Right Before Their Eyes

When we stand before the children they see far beyond our dress, manner, skills, or words. Since this leaves most of us either striving for perfection or wanting to hide, this workshop explores the road to self-acceptance and forgiveness. Through storytelling, role-playing, movement, meditation, and discussion we will experience our own patterns and examine our own strengths and struggles in teaching. We can then begin to find the understanding and humor needed to stand "right before their eyes".

On this base we will examine the ever-changing role of adults in a child's development. We will explore the ways in which the role of the teacher and the parent evolve throughout the profound changes of maturation. With this understanding, we will look at how different approaches to both discipline and learning can support a child's well being rather than suppress his energy. 

In The Classroom

The only way we can learn to teach is by doing it. In this course each participant will be responsible for leading the group through a day, teaching the curriculum they have prepared. They will be responsible for all transitions to other classes and activities, leading meditation and voice exercises, time keeping and facilitation of discussions throughout the day. Each participant will receive group feedback on both the content of their work and their ability to lead the group. Learning to hear feedback, to listen for underlying issues, and then to respond to it creatively is critical to teaching. Without this skill and willingness, both teachers and students become prisoners to the curriculum and to their own patterns and expectations. 

Students will learn to read feedback given indirectly through body language, in addition to receiving clearly articulated direct feedback. This is one of the few opportunities they will have to work with teaching feedback in a safe environment - one in which all involved are in the same boat. This is relatively gentle preparation for the indirect, action-packed feedback the children continually offer. 

This course incorporate all the disciplines introduced during the Foundation Course. Working with the curriculum they have prepared, participants will lead one another in music, circle activities, painting, storytelling, skill building and analytic discussion. After the participants have lead their teaching blocks the instructors will relate this work to a wider context through an overview of curriculum for each grade. Finally, instructors will help participants examine the internal issues raised by this teaching experience. 

Form Drawing

Watching a seedling open new leaves we see the full force of the birth of form. Time and again the same shape is re-birthed until the plant is grown. Film lets us see this remarkable process at a speed we can appreciate, and most of us watch in awe.

This deeply creative energy is the energy with which we work in form drawing. In this art, developed by Rudolf Steiner, it is not the force of originality but the force of creation with which we work. Through directed movement and specific drawings the students awaken this force. In doing so they strengthen their inner spatial senses and their self-control. They are also introduced to geometry and handwriting as an integral part of this work. In this course we will study the theory of this art form after we have done several form drawings for each age level.

Blackboard Drawing

All environments have an atmosphere or a mood. In Enki Education we very deliberately use the set up of the room, layout, color and decor to evoke a mood that will support our work. We may choose to change the mood subtly or dramatically depending on the kind of work we will be doing. A blackboard drawing can be used to set mood through color, form, and image.

Using the knowledge and skills gained in both the drawing and the painting classes participants will learn and practice the art of blackboard drawing. They will discuss the different types and styles of drawings and how these might impact students of different ages. 

Movement II

In this course participants will continue to focus on refining their own sense of movement and ability to integrate body, heart, and mind. They will focus more directly on the role of movement in developing overall harmony in the child, including specific activities and games for use at different ages. Particular emphasis will be on movement activities that broaden movement possibilities for both adults and children, including exploration of different realms of space, time and rhythm. Games and activities developed by participants as part of their curriculum course will be part of this class.

Storytelling and Speech and Drama 

In this course we will continue with speech exercises to support the development of the participants' own storytelling skills. In conjunction with the Curriculum 1-5 course, all participants will tell many stories from their yearlong preparations and will receive feedback/ training from both instructor and other participants. We will then look at how these stories can lend themselves to age appropriate plays. 

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