Chicago Waldorf School

May 2, 2008 2 May 2008

Good morning to you
and sweet be thy day
May angels surround you
their silent watch keep
Good day
Good day
Good morning
Good day!

What a sweet song I used to sing to my early childhood class at Water’s Edge Waldorf School. It came to my mind as I sat down to write this blog. I hope the words bring joy to you today since I was prompted to write them here.

If this is your first time checking into the message boards… welcom…I’m glad you found us!

After a splendid week of classes and excitement of seeing how tall our grass is growing, I look forward to the possible threatening weather that may be in store for us today. The excitment that Mother Nature gives us is all beautiful and to be appreciated and awed. As we celebrate spring, we need to give the children the words and pictures to hold in their hearts of all that spring entails. Instead of lengthy intellectual conversations, I encourage you to use song (like the ones we sing in class) to describe what is going on. Find some good songs or verses about rain, thunder etc. or….make up your own. I’ll see if I can find any and then pass them along to you. Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head (just the chorus) comes to mind. And any nursery rhymes that talk about rain…It’s Raining, It’s Pouring. Songs and verses that allow the imagination to expand and that allow room for a little silliness are fun!

Over the next 2 weeks we will be making Bluey Bluey Bluebird. All of the children will have their own to have when class is over. After that we will make the caterpillar and butterfly.

This week’s handout is entitled Playing and Thinking, written by reknowned author, educator and Waldorf consultant, Eugene Schwartz. Check out his website www.millennialchild.com.

A question arose this week in regards to toddlers eating at the family dinner table. When children are old enough to sit at the table with grownups in a booster chair that they can get in and out of themselves, it is important to remember that food stays at the table. It is best to start this habit right away so bad habits do not form. Remember, it is the parents responsibility to teach children how to behave and show them what is expected. Children will, not because they are naughty, get out of their seats with or without food in tow. It is vital that this behavior is approached right away. The child doesn’t know any better. He needs to be taught. In a firm but gentle manor, get up, lead your child back to their seat and say, “food stays at the table,” or “we sit at the table while we eat.” No need to get impatient, you’ve got plenty of time…(I know you will feel impatient, but keep in mind your long term goal…a peaceful family dinner, a life long lesson in dining etiquette and good eating habits. Nip it in the bud now and in no time you will) The first few meals may seem crazy, but persistence is the key. Stay calm and focused…remember Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher? What an example of persistence and patience! If your child starts throwing food, take the food away and say, “when you throw food that tells me that you are done.” Most likely they, indeed, are finished. This tends to be an activity that children do when they are bored, yet food is still sitting in front of them. I promise you meal time can and will be a cherished family event for those of you in this situation.

Enjoy your weekend everyone…and I will see Saturday’s class tomorrow!

Warmly,
Harper

April 25, 200825 April 2008

In the spring time little bunnies go hop hop hop
In the spring time little birds go chirp chirp chirp
Daisies bow to daffodils
Little children run down hills
And fall down in the spring time!

Daffodils are popping up every where and so is the grass that we have planted. Some little pots are still patiently awaiting the growth, but many are sprouting!

I really appreciate the reverance that everyone has held this week for our painting time. The children have really been able to enjoy this magical experience of bringing the beautiful yellow to the white paper. As the parents were silent, were you all able to see how the children didn’t say a word. They didn’t need to. The activity was all within each one of them. Thank you for allowing them to have such a beautiful experience. I loved observing all of the parents enjoy the experience as well.

Next week we will be making May Day baskets with the paintings and perhaps a book mark with the left over painting. It is important to use children’s work for meaningful things. They learn that their work is of significance and at times, can be used purposefully. Think of all of those woodworkers, carpenters, artists…at some point they felt that the work done with their hands was worthy sustaining a living.

I want to invite everyone to the May Faire on May 17th. I will not be in attendance, as I have a prior committment, but I strongly encourage you all to come. Check out the CWS website for more info.

As we discussed the article Play and Creativity this week we took a look at a few things that effect childrens play and creativity… – the appropriate/inappropriate times to encourage a child’s play -the environment in regards to a gender specific environment vs. one where there are mixed gender toys -television viewing

As always, I find it interesting to hear what you all have to say about topics that we discuss! Thanks for sharing! Thanks for reading the article!!

Have a joyous week? By the way…did I hear that it’s supposed to snow Tuesday night? Please be sure to sing all of our spring time circle songs…maybe we can ward off the snow!!!! Let’s all work together…(giggle, giggle)!!!

Warmly,

Harper

March 27, 200827 March 2008

King Winter is having a mighty hard time leaving to let Lady Spring bring us all of her glory!

We only have one more week of classes (Saturday class you have 2 more classes the 29th and the 5th) before our spring session begins. Please return your registration forms to Eliza as soon as possible. Thank you! I had the opportunity to host an orientation for new spring families a couple of weeks ago. It was a pleasure to meet some of our newest families and welcome them to Chicago Waldorf School!

We would like to make a little window village with completed mushroom houses so if any and all of you will let us use your house for a couple of weeks into the spring session, Mrs. Moser and I would really appreciate it. Mrs. Moser thought it would be a beautiful way to honor the work put into all of these precious abodes!

I am in process of typing up all of my notes from The Soul of Discipline lecture. Many of you have asked for the notes, so I will have them for our last class next week. Today I will highlight some important points to remember.

The Essentials for Creative Compliance
1. Pause (for a moment and ask yourself Why am I making this request)
2. Start small (is this request doable/reasonable)
3. Stay close (do I have time to do this?
4. Insist (have I got the will to make this happen)
5. Follow through (can I stay focused)

When you are working with your child everyday and it feels like you’ve become ineffective, stop and take a look at this list. Start over again. It’s never too late. It’s always the right time. I believe in you!

Have a great week, all!

Warmly,
Harper

March 7, 2008 7 March 2008

March winds and
April showers
Bring forth…
May flowers!

What a lovely, warm thought…ahhh, I can’t wait!

Next week the children will paint, so please dress them accordingly. I do have little smocks for them, but sometimes paint ends up on sleeves. The children will be doing wet on wet water color painting and we will be painting with blue. I’ll be painting alone with each child. I like to hold this time in reverance and beauty for the children so I ask that the volume of conversations be kept low. Parents may continue sewing, however, we might not get to the story.

The Soul of Discipline

Eight reasons to limit saying “Good job!”

1. manipulates children
2. it steals a child’s pleasure (making judgement of our children’s actions)
3. creates praise junkies
4. creates dependency…”watch me!” (creates children with very little resiliency)
5. causes children to live BIG to get our attention can cause exaggerationwith success as well as problems and can contibute to bragging
6. cynicism and skepticism
7. children can become charmingly manipulative -the child learns to praise others to get what they want
8. looking smarter vs. getting smarter -Kim John Payne talked about a study done on college cheating and college academics. People are more apt to cheat to do better and to get a better grade than work harder to reach comprehension/skill. Also college kids have chosen easier courses because they know they could get a better grade than choosing a subject that interests them for fear of not getting a good grade.

Jamie (Wed. 11:30) pointed out that by saying good job, a parent really isn’t “in the moment”. That is exactly what Kim John Payne says. He states that the prescence in the art of authenticity. A loving presence is deeply affirming. Much else is often a distraction and clutter.

Alternatives to “good jobbing”

1. say nothing
2. say what you see
3. talk less ask a little
4. remember successes

There are three foundations of creative discipline
Discipline of the…
0-7 the will and creative compliance; training children to comply with rules; teaching children to accept limits and adult direction

7-14 the feeling life and social, emotional skills -teaching children to be responsible -teaching children to be cooperative and empathetic

14-21 thinking and management choices -making choices based on being able to …accept limits, consider others, make good judgements

Creative discipline calls for the right thing at the right time. For us in early childhood, in the first seven years of life, actions and feelings are closely linked

The curriculum, if you will, of discipline looks like this:
-limitation (0-7)
-consultation (7-14)
-collaboration (14-21)

The developmental discipline breaks down into phases for the parents as:
1. “I (the parent) will decide” “I know what is right for you and I am teaching you what is right.” (0-7)

2. “I will listen to you then decide.” (7-14)

3. “You (the adolescent) can decide.” (They can decide on things that are safe and appropriate for the teen to decide on)

As the child grows up, the amount and type of decisions a child makes grows.

I appreciate the participation of everyone in the classes. I know for a fact that each of you is learning from each other’s insights and comments and/or questions. Whether you agree with others or not, we are teaching each other and our children through example, tolerance of opinions. I value all of you! My hope for all of you, of course, is to strengthen confidence in parenting and provide sound tools to create the environment you want for your children and your families.

Enjoy your week.

Warmly,
Harper