Most Waldorf schools are off for mid-winter break this week.
At this point in the year Waldorf teachers are grateful to have a little break. It allows us to come up for air, get caught up and plan ahead a bit. This week I am doing a number of things.
- Planning my play. We’re putting on a production of the Epic of Gilgamesh. I assigned parts just before the break. While the students learn their lines this week, I’m going through the script, blocking it out, and planning costumes, sets and props. Yes, once a year every Waldorf teacher becomes a director.
- Reading ahead. I’ve got a couple of intensive blocks coming up. To prepare for them I’m reading a lot. Here’s what’s currently on my nightstand.
The Children’s Homer by Padraic Colum.
The Golden Fleece, also by Padraic Colum
I didn’t use either of these books the first time I taught fifth grade, but I’m finding that I really appreciate the way they put the Greek myths in a context of another story. I like that this gives a way to tell fifth graders the myths while still maintaining a feeling for the realm of history.
Elementary and Middle School Mathematics by John Van de Walle
This is my math bible. It goes through all of the concepts in a very developmentally appropriate way. The students are encouraged to discover true math, rather than being taught tricks. It’s great.
The other resource I need to find is one that gives lots of practice decimal problems in a systematic way. Towards the end of our last block I gave the students some decimal problems to review and I was surprised at how much they struggled with them. We definitely need to practice!
Well, back to work, just one day left
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