Done! el Rio initiates first ‘how-a-K-8-Waldorf-classroom-actually-works’ experience for L.A. public school teachers at Ocean Charter School.

“Yes, but two of my unruly boys would immediately start fooling around and start sword-fighting with these things”, was the middle school teacher’s objection.  We were 20, standing in pairs in a circle, and 3-foot long/1/2-inch diameter copper rods were being distributed in preparation for practicing tossing the rods to each other to a clapping beat without dropping them. It was an example of waking students up, focusing the mind, and being social. We did, of course drop the rods continually, unaccustomed to throwing or catching with our left hand, clapping and saying a poem all at the same time.

The instructor’s response to the accidental ‘dropping of the rods’ turned out to be an object lesson of a central feature of the Waldorf educational ‘approach’:  forgiveness.  We are not warned not to drop the rods, instead we are told we will probably drop the rods and if we do that will be fine because rods can drop and probably will. As a result, we do not feel compelled to apologize, feel bad or make excuses.  We just pick it up, laugh, learn from the experience and try again. We notice that no one is selected as the best rod thrower of the day.  We are free to notice and appreciate the more talented throwers and learn from them.  We are not being judged and, as a result, try really hard and exceed our own expectations in every case.

So back to the teacher worried that in real life with real middle-schoolers real fooling, not just accidental rod-dropping, would ensue.  The instructor says, “watch this”, and invites  the skeptical teacher and her partner into the center of the circle with their rods.  The instructor says to the two ‘boys’ who, in our imagination, have been sword-fighting, “Sword-fighting is a discipline that can be learned with practice over time.  Let’s begin. Here is how you cross swords (clang! clang!) and you two can practice crossing swords right here while the rest of us practice throwing.” I can’t guarantee that this tactic would works with all unruly boys in all situations but the demonstration of helping the boys direct their energy into a productive purpose while having the chance to be admired and experience a small success seemed, to me and others when we talked about it over coffee at break, a direction worth developing to suit.

El Rio plans to continue developing opportunities for L.A. teachers to get to know Waldorf education philosophy and practice.  This initial project was a collaborative effort initiated by Tamar Kern, founding teacher and co-charter writer of the Ocean Charter School charter, and Joan Jaeckel, lead developer of el Rio Charter School and co-writer with Tamar of the founding Ocean Charter School charter.  The Public School Outreach team at Rudolf Steiner College assigned Bonnie River (assisted by Robert Murar) to develop the content and assemble the team and, with the Administrative assistance of Stephanie Edwards and Kristy Mac Fett at Ocean Charter School, it all came together. In total, 18 teachers took the course, including the winner of the el Rio Charter School get-to-go-for-free lottery.  Our instructors were Ken Lavner, Lisa Profumo and Alice Stamm. I especially want to mention the inspiring leadership and willingness  of el Rio Charter Shool development team member, blogger-writer Julia Posey and her brilliant brainchildren, the UTLA ad and the lottery.

It would be great to hear more stories from participants. Please join in and write!

And, tell a friend.

The Case for $320,000 Kindergarten Teachers – from NYTimes

A few weeks old, but I just caught wind of this article in the New York Times business section. It presents research based on adult outcomes rather than test scores about how an excellent Kindergarten teacher can have an excellent long-term effect for education.

Early this year, Mr. Chetty and five other researchers … examined the life paths of almost 12,000 children who had been part of a well-known education experiment in Tennessee in the 1980s. The children are now about 30, well started on their adult lives.

On Tuesday, Mr. Chetty presented the findings — not yet peer-reviewed — at an academic conference in Cambridge, Mass. They’re fairly explosive.

This is right in line with our thinking as we develop el Rio – one of our main core values being teacher support, empowerment, and professional development.

I don’t know about $320,000 salaries – we’ll have to sell a LOT of birds.

dunce caps off! TED talks on ideas for our education system

http://www.ted.com/talks/tags/id/70/page/1

7 Top Picks (and still working):

1. Akan KAY,
2. Gever TULLEY,
3. Ken ROBINSON (schools kill creativity),
4. Ken ROBINSON (bring on the learning revolution)
5. Stuart BROWN,
6. Temple GRANDIN,
7. Tim BROWN

Parents of el Rio at La Culebra Park * THIS SATURDAY!

Come find out what an incised ziggurat is! Join the development team and our families this Saturday, August 14th at 11am for our second play date for the parents of el Rio.

This one is at La Tieraa de la Culebra Art Park, located at 240 South Avenue 57 in Highland Park.

From their website:

The centerpiece of [this two acre] art park is a 550 foot long sculptural serpent, La Culebra, as well as revolving mural panels, an urban forest of over 150 trees, gardens, incised ziggurat, a stage, sundial, pond, sculptural amphitheater.

Look for Development Team member Kim Ilas under the trees.
Kim is striking and tall and mocha-skinned and has long dread locks and twin daughters.
<—— There she is now!

See you there!

What if L.A. children had more PLAY and less PRESSURE?

PRESSURE TO PERFORM, SUCCEED, WIN, COMPETE, PLEASE

• “Building a Better Playground” TIME [video: http://bit.ly/bYfrIs] [story: http://bit.ly/bAMpXD]

• “State of Play” The New Yorker [article: http://bit.ly/aGkb95]
• Monique’s Magical Waldorf Kindergarten Class 2010 San Francisco: [video http://bit.ly/cRF27q]

CHILD-INITIATED PLAY GROUND: Who would we be if this was our daily experience as children?

TRY IT OUT FOR YOURSELF THIS SUMMER

“Play Every Day” ideas and fact sheet from the Alliance for Childhood

Happy Trees Make More Shade

TreePeople's Marcos Trinidad and Mark demonstrate tree care procedure.

A big thank you to the nine people who braved the heat on Sunday’s for el Rio and TreePeople Avenue 64 tree maintenance.  You are heroes mulching the way for these trees to provide more shade on a sunny day.  Thank you!

Michael and Daniel mulching and watering a happy Hong Kong orchid tree.

And a big thank you to Cafe de Leche for the delicious coffee donation.  If you missed this tree care event, do not despair.  We will have another in a more temperate season.  In the meantime, enjoy the shade.

el Rio Scholarship for Waldorf Education Professional Development for Public School Teachers in Southern California

Boost your effectiveness as a teacher with a lively dose of Waldorf professional development this summer at Ocean Charter School!

In honor of the first introduction to Waldorf Education for Public School Teachers in Southern California, el Rio is offering a scholarship.  The scholarship is open to participants with a CA teaching credential who reside in northeast LA (zipcodes:  90041, 90042, 90065, 90031).

The Waldorf Education for Public School Teachers is a one-week immersion into the Waldorf teaching experience being held July 19-23, 2010, at Ocean Charter School.  Take the plunge!

You will learn:

* Singing and making music with children

*The art of teaching English language writing and reading skills

*Storytelling for effective response and comprehension

*Movement and math, beanbags, songs and more!

*Waldorf approaches in support of brain-based learning

*Meaning-making of subject-based content using painting, drawing, movement, sculpture, and more!

You will come away with:

*Ideas and materials to apply to your classroom

*Ideas and ways to create a professional learning community in your school

*Ways to support different learners through Waldorf-based differentiation practices

If you have enrolled or are plan to enroll, email elriocharter@gmail.com to enter your name in a lottery drawing.

Read Joan’s blog post for more information about the teacher training and how to enroll.

CANCELED * Second Play Date for Parents of el Rio! * CANCELED

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER!

Come out to Sycamore Grove Park on Saturday July 17th to join other interested el Rio parents and el Rio Development Team members and our kids for an informal get together.

This will be our second get together like this, we hope to do this monthly so we can all get to know each other and to begin to organize el Rio volunteers.

Saturday, July 17th – 11:00am look for Development Team member Kim Ilas at Sycamore Grove Park – 4702 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042 – at the newer playground in the back of the park.
Kim is striking and tall and mocha-skinned and has long dread locks and twin daughters.
<—— There she is now!

See you there!

Parents of el Rio – this Saturday, June 19th!

Come out to Sycamore Grove Park this Saturday to join other interested el Rio parents and el Rio Development Team members and our kids for an informal get together.

We plan to get together like this regularly so we can all get to know each other and to begin to organize el Rio volunteers.

This Saturday, June 19th – 11:00am look for Development Team member Kim Ilas at Sycamore Grove Park – 4702 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90042 – at the newer playground in the back of the park.
Kim is striking and tall and mocha-skinned and has long dread locks and twin daughters.
<—— There she is now!

See you there!

Street Tree Care with TreePeople

Be a part of some much needed tree care in Highland Park.  Julia Posey and el Rio Charter School are teaming up with TreePeople’s Marcos Trinidad to beautify their Northeast L.A. community. Weeding, mulching, and watering will be done to help these young purple orchid and golden trumpet trees get through the summer.

When:  Sunday, July 18, 2010, from 9:00AM-12:00PM.

All volunteers must individually pre-register to attend via the TreePeople site. This is a first come first served opportunity.

If you have any questions, please email elriocharter@gmail.com with “TreePeople Tree Care” in the title.  I hope you can make it!