Just three things.

[labelleizzy]

Just Three Things I'm taking away from this week of substitute teaching.

1) Speak professionally and spartanly with high school students, be precise in my language and in expressing my expectations & standards, and work to not over-share. (jessica's waldorf-kindergarten challenge to not speak until spoken to by students, would work surprisingly well in another independently-motivated high school classroom.)

2) Do The Right Thing, always, even if it's a day or two delayed.

3) At the end of the day, Doing More Good is actually a pretty simple balance to maintain. Respect, helpfulness, friendliness, and taking care of the students, are why I'm there. Substitute teachers are a necessary gap-filler, we serve an essential purpose. Good to remember.

that's all I got right now, the nap earlier this afternoon is still Sucking What Little Brain I have after a weekend of Waldorf lectures on "Man as Symphony of the Creative Word", but yay, butterflies. (yes that sounds like a random tangent; ask me later if you see me.)

<3

Comments

[agengrgal.livejournal.com]

I ask just 3 things... Can I get 3 things to keep in mind when I read a story to some kinders on Friday? Or, rather, when I'm there participating in the class?

[labelleizzy.livejournal.com]

Here is some of my Waldorf training advice, which may or may not work as recommended in a public kindergarten, but is quite restful for the teacher:

1) if you feel up to it, it is better for the littles to tell a story, not to read it to them. There is a special connection between storyteller and child.

2) don't dramatize the story, with sound effects and special voices. Using a mellow, dreamy voice helps the children to make their own pictures in their heads. Do use rich language to tell the story, and repeating patterns, like, 'then the second Billy Goat Gruff went klip-klop, klip-klop over the bridge, and the troll roared..."

3) using a fairy tale, use roles not names to refer to the characters: the king, the king's daughter or son, the miller, etc. More chances for them to use their imagination.

Give me a phone call if you would like to hear a waldorf-style kindergarten story. I have a favorite one.