Professional development for Waldorf teachers and home school parents. Read Summer Series 2023 details here. 

This course offers you an invaluable opportunity to focus entirely on your upcoming third grade school year in five days brimming with presentations, discussions, and practical activities.

Under the guidance of an experienced class teacher, you’ll discover ways to enliven your teaching and how to approach the blocks so that they may meet the third grader in a deep and meaningful way. With the insights of anthroposophy, gleaned through a look at child development focusing specifically on your class’s age group, you will get to know the third grade child in depth as they as they experience the nine-year change.

Along with time and space to consider and hone your skills in such practical matters as main lesson books, block planning, projects and activities, and classroom management, your course will include such key topics for third graders—and their teachers—as:

• Multicultural approaches to the creation stories and the role of Old Testament stories in the third grade curriculum
• Topics in language arts, reading groups, and class plays
• Topics in math
• Third grade approach to science and gardening
• Third grade approach to social studies, class trips and community service
• Third grade morning circle
• Third grade assessment
• Parent work and colleagueship

In addition to inspiration and guidance which will support your teaching throughout the year, you’ll gain many invaluable opportunities for building connections among a community of parallel colleagues from across the country, to carry with you into your teaching.

Grade-specific resource materials useful for your year, including poems, songs, stories, and main lesson book ideas, will be provided to you electronically.

NOTE: This course is taught with the expectation that you have a foundational background in Waldorf education.

 

Lead Instructor

Joshua Gartland is on the faculty of  The Waldorf School of Atlanta, where he has been a class teacher since 2009. Before joining WSA, he taught at The Waldorf School of Garden City. Prior to becoming a Waldorf teacher, Josh was active in theatre productions, studied and performed as a mime, and was a senior manager of one of the largest yoga facilities in the country. He received a BFA in Theater Performance from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and his diploma in Waldorf education from Sunbridge College.  Josh enjoys talking, books, playing games, singing, dancing, drawing and, of course, learning.

Last year’s Summer Series Grade Three participants had this to say:

• It went above and beyond my expectations, especially with regard to concrete tools, the community created and resources shared.
• I love the Google Classroom and the ability to share resources, as well as practical examples and ideas for my classroom.
• The outline of the week hit on almost all the topics I was seeking information about.
• I thought the content was extremely helpful, the Google classroom will be an tremendous help throughout the year.
• This was so wonderful. The block plans, games, and main lesson structure were really helpful and inspiring.
• Loved the length of the blocks and the breaks in between truly supported my processing,
• There was plenty without too much.
• I feel much more prepared to teach 3rd grade than I was at the beginning of the week.

Your course also includes sessions in art with Kelly Beekman, music with Adam Petersen, and movement and games with Charlie Orphanides.

 

Schedule

This course takes place July 2-7 in a synchronous online classroom.

ALL TIMES LISTED BELOW ARE EASTERN (NY) TIME ZONE

Sunday evening: 6:15 pm-6:30 pm: Log in for technical check-in and attendance. First session starts promptly at 6:30 with “The Gesture of the Third Grade,” and ends at 8:15. New teachers especially are encouraged to remain for a Q&A with your lead instructor from 8:30-9:00.

Monday-Thursday: Instruction takes place between 10 am and 5 pm (excluding breaks). We also encourage you to attend our elective music studio (5:15-6:15 Wednesday) and roundtable discussion with faculty (7:15-8:15 Thursday).

Friday: Instruction and wrap-up takes place from 10-2:30 (excluding breaks). We also encourage you to attend our elective art studio from 2:45-3:45.

Participants should be prepared to work on course-related assignments outside of their regularly scheduled instructional sessions (including some that may be assigned in advance).

 

Cost
$635 includes all resource materials, pre-recorded music and movement lessons, yearlong access to your Grade Three Google Classroom and Kelly Beekman’s art portal, and a $60 non-refundable registration fee.

NOTE: Participants will be expected to procure some materials to use during their course. A materials list will be sent three weeks in advance of your course start date.

Available Discounts

• Volume: $60 off each registration for schools sending 2 or more participants
• Alumni/CAD: 25% off for Sunbridge teacher education program graduates OR for payments made in Canadian dollars
• Current Students: 50% off for current Sunbridge teacher education students

Discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff. 

Paid registrations must be received by Thursday, June 29.

 

 

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.