Little SproutsTeacher Training Guide

SFS MissionThe Sustainable Farm School’s mission is to help students and families of all backgrounds develop a deeper understanding of and practices for sustainable living through natural curiosity, rigorous academics, and critical thinking in real-world contexts. Our school takes a unique approach because we focus on teaching children to learn independently, to be self-sufficient, and to collaborate with people of all ages and levels of ability. We believe this will prepare students for their futures as creative, effective, democratic, and sustainably-minded community members.

Waldorf Educational Philosophy

Waldorf schools are based on the ideas of the Austrian philosopher, artist, and educator Dr. Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925). Through his work in the fields of philosophy, science, religion, agriculture, art, medicine, and education he created a new form of pedagogy that focuses on the whole child: hands, heart, and mind. All students go through 12 school years; the whole curriculum of Waldorf schools is based on the development needs of the pupil, taking their emotional, intellectual and personal abilities and needs into account. The curriculum is integrated, inter-disciplinary and artistic. Thus imagination and creativity which are most important for the individual as well as for society are awakened and developed. (http://www.waldorfschule.de)

Waldorf History

In 1919 Rudolf Steiner founded the first Waldorf School for the children belonging to the workers of the Waldorf-Astoria cigarette factory because he believed that quality education should be afforded to all children. The school quickly gained international recognition and hundreds of Waldorf schools sprung up all over the globe. The number of Waldorf schools worldwide has more than doubled in the last decade, making it one of the fastest growing educational movements in the world. Waldorf schools are committed to academic excellence and offer a challenging classical education that prepares students for the most demanding universities. They were the first school to put the principle social justice in education into practice. Young people are educated together, irrespective of social background, abilities and vocation. At the core of the Waldorf philosophy is the belief that knowledge is best acquired experientially as well as academically. Education is an artistic process.

To be a Waldorf Teacher (AWSNA)

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AWSNA video on being a Waldorf teacher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMzc5dW0hfw

Beyond Waldorf

Inspired by the Waldorf philosophy, the Sustainable Farm School takes a step beyond with two key examples. Like Waldorf, we believe individuals prosper in a simple, beautiful, and natural environment. Therefore, we hold our school on organic farms and homesteads and include all aspects of tending to the land and animals into our curricula. Our students participate in daily farm and garden chores. Learning to successfully interact with the land and animals prepares them with advanced survival skills and a love for nature.

Additionally, we place specific emphasis on forward thinking ideologies including social, cultural, environmental, and economic sustainability. Our educators value the academic tradition, many of them holding the highest degrees in their field, while maintaining a natural connection to the earth. With a student to teacher ratio of 5:1, students will get the attention and guidance necessary for a comprehensive and enjoyable education.

Eco Justice Theory

“Critical examination of modernity, underpinnings of anthropocentrism, root metaphors, and mindsets that uncritically advance Industrial Culture, and Western Colonization” (Kurt Love)

Eco Justice Theory Says…

Humanity is a part of Nature (it does not rule over nature)!

Therefore Environmental Justice is equally as important as Social Justice

Honoring the Natural Rhythms of the Child

The rhythm of the child is the first thing we consider. What are they ready for and when are they ready for it? Imagine if you are playing in an orchestra and you have a drum that is playing out of beat. Will it help the orchestra? Will it be effective? The same happens with a child. A child is a complex being that has many systems working in synchronicity. To be able to be effective and in harmony with that child you need to synchronize the beat of your drum (their lessons) with the appropriate age. (Kristie Burns)

Being able to meet a child’s needs according to their natural rhythm will:

! 1. Foster connection, interdependence, compassion, respect, teamwork and

community awareness.

2. Will create natural opportunities for conflict resolution as there will be fewer conflicts.

3. Will help the child connect with their natural rhythms in nature and spirit.

4. Will free their minds to be more creative and will encourage creativity when they most need to be encouraged.’

5. Will help you create a rhythm for your family that is “just right” – not too busy and not too slow. It will help you connect with the rhythms of nature, the day, the week, the months and the year. (Kristie Burns)

Little Sprouts program description

The Little Sprouts Program (ages 3 to 5) cultivates imagination, friendship, and a connection to the natural world.  

The Little Sprouts’ morning begins with creative free play and farm or garden chores. Circle time involves music, story-telling, verse, and movement. Children learn to care for the natural world by exploring local plants and wildlife and working in their own garden. In this stage, the curriculum is a gentle exposure to understanding our relationships with each other and the earth with authentic, natural contexts for learning that enhance imaginations and build excitement for learning. The instructor’s goals are to provide a safe climate for exploration, cooperation, and creativity.

Preschool Themes: Rhythm, Repetition, and Modeling

A toddler longs for rhythm, repetition and activities which feel safe. As a Little Sprouts teacher, you include the children in the daily activity of caring for self, others, home, and garden. The key is that these are natural events. Being a part of regular activities, which the child is used to is calming to the child. This makes everyone a lot more comfortable, and when you are more comfortable and stress free, you enjoy the time more.

Up until about 20 years ago, most children this age spent all of their time at home with mother and siblings. The age appropriate behavior for a child this age is to observe and learn by modeling YOUR behavior. Toddlers don't want friends, they want to do what you do! They enjoy hanging on their mother’s hip or standing along side of you doing the dishes, the laundry, going to the market, etc. These daily activities are learning experiences and a joy for children of this age to participate in. (Kristie Burns)

Teacher as Role Model

In the way we go about taking care of home and garden!

How we speak with and take care of others!

How we take care of ourselves!

"Doing work that has to be done over and over again helps us to recognize the natural cycles of growth and decay, of birth and death, and thus become aware of the dynamic order of the universe" -Fritjof Capra

A Bridge between Family and School Life

The Little Sprouts Program is the bridge between family and school life. At this stage the child learns through imitative and creative play in a warm, homelike environment, using cloths and simple natural materials. Social skills are developed as children play side by side, listening and sharing and helping one another.

Rhythm

The classes are structured on a rhythm and the rhythm flows. There is not a time-set schedule but a motion of “in” and “out” movements. We go from active to quiet and from community to inner play. This teaches the child rhythm on a daily basis. Seasonal activities and world holidays emphasize rhythm on a yearly basis.

Little Sprouts Rhythm

Rest and circle time follow morning free play and cleanup. The teacher leads games, poems, seasonal songs and little dramas, which work in the children to integrate their whole being. A snack at the lovely table set with candles is preceded by a blessing, then everyone moves outside for playtime. !Each day has an artistic activity which creates a soothing weekly rhythm for the child. Activities include watercolor painting, drawing, beeswax modeling, seasonal crafts, sewing and finger knitting. Hearing a fairy tale, acting it out, or seeing a puppet play completes the morning. Capable and loving teachers specializing in education for the early years plan the school life with the child's special talents and needs in mind. !

Our Environment

Nurturing and protecting childhood in a beautiful, warm, homelike setting is a key element of the Little Sprouts early childhood program. Reflecting a deep belief that children's natural creative play contains the cornerstones of academic ability, the rhythm of the school day flows between lively social and quiet individual activities. Our classrooms are: • Calm, peaceful!• Beautiful!• Natural!• Safe, protected!• Without artificial noise (t.v., radio, etc.)!• A single calming color, rather than many bright colors and patterns!!!

Learning by Doing

In the first seven years, the child seeks to see that the world is a place of goodness. These early years are a period of joy and exuberance during which the child will absorb and imitate everything he or she sees, and during which learning will flow through the movements of the child. Therefore, the teacher seeks to lead the work of the class in a kind, conscious, loving manner that is worthy of imitation ... and the child learns by doing. (Kristie Burns)

Fostering Wonder and Joy

Great care is taken in planning and providing an entry into school life that fosters wonder, joy and possibility ... the early foundations for a life-long love of learning. The Waldorf preschool and kindergarten experience is meant to enliven the imagination and lovingly guide each child toward an understanding of the world ... to plant the seeds for a successful school career and adult life. (Kristie Burns)

Character Building Themes at School

Harmony & Developing Balance!

Mindfulness!

Being of Service!

Fostering Self-reliance!

Appreciating Beauty in Nature!

Nourishing Compassion!

Living in Joy!!

Our Materials

Exposure to nature and natural materials is essential. All toys in the toy room and crafts are made from natural materials. Candles are made from beeswax and not paraffin, tablecloths are cotton and not plastic. Cups are ceramic and not plastic, dress-up costumes are silk, wool and cotton and not packaged.

Reverence for Nature pt.1

This is done by taking nature walks and pointing out things in nature a child may not see. Children are welcome to add objects to the nature table and the nature table is designed by the teacher to reflect what is happening in the outside world around them in that season.

Reverence for Nature pt. 2

"The more children can just be out in nature soaking it in, the better. The stories and projects are intended to help the children sink more deeply into nature - not for nature to connect them to projects! There is no greater science learning at this age than direct experience of nature.” (Enki) !

Reverence for Nature pt. 3

“Part of choosing is honoring the natural material as it is, rather than making it into a cute something else. For example, making and flying windsocks heightens the Child's connection to and understanding of the power of wind, in its natural state. On the other hand, painting little faces on rocks is a game or cartoon in which the natural world becomes a tool for manipulation - and it is not something we do…" (Enki)

Reverence for Nature pt. 4

"...we are looking to cultivate a deep sense of reverence for nature while the children are still in the heightened Body and Speech Awareness when connectedness is a deep and driving force, so that this will be their ground. When the children move on to the period of heightened mind awareness, they can work with their thinking more independently. If they have a strong base in the sense of the natural ecosystem, they can perform experiments without undermining the sense of connectedness. Then, hopefully, even their analytic work will take place in the context of being touched by and not separate from nature. It is still - and hopefully always will remain - a delicate issue.” (Enki)

Music

Music awakens the brain in the younger child. Math abilities, language abilities and more have been shown by researchers and many studies are awakened by exposure to music at a young age. I also integrate education into the music itself by following a formula of learning skills in each month’s verse selection. I include: one math song, one movement (coordination and left-brain, right-brain coordination) song, one language song in Spanish, sign-language, and songs having to do with the season or holiday that month. Some songs include information about nature. (Kristie Burns)

Ritual and Respect

Making bread and/or preparing snack at the beginning of the day and eating it for snack help teach the child that food is work and deserves respect. So do other things in life. Real cloth and ceramic utensils are used to teach a child to be careful with the breakable items. Candles are lit and a blessing is said to nurture the child with ritual and respect. (Kristie Burns)

-Little Sprout snack blessing

“Blessings on the blossoms!

blessings on the fruit!

blessings on the leaves and stems!

and blessings on the root.”

-Little Sprout lunch blessing

“Earth who gives us all our food!

Sun who makes it ripe and good!

Dearest Earth!

Dearest Sun!

We won’t forget what you have done.”

Useful and Purposeful Work

Crafts done by teachers and children alike can all be used for a purpose. Crafts are always done by the children or teacher and are not pre-prepared or done for  the purpose of “hanging on the wall”. Each craft has a deeper purpose. Items like kites, candles, necklaces, and pots are formed by the children. Toys are knitted or made by the teachers. Even the painting experiences are done for the purpose of color therapy, learning and coordination. Children learn the beauty of having a skill that they can use to create purposeful and useful things. (Kristie Burns)

Creative Free Play

Toys and activities are designed so the children can use their imagination and creativity. Stories are told and not usually read from a book. This gives the child more room to imagine and even if props are used the child can later manipulate these own props to re-create the story. Dress-up clothes are usually plain and leave room for creative usage. A piece of silk  could be a skirt, a dress, or a pouch. It could be many things!!

Creative toys are used and electronic toys or toys that only do one thing are discouraged. Even using stones and shells and nuts as toys is encouraged.

Spirituality

Waldorf does not promote a religion but it does encourage reverence of “god” or the “universe” or “Nature” in a spiritual way by telling stories of saints, saying blessings before a meal, and other things. All expressions of spirituality are encouraged and a child is never told to “be quiet” about it. If they have different beliefs than the other children they are encouraged to explain or share. !

The traditional Waldorf birthday story tells the story of each child as they come down from heaven where they lived with the angels to be with their mother and father. (Kristie Burns)

Art!

All kinds of crafts stimulate a differentiated development of the will and a practical orientation of the student towards life. (http://www.waldorfschule.de)!

Much learning in the Waldorf school is done through the art of plays, storytelling, crafts and painting. Learning is integrated INTO these activities to make for a more holistic learning experience. The alphabet is learned through art in the Saplings program (ages 5 to 7).!

Diversity

World languages, myths, stories, holidays and much more are explored in the Waldorf schools. Additionally, children are evaluated and “typed” by the teacher (silently – not out loud) and directed in the best ways of learning for their type. They are also encouraged to accept all types that are like them and not like them in ways of thinking. They are encouraged to learn respect for diversity of personality. (Kristie Burns)

Movement

Mindful movements and yoga are learned in all the classes as a tool for each person to grow and heal physically and mentally their entire life. Yoga and mindful movements also help the brain to develop and a person to remain more centered and balanced. The alphabet is also learned through movement in Saplings.

Little Sprout Supplies

Toys from nature (handmade, purchased, collected from nature i.e.; dolls, acorns, wool roving, pretty stones, pinecones, silk scarves, felted toys, wooden figures, modeling beeswax)!

Nature basket (for collecting)!

Proper outdoor clothing (modern society tends to keep the kids indoors when it is raining and snowing but children need to experience nature on a daily basis. Make sure they have proper attire so they can go outside every day)!

Crafting supplies (when a child is this young they do not have a standard crafting curriculum. Rather, they are being slowly introduced to some of the materials you are using and ones they will be using later on. Most of these crafts involve the following materials: Flour, Water, and other food items, natural soap, red, yellow, and blue watercolors, watercolor brushes, watercolor paper (minimum 11” x 14”), beeswax for candles, block crayons, drawing paper)!

Birthday circle!

Picture books!

Morning RhythmMorning Free Play (breathing out) 9 to 10 a.m.!

Playing with natural toys, fantasy play, seasonal artistic activity, snack preparation, housework (indoor or outdoor)

Finger rhymes and verses are very important for pre-math and pre-language abilities

Followed by toilet and washing hands for snack

Snack (breathing in) 10 to 10:30 a.m. !herb tea, fruit, bread, oatmeal, cereal!

Morning Circle (breathing out) 10:30 to 11 a.m.!songs, verses, mindful movements, games, story!

Late Morning Free Play 11 to 12 p.m.!catching, running, jumping games, seasonal activity: gardening work!!Followed by toilet and washing hands for lunch

Afternoon Rhythm

Lunch (breathing in) 12 to 12:45 p.m.!

Quiet Play & Rest 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.!books, blocks, dolls, lacing, beeswax!

Afternoon Circle 1:30 to 2 p.m.!songs, verses, games, story!

Afternoon Free Play (breathing out) 2 to 3 p.m.!

Breathing In: Shaping Bread

“Breathing in”!

This is the beginning of EVERY day. The children are allowed to slowly ease into the day and focus their energies on the shaping of the dough and start conversations. This is a time of transition, an analogy to the shaping of the day, a way the children can feel involved in the creation of the school and a wonderful ritual they enjoy eating later on during snack.

Breathing Out: Nature Walk/Table

“Breathing out”!

Nature Walk/Table: The nature walk allows the child to notice the weather of  the day, of the season and where they are, thus becoming in touch with the environment around them and centering them and connecting them with the universe around them. Objects are placed on the table as an ever-changing display that keeps the classroom in touch with the outside world so children do not become isolated in an artificial environment.

Breathing Out: Snack Time

“Breathing in” !

Children are called to snack after using the toilet and washing hands. The table is ALWAYS set nicely with cloth napkins and cups and bowls made of natural ceramic or wood. Sometimes children will want to help set the table with the teacher during Morning Free Play. There is always a candle lit and a blessing before every meal.!

 

Breathing In: Circle Time

“Breathing in”!

This is a time for teaching both songs and finger rhymes of a Waldorf nature. Usually rhymes that are seasonal and dealing with nature are used. There are many books filled with rhymes and songs. Usually 3-5 songs/ finger plays are used for each circle time. !

Sometimes children will want to play instead of doing the songs and that is OK. Some children take a few times to get used to the idea and will eventually join in. As always teachers are expected to make sure their children are either participating or at least not disrupting.

Breathing In: Story Time

“Breathing in”!

At the end of circle time children then change from sitting in a circle and instead sit facing the “storyteller” demonstrating visually and mentally that now is the time to sit and listen and not to play. Instead of sitting in a circle for the story, children are sat in front of the “storyteller” in rows. From ages 1 to 5 stories are rarely read but only “told” using finger puppets, wooden figures or hand motions or other natural tools.

Breathing Out: Afternoon Free Play

Breathing Out!

Children have afternoon free play while teachers do a short craft or work on a continuing project. This can be knitting a bunny, Hand sewing a felt shape, Making a felt animal, making a doll, making a small quilt or any handiwork at all. Older  children are sometimes interested in “helping” and they are allowed to do so. This is a good time to teach the older children a craft while the young kids play.

Modeling: Clean Up

Teachers sing a clean up song and clean up, inviting the children to participate. Remember, we are simply “modeling” behavior and should not expect the children to fully participate yet. Just picking up one toy is a good start. Toys should always be put in the same place, on a shelf or in a basket, with respect and never thrown or tossed or buried in a toy box. (Kristie Burns)!

"Tick Tock goes the clock, what does it have to say? Time for us to pick up our toys, and put them all away."

The Yearly Cycle

Some activities are scheduled over the year based on seasonal or holiday themes. You may want to add or subtract from this list. Steiner recommends honoring all members of our community – that is why we have so many extra holidays listed.

The Yearly Cycle: January

Main Holidays and Themes! Western Calendar New Year  Three Kings Day Themes Animals (Chinese Calendar Theme) Moon Lunar and Solar Calendars Snow & Ice (Western World) Other Holidays and Themes Mozart’s Birthday Islamic New Year - January 20 Dia De Los Reyes - Mexico Martin Luther King Day  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Candle Basics

The Yearly Cycle: February

Main Holidays and Themes!Valentine’s Day Shrove Monday (Mardi Gras/ Fat Tuesday) Themes Love Animals (Chinese Calendar Theme)  Additional Holidays Chinese Lunar New Year  Setsuban in Japan Copernicus’ Birthday President’s Day  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Candles Part Two Paper  Felt Basics  Mother’s Craft of the Month Felt Animals

The Yearly Cycle: March

Main Holidays and Themes! Saint Patrick’s Day Spring Equinox (New Year in Persia)  Additional Themes Wind The Irish Picnics  Additional Holidays Women’s Day in China Robert Frost’s Birthday Van Gogh’s Birthday Houdini’s Birthday Earth Day  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Candles Part Three Herb Basics Felt Part Two

 

The Yearly Cycle: April

Main Holidays and Themes!  Easter  Themes Recycling The Earth Water and Mud Growth and Growing/Renewal  Additional Holidays and Themes Miro’s (Artist) birthday Audubon (Bird Artist) birthday Kepler’s Birthday Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday DaVinci’s Birthday  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Herbs Part Two Sewing Part Two Woodworking  Mother’s Craft of the Month Knit rabbits or felt chickens

The Yearly Cycle: May

Main Holidays and Themes!Mayfair   Additional Themes Song & Dance Mothers and Mentors Joy & Dancing Flowers  Additional Holidays Mother’s Day Cinco de Mayo - Mexico  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Crochet Drawing May Baskets & Maypole weaving Sewing Part Three Soap & Handicrafts with flowers Embroidery Part Two  Mother’s Craft of the Month Felt dolls

The Yearly Cycle: June

Main Holidays and Themes!Summer Solstice - 21 Additional Themes  The Sun  Additional Holidays Father’s Day  Rueben’s Birthday (Artist) “Summer Camp” Lesson Blocks for this Month Week 1: Rocks Week 2: Movement Week 3: Carving Week 4: Sand

The Yearly Cycle: July

Main Holidays and Themes!Themes Campfires and camping Travel and saying goodbye Good Friends  Additional Holidays and Themes Independence Day (USA) Bastille Day Pioneer Day in USA, Aephelon Day (Earth is the farthest distance from the Sun today) Rembrandt Birthday First moon landing 20 “Summer Camp” Lesson Blocks for this Month Week 1: Weaving Week 2: Survival Skills Week 3: Making Games Week 4: Publishing (handmade books)

The Yearly Cycle: August

Main Holidays and Themes!Crops and Harvest Coming Prepare for Fall Prepare for School Other Themes and Holidays this Month Opening of Panama Canal Anniversary 3 rd of Aug. Hiroshima anniversary  Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon day- birthday) Amelia Airhart completed her legendary flight on the 25

!Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Week 1: Nature games Week 2: Woodworking projects Week 3: Cooking Week 4: Organizing

The Yearly Cycle: September

Main Holidays and Themes!Michaelmas Autumn Eqinox is September 23 Additional Themes  Angels Dragons Leaves & Apples Bees & Honey  Additional Holidays Shel Silverstein and Tomie DePaola were born in this month Carivaggio’s birthday was in this month (painter) Johnny Appleseed was born  Native American Week in the USA Harvest Day in China Respect for the Aged Day in Japan Independence Day in Mexico Hippocrates Birthday is in this month (famous healer)  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Introduction to Waldorf watercolor painting Introduction to finger-knitting and knitting Mother’s Craft for the Month Knit a nature bag

The Yearly Cycle: October

Main Holidays and Themes!Halloween Saint Francis  Additional Themes Harvest  Additional Holidays Thanksgiving in Canada Ramadan Mother Theresa won the Nobel Prize in this month Picasso was born in this month Statue of Liberty dedicated UN Day Ghandi was born  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Watercolor painting Spool and French Knitting

The Yearly Cycle: November

Main Holidays and Themes!Martinmas Thanksgiving Advent Begins Other Themes Peace Giving Thanks  Additional Holidays Georgia O’Keefe has a birthday Suez Canal was opened in Egypt Mark Twain has a birthday Advent continues this month Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Embroidery and Cross-Stitch  Mother’s Craft for the Month Weave a placemat for Thanksgiving

The Yearly Cycle: December

Main Holidays and Themes!Christmas Winter Solstice Santa Lucia Day Themes Snow & Ice (Western World) Heroes and Saints Fairies and Gnomes  Additional Holidays Matisse (Artist) has a birthday Kwanza Hannukah  Handiwork Lesson Blocks for this Month Grinding Grains Sewing Basics  Mother’s Craft of the Month Knit slippers for the winter months!

The Monthly Cycle

Month:!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Birthdays & Holidays: !Themes:

Language Songs Stories Crafts/Cooking

Math/Science!

Mindful Movement Games

Waldorf Preschool Examples

Apple Blossoms Preschool Portland, Oregon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vkrgtq5SWI!

Prairie Flower School, Iowa https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j33a1zf3voimv1b/WQo1I1QA2T!

Verses

Basic morning and afternoon verses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7b7tdyVGnU

Discipline or Working Towards Peace and Justice at SFS

Sometimes children will want to play instead of doing circle and that is okay. Some children take a few times to get used to the idea and will eventually join in. As always teachers are expected to make sure their children are either participating or at least not disrupting.!

As a rule, in Waldorf, a child’s talking and whispering and playing alone quietly or with soft noises are ALWAYS accepted. However, shouting, running, pushing or any behavior that brings attention to them instead of the group should be stopped by the teacher with a gentle reminder and re-routing of the child’s attention.

Little Sprouts teachers will have access to the following books and resources:

Games & Movement Song Story Verses Crafts Other

Games Children Play Sing through the Seasons

Storytelling with Children

Barefoot Book of Blessings Magical Window Stars Supporting Self-

directed play

Yoga Bear (yoga cards) A Day full of Song Why the Setting Sun Turns Red A Felt Farm You are Your Child’s

First Teacher

Planting Seeds This is the way we Wash-a-Day

Healing Stories for Challenging Behavior

Waldorf Schools: Kindergarten

Mindful Movements Singing GamesStories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent

ChildrenSeven Times the Sun

Yoga Pretzels (yoga cards) The Children’s Year

Gesture Games for Spring and Summer

Festivals, Family, and Food

Gesture Games for Fall and Winter All Year Round