Fantastic Waldorf painting course available this summer that I thought I would pass along!
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/a0ce04e5a70babb8ef1330163/files/Painting_Course_Flyer_13_color.pdf
"An intensive course for Waldorf teachers and parents
with Gail McManus"
Date: August 12 - 17, 2013
Location: The Arteum School of Painting in Ghent, NY
Cost: Tuition (including materials) is $450. Some tuition assistance may be available.
Lodging: Assistance with lodging can be provided. Camping is also possible.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Gluten-Free Playdough
GREAT recipe for gluten-free playdough from http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2012/09/gluten-free-playdough.html.
We made this in my classroom on Monday. The pink color is perfect for Valentine's Day. Smells yummy too. Enjoy!
We made this in my classroom on Monday. The pink color is perfect for Valentine's Day. Smells yummy too. Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Playdough
Ingredients:
½ cup of white rice flour
½ cup of cornstarch
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
½ cup of salt
2 teaspoons of oil
1 cup of water
Ingredients:
½ cup of white rice flour
½ cup of cornstarch
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
½ cup of salt
2 teaspoons of oil
1 cup of water
1. In a small pot, combine the dry ingredients and give it a whisk. Add the water and oil, and whisk until smooth.
2. Put over low heat on the stove, and stir with a wooden spoon. It will slowly thicken and start pulling away from the sides of the pot. You know it’s done when you lift a large spoonful of the playdough and it doesn’t drip at all, but remains a firm ball. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. Once cool enough to touch, you can knead in more starch or flour to firm it up, if necessary.
2. Put over low heat on the stove, and stir with a wooden spoon. It will slowly thicken and start pulling away from the sides of the pot. You know it’s done when you lift a large spoonful of the playdough and it doesn’t drip at all, but remains a firm ball. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. Once cool enough to touch, you can knead in more starch or flour to firm it up, if necessary.
Keep well wrapped, and it will keep indefinitely.
To color:
Pink: Add three bags of raspberry tea to 1 cup of hot water. Brew for ten minutes. Use in place of the water in the recipe.
Pink: Add three bags of raspberry tea to 1 cup of hot water. Brew for ten minutes. Use in place of the water in the recipe.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Modeling Beeswax - To Warm It or Not?
so, I am wondering about whether people warm up their modeling beeswax before they give it to kids.
I have, for years, been of the opinion that warming it is an essential part of the work. You give them a basket of pieces, they choose a color that appeals to them, you read or tell a story while they warm it in their hands, and then you model something from the story.
Now I want to do some of the exercises from Learning about the world through modeling: Sculptural ideas for school and home
by Arthur Auer with my group (Hand Gestures pp.14-20, interior hand-space form p.22) and it seems that for this work, the wax should be warm and ready to go. You want them exploring their hands and then ready to look at the unique shapes made the wax formed by their own hands' curves, and I wouldn't want to stop all of that momentum to warm up your wax.
I know that there are directions for doing it online:
put the beeswax in a bowl and put the bowl on top of a warm stove
http://www.mothering.com/community/t/414656/modeling-beeswax
put it in very warm (but not boiling hot) water for 5-10 minutes
http://www.lunasolfarm.com/node/10
I was wondering philosophically what other people think.
I have, for years, been of the opinion that warming it is an essential part of the work. You give them a basket of pieces, they choose a color that appeals to them, you read or tell a story while they warm it in their hands, and then you model something from the story.
Now I want to do some of the exercises from Learning about the world through modeling: Sculptural ideas for school and home
by Arthur Auer with my group (Hand Gestures pp.14-20, interior hand-space form p.22) and it seems that for this work, the wax should be warm and ready to go. You want them exploring their hands and then ready to look at the unique shapes made the wax formed by their own hands' curves, and I wouldn't want to stop all of that momentum to warm up your wax. I know that there are directions for doing it online:
put the beeswax in a bowl and put the bowl on top of a warm stove
http://www.mothering.com/community/t/414656/modeling-beeswax
put it in very warm (but not boiling hot) water for 5-10 minutes
http://www.lunasolfarm.com/node/10
I was wondering philosophically what other people think.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Book Review - Coloring with Block Crayons
This is the other review I posted to our Yahoo Group:
Yes, I use Coloring with Block Crayons, Emphasizing the Primary Colors, 2nd Edition
in my classroom. I think it's
helpful and I refer to it weekly.
It is 72 pages long. She gives basic exercises for the teacher to do before teaching the techniques, which are wonderful, since you're teaching through imitation here.
She talks concretely about topics such as introducing the materials to the children, starting with a verse, and lots of tips such as how to draw animals (and specifics for foxes, dogs, birds, cats, lions, rabbits, horses, cows, sheep, monkeys, fish, turtles, frogs), how to draw landscapes and skies, buildings, plants, all the things that might trip you up.
The basic technique exercises she covers are bands of color, clouds of color, tone shading, secondary colors, making browns, making a color circle, all color spectrum, drawing ribbons, controlling the width of the stroke, and controlling negative space.
In short, it really gives you a lot of details on all the things you might have questions about! I think it is a good buy. I actually have an extra copy and if someone is interested, just email me off list. I somehow ended up with two.
The CD is helpful. She talks right into the camera, holding the crayons and demonstrating the motions. She also shows beautiful full color drawings that she has done that are pretty inspiring. I think you could live without the CD, though, if you had to, because there are full color plates in the back of her book that also help you to see what's possible. The plates in the book show alphabet examples, such as R for Rumpelstiltskin and B for bee, as well as people you would need for fairy tales (knight, king, queen, farmer and family). She also shows completed full color drawings for "The Frog Prince," "Mother Holle," "The Tortoise and the Hare," and St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio.
I got our crayons through A Small Green Footprint, where you can buy the primary colors individually, as many or as few of each one as you want.
P.S. My students went ahead and sewed pouches for their three block crayons, to keep them organized. We used to have three small baskets, one for each color of crayon, but people seemed to want their own to take good care of. I used a piece of Magic Cabin wool felt, cut in half, and then we folded that in half, divided 6 inches by three, measured two inches for each pocket using a ruler and drew lines with chalk, pinned along each line and the edges, put the crayons in while we sewed them (to make sure people sewed pockets that would ultimately fit), and sewed up the chalk lines and the edges. Then I let them sew on snaps to keep the pouches closed when the top flap was down, which they were really excited about because they had only ever sewed on buttons.
Yes, I use Coloring with Block Crayons, Emphasizing the Primary Colors, 2nd Edition
in my classroom. I think it's
helpful and I refer to it weekly. It is 72 pages long. She gives basic exercises for the teacher to do before teaching the techniques, which are wonderful, since you're teaching through imitation here.
She talks concretely about topics such as introducing the materials to the children, starting with a verse, and lots of tips such as how to draw animals (and specifics for foxes, dogs, birds, cats, lions, rabbits, horses, cows, sheep, monkeys, fish, turtles, frogs), how to draw landscapes and skies, buildings, plants, all the things that might trip you up.
The basic technique exercises she covers are bands of color, clouds of color, tone shading, secondary colors, making browns, making a color circle, all color spectrum, drawing ribbons, controlling the width of the stroke, and controlling negative space.
In short, it really gives you a lot of details on all the things you might have questions about! I think it is a good buy. I actually have an extra copy and if someone is interested, just email me off list. I somehow ended up with two.
The CD is helpful. She talks right into the camera, holding the crayons and demonstrating the motions. She also shows beautiful full color drawings that she has done that are pretty inspiring. I think you could live without the CD, though, if you had to, because there are full color plates in the back of her book that also help you to see what's possible. The plates in the book show alphabet examples, such as R for Rumpelstiltskin and B for bee, as well as people you would need for fairy tales (knight, king, queen, farmer and family). She also shows completed full color drawings for "The Frog Prince," "Mother Holle," "The Tortoise and the Hare," and St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio.
I got our crayons through A Small Green Footprint, where you can buy the primary colors individually, as many or as few of each one as you want.
P.S. My students went ahead and sewed pouches for their three block crayons, to keep them organized. We used to have three small baskets, one for each color of crayon, but people seemed to want their own to take good care of. I used a piece of Magic Cabin wool felt, cut in half, and then we folded that in half, divided 6 inches by three, measured two inches for each pocket using a ruler and drew lines with chalk, pinned along each line and the edges, put the crayons in while we sewed them (to make sure people sewed pockets that would ultimately fit), and sewed up the chalk lines and the edges. Then I let them sew on snaps to keep the pouches closed when the top flap was down, which they were really excited about because they had only ever sewed on buttons.
Book Review - Painting and Drawing in Waldorf Schools
We just had a discussion in the Yahoo group about books for drawing and painting. I thought it would be helpful to share my notes about two books which I own, and use every week.
I just got a new book which I think is fabulous! It's Painting and Drawing in Waldorf Schools: Classes 1-8
by Thomas
Wildgruber.
384 pages
There's a helpful amount of theory but also LOTS of full color pictures of student work. Introduction, a chapter on form drawing, a chapter on free versus guided drawing (including how the alphabet is introduced pictorially), and chalkboard drawings. A chapter on playing with paint versus guided painting.
Then, the school years.
A large section on each grade, with a series of assignments (and photos of student work) for each grade up to grade 8. He talks about the painting and drawing work separately, as its own subject, as well as how it ties in with each main lesson, and examples of assignments and student work. There are considerations and notes for each assignment.
You can get the book through Amazon. I think it's a great all-in-one resource that would be really helpful!
I would also like to say that not all Waldorf painting books agree. I read years ago that you should mix the two yellows (lemon and golden) that you get from Stockmar to make one "true" yellow, and the same with the two reds and the two blues.
That is for the early grades. Then, later on (I believe it was fourth grade, Norse mythology) you would allow for students to compare and contrast and work with the different shades. My mind is vaguely recalling that this is in Painting in Waldorf Education
? My book is at school so I can't look it up right now, but I remember something about Norse creation and the two reds. Feel free to correct me if I'm referencing this wrong.
Anyway, the Wildgruber book allows the children to work with both yellows, blues, and reds almost from the beginning and my students are so excited to see and compare the two colors of each. They are absolutely absorbed by the differences. So that has been really compelling for them. We got the paint jars and wooden holders from A Child's Dream Come True and Nova Natural. I prefer the Nova Natural one; it's larger and has larger jars. It also has lovelier lines. But they both work perfectly fine. And the children love (as I said) the variety of colors. They look quite beautiful on the tables.
I just got a new book which I think is fabulous! It's Painting and Drawing in Waldorf Schools: Classes 1-8
by Thomas
Wildgruber.There's a helpful amount of theory but also LOTS of full color pictures of student work. Introduction, a chapter on form drawing, a chapter on free versus guided drawing (including how the alphabet is introduced pictorially), and chalkboard drawings. A chapter on playing with paint versus guided painting.
Then, the school years.
A large section on each grade, with a series of assignments (and photos of student work) for each grade up to grade 8. He talks about the painting and drawing work separately, as its own subject, as well as how it ties in with each main lesson, and examples of assignments and student work. There are considerations and notes for each assignment.
You can get the book through Amazon. I think it's a great all-in-one resource that would be really helpful!
I would also like to say that not all Waldorf painting books agree. I read years ago that you should mix the two yellows (lemon and golden) that you get from Stockmar to make one "true" yellow, and the same with the two reds and the two blues.
That is for the early grades. Then, later on (I believe it was fourth grade, Norse mythology) you would allow for students to compare and contrast and work with the different shades. My mind is vaguely recalling that this is in Painting in Waldorf Education
? My book is at school so I can't look it up right now, but I remember something about Norse creation and the two reds. Feel free to correct me if I'm referencing this wrong.Anyway, the Wildgruber book allows the children to work with both yellows, blues, and reds almost from the beginning and my students are so excited to see and compare the two colors of each. They are absolutely absorbed by the differences. So that has been really compelling for them. We got the paint jars and wooden holders from A Child's Dream Come True and Nova Natural. I prefer the Nova Natural one; it's larger and has larger jars. It also has lovelier lines. But they both work perfectly fine. And the children love (as I said) the variety of colors. They look quite beautiful on the tables.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Simplicity Parenting Online Course with Kim John Payne
For those of you who don't get the Waldorf Today newsletter, I'm really excited to share this!
The Early Bird special is $129 (a savings of $30.00) and it expires December 29th at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
Simplicity Parenting Home Practice Guide
Early bird discount - Online course with Kim John Payne
(This course will be presented live for 8 Tuesdays starting January 22, 2013. There's no problem if you can't attend live because we will record each session and email the link to you the same day. You will have several weeks to view each session.)
The Early Bird special is $129 (a savings of $30.00) and it expires December 29th at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
Simplicity Parenting Home Practice Guide
Early bird discount - Online course with Kim John Payne
(This course will be presented live for 8 Tuesdays starting January 22, 2013. There's no problem if you can't attend live because we will record each session and email the link to you the same day. You will have several weeks to view each session.)
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
The Familiar Quicksand of Waldorf Doubt
I have been plagued with Waldorf-guilt. Yes, I know you all know it well. :-)
It's that feeling that you aren't Waldorf-enough, so you don't belong in the conversation.
But this morning I suddenly had a realization. Again. I seem to go through this inner conversation many times on my journey. Since 2005 I've been a Waldorf person. For the first years (2005 - 2008) I was a Waldorf homeschooling mom. Then I became a teacher at an alternative (but not a Waldorf) school and I was a traditional teacher incorporating Waldorf elements into my classroom. That's 2008 - 2012. Next step in my journey, after I finish my Master's in Curriculum & Instruction, will be to begin my M.Ed. in Waldorf education through Antioch University in New England. So there are three ways that Waldorf philosophy can express itself...
you can be a Waldorf-inspired parent or a Waldorf homeschooler
you can be a teacher in a non-Waldorf school who is looking to bring more Waldorf into your work
you can be in Waldorf teacher training or working as a teacher in a Waldorf school
But ALL of these mean that you are a Waldorf person!
You are always Waldorf-enough, wherever you are in your journey. The whole point of my Yahoo group and the work on my website has always been to support people interested in learning more about Waldorf, wherever they are, and it's ironic that I lost my vision and support of myself.
I can't wait to finish this degree and start another one. I can't wait to be a Waldorf teacher. But it's important for me to remember that even without being a Waldorf teacher, I can still be a Waldorf person.
I hope this helps everyone else who is going through the same thing!!!!
It's that feeling that you aren't Waldorf-enough, so you don't belong in the conversation.
But this morning I suddenly had a realization. Again. I seem to go through this inner conversation many times on my journey. Since 2005 I've been a Waldorf person. For the first years (2005 - 2008) I was a Waldorf homeschooling mom. Then I became a teacher at an alternative (but not a Waldorf) school and I was a traditional teacher incorporating Waldorf elements into my classroom. That's 2008 - 2012. Next step in my journey, after I finish my Master's in Curriculum & Instruction, will be to begin my M.Ed. in Waldorf education through Antioch University in New England. So there are three ways that Waldorf philosophy can express itself...
you can be a Waldorf-inspired parent or a Waldorf homeschooler
you can be a teacher in a non-Waldorf school who is looking to bring more Waldorf into your work
you can be in Waldorf teacher training or working as a teacher in a Waldorf school
But ALL of these mean that you are a Waldorf person!
You are always Waldorf-enough, wherever you are in your journey. The whole point of my Yahoo group and the work on my website has always been to support people interested in learning more about Waldorf, wherever they are, and it's ironic that I lost my vision and support of myself.
I can't wait to finish this degree and start another one. I can't wait to be a Waldorf teacher. But it's important for me to remember that even without being a Waldorf teacher, I can still be a Waldorf person.
I hope this helps everyone else who is going through the same thing!!!!
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