIMES LISTED BELOW ARE EASTERN (NY) TIME ZONE

Sunday evening: 6:15 pm-6:30 pm: Log in for technical check-in and attendance. First session starts promptly at 6:30 with “The Gesture of the Second Grade,” and ends at 8:15. New teachers especially are encouraged to remain for a Q&A with your lead instructor from 8:30-9:00.

Monday-Thursday: Instruction takes place between 10 am and 5 pm (excluding breaks). We also encourage you to attend our elective music studio (5:15-6:15 Wednesday) and roundtable discussion with faculty (7:15-8:15 Thursday).

Friday: Instruction and wrap-up takes place from 10-2:30 (excluding breaks). We also encourage you to attend our elective art studio from 2:45-3:45.

Participants should be prepared to work on course-related assignments outside of their regularly scheduled instructional sessions (including some that may be assigned in advance).

 

Cost
$635 includes all resource materials, pre-recorded music and movement lessons, yearlong access to your Grade Two Google Classroom and Kelly Beekman’s art portal, and a $60 non-refundable registration fee.

NOTE: Participants will be expected to procure some materials to use during their course. A materials list will be sent three weeks in advance of your course start date.

Available Discounts

• Volume: $60 off each registration for schools sending 2 or more participants
• Alumni/CAD: 25% off for Sunbridge teacher education program graduates OR for payments made in Canadian dollars
• Current Students: 50% off for current Sunbridge teacher education students

Discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff. 

 

 

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.