Tuesday, August 13, 2019, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Eastern (GMT-5)

The deep principles and innovative practices of biodynamic agriculture can be taken up by any farmer or gardener wanting to enhance the health and vitality of their soil and the food they grow. In this webinar, we will explore the unique and practical ways that you can apply biodynamics to grow the most nutrient-dense and vibrant food possible, build soil organic matter, revitalize landscapes, and protect the climate by bringing more carbon into the living realm.

This is a free interactive video class. Participation in the live webinar is limited to 200 people. Sign up now to reserve your spot! This webinar will be recorded, and all registered participants will receive a link to the video recording. For more details on system requirements and how to participate, please see our webinar info page.

The soil has been prepared for the next step in the development in Thoreau College. A talented faculty has been recruited, a rich curriculum has been designed, and an eager cohort of students from as close as Wisconsin and around the world has applied and been accepted into the first Thoreau College Semester Program, which will start on August 1st, 2019.

In order for us to serve all of our accepted students regardless of their financial situation, we need your help! Our goal is to raise an additional $36,000 over the next few months to make up the difference between what students can contribute and the actual costs of running our robust residential program. Please contribute to our GoFundMe campaign today- even $5 or $10 will help us towards our goal.  

Thank you for helping the Semester Program take root!

The Human Heart
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A Lecture by Rudolf Steiner, given in Dornach, Switzerland on May 26, 1922

GA 212. This edition of The Human Heart, is a reprint of a lecture from The Golden Blade. 1978. The editor's permission for reprinting is gratefully acknowledged here. The lecture is the 6th of 9 lectures in the series entitled: The Human Soul in Relation to World Evolution, and appears in the original German in Menschliches Seelenleben und Geistesstreben im Zusammenhange mit der Welt- und Erdentwicklung, Bibliographic Nr.212, Dornach 1978. It is also known as: The Formation of the Etheric and the Astral Heart. This English edition is published in agreement with, and the kind permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, Dornach, Switzerland. Copyright © 1985

By Jamie York --- Shortly after I wrote the first book in the Making Math Meaningful series (which was for middle school), people approached me about the need for a similar book in the early grades.  It was then, in 2009, that Wim Gottenbos, Nettie Fabrie, and I created the first edition of A Source Book for Teaching Math in Grades One through Five. In the ten years since it was published, it has become our best-selling publication.  As I have found often to be the case, as time passes, new ideas come. So finally, a few months ago, the three of us found the time to work on the second edition of our book in order to make it an even more useful resource for Waldorf school teachers and homeschool educators. This new Second Edition includes week-to-week lesson plan outlines for all the math main lessons, and many more ideas for rhythmical exercises.  For grades one and two, we share more ideas for the four processes and for working from the whole to the part.  You’ll find more on the subject of measurement in grade three, fractions in grade four, as well as sample drawings for geometry in grade five. The second edition retains many of the key features of the first edition, including: detailed curriculum guidelines, specific ideas for math main lessons, and step-by-step progressions for teaching the most important topics and skills. This summer, teachers can pair the Second Edition of our Grades 1-5 Source Book with our Art of Teaching Math online workshops (grades 1-10).  We’ve created these resources so teachers can build a solid foundation for bringing meaningful math to their students.  The current session of our online workshops runs June 15 through October 31, and costs an affordable $150 for two weeks of access. Details at www.jamieyorkpress.com.

For the third year in a row the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar hosted one week of intensive training for High School Teachers. Held in the third week of January, this coincides with the long established Class Teacher Intensive at the Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Sydney. Over 70 participants gathered at the Seminar, coming from far and near: Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, New Zealand and from almost every Steiner High School in Australia.

Each day was started with the teachers’ meditation followed by choral singing. Under expert leadership some classic choir pieces came to stunning fruition during the week. The key note speakers for this year were Robert Martin (founding teacher of the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School) and Rob Gordon (Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist with long standing experience working with adolescents and connection to Anthroposophy). Rob Martin opened the week by sharing his passion for the spiritual aspects of life in general and of education in particular. He pointed out the similarities between the First People of Australia and Rudolf Steiner in their attitudes to spiritual realities. From these profound statements about the undeniable presence of the spiritual world, Robert led on to the Third Hierarchies and the College of Teachers meditation with the all important aspects of imagination, inspiration and intuition. Over the following three mornings, Rob Gordon painted a most remarkable image of the adolescents, their development, needs and challenges, speaking from his extensive clinical practice as well as deep anthroposophic understanding. He moved all of us deeply with his profound compassion, his professional knowledge, his metaphors and humour. Possibly the most interesting aspect of his presentation was his comparative analysis of physical and intellectual development for teenagers. The subtle influence of Rob’s gift was weaving through all other activities and workshops on the daily program. You can follow these links to access the recording of his talks:
Lecture 1: the adolescent’s developing body.
Adolescence is a period of physical development only exceeded by the changes of infancy.  The body is the house of the soul and the home of the spirit …
Lecture 2: the adolescent’s developing soul.
The soul develops in all dimensions of experience during the adolescent years.  This can be exciting and creative but is also confusing and frightening …
Lecture 3: the adolescent’s developing ego.
Human life is the journey of the incarnating ego.  Adolescence is the point where it begins to manifest in the soul life and begin to be self-conscious …
Movement classes – a choice between Bothmer Gymnastics and Eurhythmy – offered a good workout as well as insights into anthroposophic thoughts for teachers new to Steiner education.

Teachers had a choice of two out of the 15 different subject workshops, each workshop facilitated by tutors with extensive classroom experience and background in anthroposophy. We tried to find the necessary balance between the What and How we teach and the overriding Why we teach. Participants commented very positively on this attempt to reach the best possible depth of understanding while still sharing practical advice in their subject matter. Excitingly, the voluntary discussion round in the afternoons on the being of a College of Teachers was attended by almost all participants, thus expanding on many of the themes which Robert Martin initiated at the start of the week. On two further evenings, teachers new to Waldorf education were able to sit with an expert panel to discuss basic concepts of anthroposophy. We’d like to extend our gratitude to all participants, speakers and tutors for their active contribution to make this special and inspiring gathering happen.  We also give our sincere thanks to the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School for allowing access to their beautiful facilities.

We are looking forward to seeing you again in 2020, Wolfgang Maschek, M.R.S. Seminar

Learn more about the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner Seminar here.

Rudolf Steiner Health Center in Ann Arbor, United States (July 9-16, 2019)

Learn about the basics of anthroposophic medicine, nursing, therapies, nutrition, and biodynamics, and work with residents impacted by the Flint Water Crisis and share healthy nutrition and detoxification approaches in an anthroposophic setting.

This is an ideal program for Waldorf seniors, and graduates who would like to know more about the anthroposophic approach to health and medicine. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis for students 18-30 years old (apply as soon as possible, the cohort is capped at 12 participants). The program will take place July 9th-16th at the Rudolf Steiner Health Center in Ann Arbor, MI.

Housing and meals at the Health Center are included in the program, which is free to attend apart from a $50 registration commitment.

Apply online at steinerhealth.org/internship

For more information call 734-663-4365 or email samuel@steinerhealth.org

Summer Festival of the Arts and Education July 8-26, 2019 at Rudolf Steiner Centre Toronto, Canada. This year, in addition to grade intensives for all eight lower-school grades, there is also a full-day one-week introduction to Waldorf early childhood, as well as courses in biography, watercolour painting, needle felting, blackboard drawing, meditation for teachers, English as a Second Language, nutrition from an anthroposophical medical perspective, understanding nature and art from Eastern and Western perspectives, Chekov Drama, Movement Games, Eurythmy and Woodwork, to mention but a few.

Download a pdf version of the brochure, and register for the courses of your choice using the online registration form. There's also a page on the RSCT website with information about the program. However for full descriptions of all the courses and bios of the presenters, download the pdf version of the brochure or refer to the printed version.

Imagine young people gathered together from across the continent, bringing to life what lies just outside the margins of the comfortable. Can you picture the beauty of their connection and the chance to stir the deeper questions that articulate the soul? And can you feel the power for the future that this connection and collaboration can bring? We can! And that’s why this year, we’re devoting our Spring Appeal to support of Youth Section initiative and activity, and we hope you will help. Your contribution will help young people to form and share sacred space with one another, as they consider questions big and small. Please follow this link to make a one-time or monthly gift today. How are we doing this? We’re working together with Youth Section members to plan and sponsor the upcoming North American Youth conference, Questions of Courage, taking place August 8 -11, 2019 in Spring Valley, NY. People ages 16 - 35 are invited to join together to celebrate, collaborate, learn from one another and gain connections and inspiration to move confidently into the future.

Tess Parker, Program Assistant for the ASA and part of the Youth Section in North America reflects on youth conferences she attended in 2017 and 2018: "All of a sudden I felt connected to a larger whole, and felt a peace of belonging that moved me deeply. I was encouraged by young people from all backgrounds to step more fully into who I am and to take the lead in my own life. To not feel alone in our world today. To understand there is a larger web at work. weaving our lives and our deeds." Events will include workshops, art, singing, collaborative theater, storytelling, biography, conversation, movement, contemplation and so much more…. Visit www.anthroposophy.org/springvalley for more information. And please share this link with any young people you know who might be interested. All efforts are being made to keep expenses for participants to a minimum.  Your support will make this important work possible. I hope you will join me and make a gift to our Spring Campaign, Courage and Hope for the Future, by following this link today. Your gift will help youth from across the country and around the continent to create new futures for our earth and humankind. In doing this deep and important work, what will they discover, and what new possibilities will emerge? Your care, friendship and good will helps young people to find their way. Thank you for your consideration.

Warmly, Deb Abrahams-Dematte

The Applied Arts Program, a professional development opportunity for Waldorf handwork teachers and aspiring teachers, explores the art, philosophy, practice and pedagogy  of teaching handwork. The course meets in the Fiber Craft Studio on the Threefold campus for two weeks each summer and one week each winter for four years. In their time together, students and teachers form a learning community that supports their artistic development as well as their spiritual and practical striving.

COURSE OF STUDY
Basic Foundations of Anthroposophy
Presentations in lecture/seminar form, include Child Development, Waldorf Education and the curriculum through the grades, Cosmic Memory, Evolution of Consciousness through Art, Temperaments, Constitutional types,  Inner Development of the Teacher, and Working with Parents and Colleagues
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Waldorf Handwork Curriculum 
Focusing on 2-3 grades per session, from grade One through Eight, with a brief overview of Early Childhood and High School Handwork.
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The Arts 
Presentations in lecture/seminar form, include Child Development, Waldorf Education and the curriculum through the grades, Cosmic Memory, Evolution of Consciousness through Art, Temperaments, Constitutional types,  Inner Development of the Teacher, and Working with Parents and Colleagues
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The opportunity to share experiences and explore questions in a collegial atmosphere is central to the process. Preparatory reading, as well as independent research and projects between are considered an integral part of the program. The four-year study culminates with an independent final project by each participant.
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The schedule for each session is full-time Monday-Friday

Explore Year 1 Curriculum
Explore Year 2 Curriculum
Explore Year 3 Curriculum
Explore Year 4 Curriculum

Fiber Craft Studio275 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977, United States --- More ...