Grade Five Online Conference
2011/2012 Evaluations
I found the niveau of the lectures in general to be very high. I was genuinely surprised and intrigued by the initial image from the violet window. Very insightful!
The Ancient Cultures (my personal weak point) were incredibly helpful and in-depth. I feel much more confident moving forward with these blocks now. I also felt that the insights into why Geography and what and how to be rich and rewarding. Likewise with Botany.
The Language Arts lectures affirmed much of my own approach and thoughts on the matter. The math lecture, I felt, was the weakest - but then again, math is a strength of mine.
The incredible supplemental assortment of lectures left me craving for more time! The comfort of my own food and bed did not eliminate the distraction factor of being at home. Certainly the reward of exchanging thoughts with colleagues cannot be completely replaced, but I would take advantage of an online conference again. In today's economic world, it is a very high quality product at a very reasonable price.
On the technical end, I was very satisfied with the accessibility, quality of the audio and video segments. I do wonder if the length of accessibility should be extended to a full 14 days. Especially given the wealth of information you supplied.
Thank you for developing these conferences. They are a valuable avenue to continue the professional development of Waldorf teachers. --Colleen O’Connors |
The lectures were great. One of the more positive aspects of this format was that Eugene's audience was to come in the future and couldn't interfere with the flow of information given which might be interrupted in a live conference setting. --Catie Johnson |
As always, Eugene provides an amazing depth of anthroposophic knowledge to the curriculum and in doing so, gives more than just a "do this, don't do that" approach to the curriculum. I feel that he opens a door through with I can explore the curriculum, deeply consider why I am teaching what I'm teaching, and apply that knowledge to my particular class. I feel encouraged to ask questions and explore my own creative potential. I feel inspired and excited about the fifth grade year that lies ahead. I love the convince and cost savings of the online format as well. Great work, Eugene. I'm already considering grade six, though I would like to see lots of video regarding the sciences and experiments of that year. --Jodi Lloyd |
I approached the "webinar" with some skepticism. However, I found it very easy to navigate and extremely informational. The recordings of the call-in sessions were very helpful. Thank you so much and I will see you for the fifth grade online conference. --Justin Trombly |
I've thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to take the conference online. I especially appreciate the special attention to how the curriculum meets the child developmentally in the soul and spiritual realms and the importance of working with the karma of the parents (so little of this is emphasized, if at all, in teacher trainings!) --Alynn Nelson |
Pro: I really liked being able to listen to the lectures at my convenience - without leaving home. It was great to be able to "rewind" and listen to something I'd missed - no more unfinished sentences with tantalizing snippets of information never to be completed or recalled (because I'm always sure that had I only captured that missing thought I would become truly enlightened)! I was very disciplined about listening to the lectures - I wanted to complete them with a week - which I was able to do (my kids were away) - and I was able to review my notes (copious) more quickly - no tempting conversations.
Con: I spent a lot of time *alone* in my house - I missed the collegiality of being with other teachers, exchanging ideas and laughing together!
Pro: I liked being able to look at the student work as many times as I wanted to.
Con: I missed painting and drawing with others. That's the one big drawback to an on-line course. I did watch your painting video several times and was inspired to try the "painting with patience" technique for the plant painting (only after getting the ok from my mentor. I teach at a very "formed" institution!) I was a bit puzzled to hear, from a more experienced colleague, that I'm supposed to be using specific colors for each ancient culture when I paint with the class. Is that another Waldorf urban myth? I haven't run across that idea elsewhere.
Pro: I love your emphasis on WHY we teach what we do. I read Steiner all summer, but hearing about the Anthroposophical underpinnings of the curriculum (again,again) makes them sink in deeper. Thank you for that. I also appreciated your comments about how Waldorf teachers prepare when they are outside in the world - so TRUE! I think I've driven my own children nuts by my constant comments of "Oh my class would love that," or, "I need to do *fill in the blank* because I'll be teaching about it next year." I was tickled to hear your comments about visiting the Met in NYC - because I had planned that exact trip to the east coast to visit family and friends AND the Met. I grew up in Westchester County and spent many field trip hours there and at the Museum of Natural History as a child and with my father (an artist). I also have been keeping files of information, pictures, etc., I know will be useful in the grades ahead - how wonderful to know what's coming toward me from the future! Also - thanks for your ideas about working with parents - I will bring them the notion of "two-tiered" parties, and to begin thinking about ideas like curfews.
Things I would have liked: A bibliography of the books you consider essential to read (I pulled one together - but it's always nice to know what an experienced teacher thinks is essential to avoid the bookstore "feeding frenzy." I missed seeing demonstrations of free-hand geometry and form drawing - more math ideas, please. The lecture you used was a bit of a rehash of 4th grade (yes, 5th grade is all about review) - but math is my weak subject and I need all the new ideas I can get! There were many times I wanted to press "pause" and engage in conversation with you. The call-in times didn't work for me - and I did miss conversation.
Would I do it again? Yes - if I don't have another choice - and I have recommended it to friends. But, next year I will go out into the world and join with my colleagues for 6th grade! Thank you for a very nourishing experience, Eugene - "see" you at the mid-year webinar! --Tamar Resnick |
Wonderful experience - informative, enriching, and very practical. I only wish I had had more time in my own life to dedicate to 1) listening to the additional lectures and 2) participating in the live phone conversations. How to improve? I love hearing about the various approaches to different subjects that different teachers have taken and why you choose your method. I also appreciate hearing about different "traditions" that have developed among teachers over the years and what Steiner's actual indications were. It helps bolster my "defences" when necessary with my own colleagues/school. Those aren't really improvements, though! Fantastic, Eugene. Thank you for making this available!! --Greer Galloway |