It seems that we have a fairly stable group of people attending our weekly meetings. Several of us have committed to being members of the Core Planning Committe for this process. This committment entails prioritizing attendance at a majority of the meetings. In addition, if there is a pending decision for an upcoming meeting that a committee member cannot attend, it is the member's responsibility to inform the committee of their preferences if they wish their voice to be heard. Please email Emily at nealem01@luther.edu if you would like to be on the Core Planning Committee.
Any and all interested people are invited and welcome to attend any of our meetings. We have decided that when decisions are made at the meetings, anyone in attendance will have an equal voice. Committment to the Core Planning Committee is not a prerequisite. So please, come, discuss, and help us shape the future classroom!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Bothmer Gymnastics
Hi friends,
Here is some info I found about Bothmer Gymnastics. Additionally, we have tremendous resources here at Luther with Jane Hawley and her students studying movement fundamentals. I can share some info I have about developmental movement and its role in brain development, you can also look up a program called "Brain Gym." It is gaining acceptance in more mainstream locations but may take awhile to catch on. There is research but it is limited, into the effectiveness. We sponsored a Brain Gym training here in Decorah back in 2000, and I have basic basic level training. Love, Parker
Thank-you for your question.
Bothmer Gymnastics is intended to foster balance, not just physical balance but mental and spiritual balance too. It's sometimes associated with the phrase 'spatial dynamics' as it aims to help older children (and adults) explore the relationship between their body and its position in space.
Teachers hope that Bothmer will help their students to feel physically free even when they can no longer play as spontaneously as in early childhood. Each stage of development has its corresponding exercises. For instance, teenagers are helped to cope with the changes brought by puberty. The exercises emphasise harmony and co-ordination. Unlike conventional gymnastics they do not include any competitive or 'aggressive' elements, nor are they vigorous enough to have an 'aerobic' effect.
Children I know who have experienced Bothmer Gymnastics in a Waldorf school think of it as more like dance and eurythmy and do not connect it with sport. For me this confirms that the lessons are cultivating grace and confidence more than muscular and technical skills.
I hope these quotes from interviews with Bothmer teachers will help illustrate their work:
"The child with his first movements wants to step out into the world. He moves freely around...... When the child goes to school we start to confine his life and movement. It is important that the gym teacher teaches the child - through movement of course - that his body is not a prison."
"..........certain exercises correspond to a certain period of the child's development. Let's take the age of puberty as an example. At around the age of 14 the child's body goes through dramatic changes.......The exercises that they did as young children helped them to get to know their own bodies. Those exercises which the children learn during puberty teach them how to stand upright, how to create a harmonious relationship with the space..."
"The Bothmer Gymnastics exercises are significant not only as a training of the physical body but also can help with the inner work. "
Interview with Alheidis von Bothmer
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/avbothmer.html
"So movements need to be matched to the physical development and to the personal, or individual development also..... If a young child is taught karate, the purpose of the movement is quite transparent.......Whenever these movements are then made, the images are triggered and aroused.....[of] aggressive behaviour. It is possible for a teacher......to give more constructive purpose to movement."
"I believe that if a child enjoys movement and is able to play with self-confidence, that has an effect on other things too. The joy to be capable of doing something, to achieve something reflects in their relationship to life and learning. "
Interview with Martin Baker
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/baker.html
As you may have already found, a lot of the information on Bothmer Gymnastics is unfortunately not available in English. 'Spacial dynamics' (yes, spacial spelt with a 'c') is closely related and it might help you to look at information about that, too. Some of what is written about adults will also apply to children. Bothmer work with adults is partly about correcting unhelpful physical and mental attitudes developed while growing up; for children it is about supporting healthy development.
Bothmer gymnastics - site partly in English
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/verband/verband.html
'Spacial dynamics'
http://www.spacialdynamics.com/page3.html
"This is an art of movement......which emphasises awareness of space around the child. From eleven to twelve years, emphasis is placed on springing and swinging, harmony and graceful movement."
Quote from Raphael House in New Zealand
http://www.raphaelhouse.school.nz/index.php?pid=34
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if anything needs
clarification.
Regards - Leli
Here is some info I found about Bothmer Gymnastics. Additionally, we have tremendous resources here at Luther with Jane Hawley and her students studying movement fundamentals. I can share some info I have about developmental movement and its role in brain development, you can also look up a program called "Brain Gym." It is gaining acceptance in more mainstream locations but may take awhile to catch on. There is research but it is limited, into the effectiveness. We sponsored a Brain Gym training here in Decorah back in 2000, and I have basic basic level training. Love, Parker
Thank-you for your question.
Bothmer Gymnastics is intended to foster balance, not just physical balance but mental and spiritual balance too. It's sometimes associated with the phrase 'spatial dynamics' as it aims to help older children (and adults) explore the relationship between their body and its position in space.
Teachers hope that Bothmer will help their students to feel physically free even when they can no longer play as spontaneously as in early childhood. Each stage of development has its corresponding exercises. For instance, teenagers are helped to cope with the changes brought by puberty. The exercises emphasise harmony and co-ordination. Unlike conventional gymnastics they do not include any competitive or 'aggressive' elements, nor are they vigorous enough to have an 'aerobic' effect.
Children I know who have experienced Bothmer Gymnastics in a Waldorf school think of it as more like dance and eurythmy and do not connect it with sport. For me this confirms that the lessons are cultivating grace and confidence more than muscular and technical skills.
I hope these quotes from interviews with Bothmer teachers will help illustrate their work:
"The child with his first movements wants to step out into the world. He moves freely around...... When the child goes to school we start to confine his life and movement. It is important that the gym teacher teaches the child - through movement of course - that his body is not a prison."
"..........certain exercises correspond to a certain period of the child's development. Let's take the age of puberty as an example. At around the age of 14 the child's body goes through dramatic changes.......The exercises that they did as young children helped them to get to know their own bodies. Those exercises which the children learn during puberty teach them how to stand upright, how to create a harmonious relationship with the space..."
"The Bothmer Gymnastics exercises are significant not only as a training of the physical body but also can help with the inner work. "
Interview with Alheidis von Bothmer
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/avbothmer.html
"So movements need to be matched to the physical development and to the personal, or individual development also..... If a young child is taught karate, the purpose of the movement is quite transparent.......Whenever these movements are then made, the images are triggered and aroused.....[of] aggressive behaviour. It is possible for a teacher......to give more constructive purpose to movement."
"I believe that if a child enjoys movement and is able to play with self-confidence, that has an effect on other things too. The joy to be capable of doing something, to achieve something reflects in their relationship to life and learning. "
Interview with Martin Baker
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/bothmer/Inteview/baker.html
As you may have already found, a lot of the information on Bothmer Gymnastics is unfortunately not available in English. 'Spacial dynamics' (yes, spacial spelt with a 'c') is closely related and it might help you to look at information about that, too. Some of what is written about adults will also apply to children. Bothmer work with adults is partly about correcting unhelpful physical and mental attitudes developed while growing up; for children it is about supporting healthy development.
Bothmer gymnastics - site partly in English
http://www.bothmer-gymnastik.com/verband/verband.html
'Spacial dynamics'
http://www.spacialdynamics.com/page3.html
"This is an art of movement......which emphasises awareness of space around the child. From eleven to twelve years, emphasis is placed on springing and swinging, harmony and graceful movement."
Quote from Raphael House in New Zealand
http://www.raphaelhouse.school.nz/index.php?pid=34
I hope this is helpful. Please let me know if anything needs
clarification.
Regards - Leli
Green Schooling and Developmental Movement from Parker
Hi friends,
I was looking over the Thoreau School site and there is a page about being a "green school." I'd think we'd want to go in that direction as well so getting some more info about that might be helpful?
I also mentioned our alt ed group to Blake Nellis who graduated from Luther last year and has developed a curriculum called Moving Dance/Learning Bodies (I think that's the name!) which he did with some of our children in the last 2 years. I do want to encourage us to incorporate movement as both an art form as well as an instructional/self awareness/brain building strategy in our school- that sets us apart from the public schools dramatically. I would also like to learn more about what seems to be a Waldorf movement approach called Bohmer Gymnastics. I've not heard that term until recently, was more familiar with the eurythmy term, but still didn't understand what that was...
I also just got a book about something called the "Extra Lesson" which is a sensory/developmental movement aspect of Waldorf for children who need some extra support.
Just thoughts and explorations. I am so excited by what we are all accomplishing! Thanks to all for all the work and commitment.
Love,
Parker
I was looking over the Thoreau School site and there is a page about being a "green school." I'd think we'd want to go in that direction as well so getting some more info about that might be helpful?
I also mentioned our alt ed group to Blake Nellis who graduated from Luther last year and has developed a curriculum called Moving Dance/Learning Bodies (I think that's the name!) which he did with some of our children in the last 2 years. I do want to encourage us to incorporate movement as both an art form as well as an instructional/self awareness/brain building strategy in our school- that sets us apart from the public schools dramatically. I would also like to learn more about what seems to be a Waldorf movement approach called Bohmer Gymnastics. I've not heard that term until recently, was more familiar with the eurythmy term, but still didn't understand what that was...
I also just got a book about something called the "Extra Lesson" which is a sensory/developmental movement aspect of Waldorf for children who need some extra support.
Just thoughts and explorations. I am so excited by what we are all accomplishing! Thanks to all for all the work and commitment.
Love,
Parker
Assignment for upcoming meeting
Hello again!
The group decided on the following assignments for the next meeting (this Wed, Jan. 30th at 4:00).
1) Make a list/chart identifying the elements of Montessori (philosophy/methods/etc) you like and dislike
2) Make a chart identifying the elements of Waldorf you like and dislike
3) Make a list of words you would use to describe your ideal future school
We will be compiling these ideas for use in writing a description/mission statement for the school (and thus for curriculum planning as well).
If you can't make it to the meeting, please either call someone you know will be there or throw your ideas up on the blog. I'll copy them down if they are left before 12:00 on Wednesday and bring them to the meeting.
Thanks again and I hope to see you in two days!
Alicia
The group decided on the following assignments for the next meeting (this Wed, Jan. 30th at 4:00).
1) Make a list/chart identifying the elements of Montessori (philosophy/methods/etc) you like and dislike
2) Make a chart identifying the elements of Waldorf you like and dislike
3) Make a list of words you would use to describe your ideal future school
We will be compiling these ideas for use in writing a description/mission statement for the school (and thus for curriculum planning as well).
If you can't make it to the meeting, please either call someone you know will be there or throw your ideas up on the blog. I'll copy them down if they are left before 12:00 on Wednesday and bring them to the meeting.
Thanks again and I hope to see you in two days!
Alicia
What's In A Name?
Hello All!
So, we came to the conclusion at the last meeting that we want to be Waldorf-inspired or Waldorf-informed rather than a purely Waldorf school. I believe that we also desire including Montessori methods into the curriculum. For several of us, the Ocean Charter School seems to be well-aligned with the blended curriculum we are after. Take a look at this school (link below and to the right) if you want a general idea of what might be to come. Notice I said general!
So, with that in mind, we moved right along to creating a name for ourselves. We chatted a bit at the last meeting about this as well. Here are some ideas that we have been kicking around at the meetings. Please read them, comment on them, and make your own suggestions. Also, if I missed any from the meeting, please let me know.
Thanks, Alicia
Oneota Valley Community School
Oneota Valley School
Oneota Valley School of the Arts and Sciences
So, we came to the conclusion at the last meeting that we want to be Waldorf-inspired or Waldorf-informed rather than a purely Waldorf school. I believe that we also desire including Montessori methods into the curriculum. For several of us, the Ocean Charter School seems to be well-aligned with the blended curriculum we are after. Take a look at this school (link below and to the right) if you want a general idea of what might be to come. Notice I said general!
So, with that in mind, we moved right along to creating a name for ourselves. We chatted a bit at the last meeting about this as well. Here are some ideas that we have been kicking around at the meetings. Please read them, comment on them, and make your own suggestions. Also, if I missed any from the meeting, please let me know.
Thanks, Alicia
Oneota Valley Community School
Oneota Valley School
Oneota Valley School of the Arts and Sciences
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Windows Into Waldorf Conference
Hello Everybody!
Below is a link to the Windows Into Waldorf: A Glimpse Into the Waldorf Curriculum Conference going on in LaCrosse this weekend. I am going and I know several others are as well. Maybe we could carpool if we get it together. There is a link to a conference flyer and registration sheet on this webpage. The conference cost is $15. You can preregister for childcare at $15/child; and you can pre-order/pay for a bag lunch for $5. (Double check any of those price quotes)
My only complaint from what I can see is that I only get to choose 2 sessions and I want to go to them ALL.
Hope to see some familiar faces there!
http://www.threeriversschool.com/windows-into-waldorf-conferenc/
Alicia
Below is a link to the Windows Into Waldorf: A Glimpse Into the Waldorf Curriculum Conference going on in LaCrosse this weekend. I am going and I know several others are as well. Maybe we could carpool if we get it together. There is a link to a conference flyer and registration sheet on this webpage. The conference cost is $15. You can preregister for childcare at $15/child; and you can pre-order/pay for a bag lunch for $5. (Double check any of those price quotes)
My only complaint from what I can see is that I only get to choose 2 sessions and I want to go to them ALL.
Hope to see some familiar faces there!
http://www.threeriversschool.com/windows-into-waldorf-conferenc/
Alicia
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