A special half-day workshop with Betty Staley
February 15, 2020 || 8:30 AM-1:30 PM || located at The Waldorf School San Diego, Altadena Campus
WISC San Diego invites you to a mini-workshop by Betty Staley on the challenges of the middle school years: Tending the spark, Lighting the future for middle school students.
8:30-11:10 am: Middle School, an Anthroposophical perspective
In her workshop Betty will address Rudolf Steiner’s powerful insights into this phase of development. Her goal is to inspire teachers and parents to dig deeply into the thinking, feeling and willing of today’s middle school student and to respond appropriately.
With the dawning of puberty, the astral body becomes free, releasing new forces which penetrate right down into the sexual organs, and at the same time, open them to the riddles of the world outside. This period from 11/12 years on is a critical time in which the instinctual forces can dominate or the forces of idealism and hope can be birthed. The astral body reflects star wisdom as well as lower forces living in the sense world. Rudolf Steiner brought powerful insights into this time of children’s lives as a preparation for adolescence. With puberty happening earlier than it was in the early part of the 20th century, it is important for teachers and parents to dig deeply into the thinking, feeling, and willing of the contemporary middle school child and respond appropriately.
11:45 am – 1:45 pm Middle School, an approach to pedagogy
Building on this anthroposophical framework we will explore how the curriculum can support healthy spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical growth during this critical phase of preparation for adolescence.
By understanding the developmental changes in middle school children, teachers can deepen their pedagogical practice to meet the current needs of our students. We will explore the world of middle school children as they change from sixth through eighth grade in curricular areas such as in the humanities and technology. We will examine how the curriculum itself can support the changes they are experiencing and prepare for healthy spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical growth.
Betty Staley, Waldorf teacher and adult educator for over fifty years and co- founder of Rudolf Steiner College, is the author of eight books, including two on adolescence.
In her latest book, Tending the Spark, Meeting the Middle School Student, her wisdom shines through, offering help to parents and teachers of youngsters in Middle school.
Cost: $65 || To register: https://tinyurl.com/Staley2020
Discounts for three or more from one school site and WISC alumni available–please inquire.
Questions, call/text/email:
Parvati Scatena || parvatiscatena@gmail.com || 916.524.1828
