Every week I receive the Steiner Books Sunday Letter from Kathy Donchak. As part of her weekly letter, Kathy shares a short anthroposophical podcast (https://steinerbooks.org/sunday-letter-podcast ). Although I have appreciated each podcast, I found her April 23rd podcast with Dr. Lakshmi Prasanna especially relevant for this time.

In this podcast, entitled How Do We Create Something New in the Space Created by Social Distancing? Dr. Prasanna, author of Autism, Meet Me Who I Am, shares how important it is for us to embrace this crisis of social distancing by finding new ways to connect with each other and to engage our will. She gave the example of the Italians who are reaching out in their isolation by singing to each other on their balconies.

I surely have had to create new ways of connecting with my students these past few weeks– as I am sure you have! I have transformed my twice weekly, remedial language arts lessons with four 2nd grade students to daily, online, half-hour lessons.

Some of the lessons have gone smoothly – I actually observe my students learning a new skill! Other lessons have been hilarious, sabotaged by technological glitches, or by the children becoming distracted with seeing their faces on the screen or (goodness!) by my innocent, but inept planning.

Every day I learn about how to adapt my "in-person" teaching style so that it can work virtually. For example, in the very first week, I divided the group in half and work with only two students at a time. In the second week, I realized that the children and I could have a little fun with the reaction buttons on our online video conferencing platform by using the and reaction buttons to inspire each other. I even figured out how to create a magnetic letter board out of my cookie sheet!

Our Online, Interactive Workshop Challenge! 

Janet and I have realized that we, too, need to embrace this challenge of physical distancing… so instead of canceling our onsite Teaching Literacy for Waldorf Grades 1-3 Workshops, we are going to share them online!

In fact, we will not only offer our acclaimed Grades 1-3 language arts intensives online (Level 1) but will offer online focus courses for those teachers, who wish to take their personal experience of our curriculum to the next level (Level 2).

Flyer for upcoming workshops of Teaching Literacy in Waldorf Grades 1-3 Level 1
Teaching Literacy in Waldorf Grades 1-3 Level 1

Here are a few details about each course:

Level 1: Teaching Literacy for Waldorf Grades 1-3 Workshop

Ideal for teachers who wish to explore and broaden the curriculum found in The Roadmap to Literacy by Janet Langley and Jennifer Militzer-Kopperl.

  • No specific training or experience required
  • Includes lively presentations and demonstrations, hands-on activities, and lesson planning materials
  • 20 participants maximum per workshop
  • Prerequisite: view our free, introductory video "Why is Teaching English Such a Struggle?" prior to attending a workshop. (The link will be sent to each registered participant.)
  • Certificate of Completion for professional development provided to all attendees


Upcoming Level 1 Courses:

June 12-15, 2020 8:30 am - 2:30 pm PDT
June 23-26, 2020 8:30 am - 2:30 pm PDT

Level 2: Teaching Literacy Intensives for Waldorf Grade 2 or Grade 3

For teachers who have taken our Teaching Literacy for Waldorf Grades 1-3 Level 1 (formally entitled "The Roadmap to Literacy" workshop) and desire more in-depth professional development

  • Prerequisite: completed 3-5 day Level 1 Workshop (previously titled "The Roadmap to Literacy")
  • Delve deeper into your grade level's literacy phases and Grammar curriculum
  • Includes interactive discussions and activities, demonstration lessons, and lesson planning materials
  • 20 participants maximum per workshop
  • Certificate of Completion for professional development provided to all attendees 


Dates for upcoming Level 2 Courses to be announced soon!

If interested, please let us know by clicking the "more information" button below

More Information