Annette

, ,

I love a good blog series, and I haven’t done one in a bit. Recently I came across an old Gateways article called Six Gestures for the Waldorf Early Childhood Educator. After reading the article, I realized that while the author is correct in stating this predispositions (or gestures as she calls them; I am choosing to call them gifts) in teaching are closely aligned with the child from zero to eight, they also are helpful to give our elementary , middle school, high school, and even college-age children. Why do I choose to call them gifts? Because I believe that these six ways of being do not always come naturally. To be blunt and honest, in this COVID-era when we’re often all stuck together in close quarters, sometimes my inclination is not to follow these six parenting guidelines at all, but rather to do the opposite. There have been times I have wanted to yell, to disappear, to hide away. There have been times my own life has not been worthy of imitation, but rather, a stunning example of what NOT to do.  Read more...

Michaelmas

I’ve always struggled with Michaelmas. It’s Nick’s birthday, Michael’s nameday, and a festival in and of itself. It feels especially difficult this year.

Dragon drawing from www.chalkboarddrawing.org

So many people have used the pandemic lockdown to be productive– sourdough bread and COVID gardens and hiking and binge-watching that Tiger thing on Netflix. I’ve been using it to work and parent. That’s… pretty much it. Before March, I had three and a half jobs– I teach Kindermusik, voice, piano, and some theater at music studio, and then I had two teaching artists gigs with two local non-profits. My half-job was a job teaching afterschool science, which I was slowly phasing out. I’ve been trying to do more private teaching, and it just wasn’t fitting well with afterschool teaching. Then the pandemic came. All my lessons moved online. My private lessons increased, but my group classes haven’t been filling. And my two non-profit jobs blinked out altogether, at least for now, which makes me sad, because I truly believe in both them.  Read more...

This Week's Feasts and Festivals, Plans and Projects

, , , ,

Bringing back this post series! I’ve always liked it because, let’s face it– if I were really organized, I wouldn’t wait until Sunday to plan for the week. But something is always better than nothing, and it at least forces me to preplan a little bit. To review, I’ve been doing Feasts and Festivals as well as Plans and Projects for a while. It’s been so long, most of the old posts don’t even have functional pictures anymore! Not so sure about links. Anyway… This week.  Read more...

Cleaning out the old drafts and I found this gem! While you’re reading, I’m teaching a Seasons of Joy story time based on the tale The Magic Porridge Pot– feel free to check it out on Outschool here!

Daniel cooking porridge

Oats for breakfast seems like a bit of a no-brainer– oatmeal of course. We actually have oatmeal twice a week, generally. I usually just make it the old fashioned way, on the stovetop, 2 parts water or milk to 1 part oats. Sometimes I stir an egg in for extra protein. Sometimes I stir the sweetener (honey or maple syrup or agave or raw sugar) in while I am cooking to stop the children from going wild.  Read more...

Seasons of Joy (and more!) on Outschool

,
I’m so excited to bring Seasons of Joy content to the Outschool platform. It is a bit of a brave new world when we’re all trying to keep safe and snug in our homes and we’re accessing Waldorf-inspired content online– although, in my case, Montessori- and Reggio Emilia- inspired content as well.
I will link my teacher profile, but here are some classes that maybe of special interest to my Seasons of Joy families. Please feel free to drop me a note requesting other class times or topics!