Primary Class 3 & 4 Teacher
Autumn Intensive

A three-day in-person block intensive for Primary Teaching Class 3 & 4, 15-17 March 2024

This course will give you a certificate of professional development hours referencing the Australian Teacher Professional Standards.

 

This in-person block intensive can be attended on its own, or can be taken to complement our part-time online Primary Class Teacher course, depending on your needs. 

 

We invite all – practising Steiner teachers, mainstream teachers, parents interested in the journey children  take in a Steiner school, home school educators, university students or anyone keen to learn of the  practical, engaging activities children in classes 3 and 4 take –  to join us for a time of learning, fellowship and fun based on the indications set out by Rudolf Steiner to support the unfolding capacities of the 9 to 10 year old.  

 

During the 3 days we will explore this significant time in the life of the child as they develop and explore a new, more awake, sense of self, and how the curriculum meets and nurtures this sensitive developmental phase.

 

In this block intensive, you will be guided to appreciate, experience and understand: 

  • the gesture of the child of this age as they encounter the world in a new way
  • the way in which the epoch stories (Hebrew and Norse myths) reflect the inner journey being undertaken by the child and provide pillars for curriculum delivery
  • Morning circle and class time artistic and  practical activities that support the children including painting, clay work, form drawing, singing, recorder, craft work.
  • Bothmer gymnastics, movement and dance.

 

Sessions will give full consideration of the practice for the teacher of inner development  with focus given to  how such work is transformative, fostering and nurturing  the ability to sustain the responsibilities of the meaningful work of Steiner teaching.

 

We will also offer:

  • A full bundle of resources to support your work as educators of your class or child
  • opportunity to visit Steiner school class 3 and 4 classroom.

 

Over the weekend you will be nurtured in a collegial environment in which you can share your experiences and discuss topics related to the challenges of todays teaching and will leave   with the understanding and confidence in skills to build upon for work with children of this age group.

 

A shared dinner and social activity will be provided on Saturday evening.

Programme Introduction

The Class 3-4 teaching programme will give participants the opportunity to appreciate the importance of age appropriate learning pathways through artistic activity, each with its own focus, and each meeting a different aspect of child development. Out of such an understanding confidence in the way we can work with our individual child or class of children will be built. 

Morning circle:

Each morning, at the start of Main Lesson,  the children come together through music, movement, rhythm, speech, and cognitive exercises. This prepares the children for the day by recalibrating the social unit of the class community. It is a healthy, organic and rhythmical way to start the day and is vital for learning. Through it the children are awakened, their attention focused. Previous work is consolidated as classwork is revisited and reintegrated. It therefore becomes a pedagogical tool.

Artistic activity provides the foundation for an interest in the world later in life. This comes about because through artistic activity the child enters with every fibre of their being,  with physical and soul, not for any set purpose, but out of enthusiasm, connection, and interest. Whether painting and drawing, storytelling and singing, shaping textiles and clay or thoughtfully observing nature, our soul is stirred and satisfied as freedom in artistic expression is experienced and a sense of gratitude for the world around us deepened.

Story Telling:

An age appropriate story told daily by the teacher stirs the inner life of the child.  In hearing the stories the child  unconsciously withdraws from ordinary physical perception and enters the realm of imagination enabling the images shaped by each individual child to resonate within their heart, unfiltered. Story telling is central to Steiner teaching. In them the children encounter  archetypal characters which result in transformation / metamorphosis as they encounter  themselves. 

 

Terri McMillan

Terri McMillan is a teacher of 35 years experience in a Steiner School and 5 years in the State system. She co-founded the Maindample Steiner School (now Mansfield); took two classes through the Primary Class Teacher period, and has been a senior geography teacher for past 10 years. Terri co authored the Steiner Geography Curriculum for the Australian Steiner Curriculum Framework.  

Tania Hungerford

Tania has been a teacher in Adult Education working with Anthroposophy for 25 years.  She teaches units including Sculpture, Form Drawing, the Twelve Senses, Human Development, the Four Temperaments, Professional Communication and Conflict Resolution, understanding and working with Trauma and developing inclusive teaching practices for working with children with individual learning needs. Tania has offered many Professional Development programs to Waldorf Teachers in schools around Australia and in Asia.

Tom Hungerford

Tom Hungerford has taught in Steiner Schools for 25 years, principally as a Bothmer Gymnast and Physical Education Teacher but also extensively in the high school in the Hard Crafts. Most recently Tom was a Class Teacher at Sophia Mundi School in Melbourne. At the Seminar Tom teaches Anthroposphical Studies, Pedagogy, Epochs, Pedagogical Drama, Hard Crafts, Festivals, Physical Education and is also a Second Year Student Co-ordinator and Professional Experience Co-ordinator.

Note that this is an in-person event, no recordings will be made.

Cost

$750. 

Please notify us by email if you will be withdrawing from the intensive. 

Refund Policy
  • If you withdraw on or before 8 March we will refund any fees paid less a $175 administration fee. 
  • If you withdraw after 8 March and before the intensive starts, we will refund any fees paid less a $245 fee for admin and food/materials costs.
  • No refunds will be considered once the intensive begins.

There are a number of options for accommodation:

Commercial
Billeting

We may be able to organise billeting for a few students depending on availability of rooms in nearby homes.

Camping or Seminar classroom

The Seminar can offer basic accommodation of a tent space or classroom (to be shared), shared kitchen, bathrooms, and shower.  You will need to bring your own bedding, towels, toiletries.

Please let us know if you would like to stay on the Seminar grounds.

Morning and afternoon tea and Saturday dinner will be provided.

Café

There is a very good café a 10 minute walk from the Seminar for breakfast, or lunch.  Lunchtime food order can be phone through at morning tea time and collected during the lunch break.

Grocery stores

There are two small shopping strips for groceries and cafes within a 5 minute drive of the Seminar at McAdam Square and North Ringwood. You are welcome to use the Seminar’s kitchen for meal preparation.

There is a SkyBus service from Tullamarine Airport to the city.  For more information see https://www.skybus.com.au/southern-cross-station/

Two train lines connect Southern Cross station with Ringwood, our closest train station.  They are the Lilydale line and Belgrave line.  From the Ringwood station, take the 364 bus to the front of the Seminar at 37A Wellington Park Drive.

For more information about public transportation in Victoria see https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey

Clothing and toiletries

Because there will be lots of movement during the intensive, please pack comfortable, loose clothing and shoes that are easy to move in.  Melbourne in mid-March is warm in the day and cool at nights, so please bring layers for the evening. Include a raincoat and Eurythmy slippers if you have them.

Study material
  • Notepads or main lesson books, pencil or pen
  • Folder for holding handouts
Bedding

If you are staying on the premises you will need to bring:

  • Camping mattress
  • Sheets, pillow
  • Blankets, doona
  • Towel

 

Enrolment enquiries: Carmen 03 9876 5199 or email c.kwong@steinerseminar.edu.au

This is an in-person events and no recordings will be made.

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