Teaching Movement in Waldorf Education
11:30 to 1:30 pm Pacific time - Subject Specific Presentations from Leading Teachers
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Each afternoon from 11:30 to 2:30 Pacific time movement teachers will gather together for presentations, projects, and discussions specifically relevant to teaching movement and games in Waldorf education.
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Topics will include:
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Steiner's indications and the "WHY" behind teaching movement
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Developmentally appropriate content throughout the grades
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Meeting and engaging today's children (classroom management, time management, curriculum development/lesson planning)
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Creating space for sharing challenges, successes, and resources
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In our Movement Teachers’ Group, we will explore the “What?”, “How?”, “When?”, “With Whom?”, and “Why?” of the Movement and Games class curriculum. (Teachers with backgrounds in Eurythmy, dance, or other movement disciplines are welcome to join and share their perspectives).
Drawing inspiration from the conference theme, we will focus on nourishing our roots by revisiting the “why” behind our commitment to this important work. Together, we will draw strength for our branches to grow through collaboration, sharing resources, and building community. With enthusiasm, we will move together, engage in questions, discussions, and exploration of how movement, play, and games foster healthy physical and social development in children.
In recognition of the challenges teachers often face, we will also address the complexities of our programs’ growth and renewal.
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2:00 to 2:30pm Pacific time - Subject Specific Artistic Work
Our artistic focus will center on the essential role of rhythm, form and geometry as foundational elements in Movement class. We will also dedicate time to creating new games and an in-depth, group-chosen exploration of a special Games event—such as the Pentathlon, Medieval Games, Michaelmas, or Field Day.
Meet the Movement Team!
We are honored to be working with an amazing team of movement teachers who are teaching and leading this portion of the conference!
Theodora Mason
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Theodora is a regular faculty member of our handwork teacher training program. She was an integral part of the Sanderling Waldorf School in Southern California. Theodora developed and taught the handwork and movement program for 1st - 8th grade students. She then taught movement at the Portland Waldorf School from 1st -12th grade. She is now a class teacher at Living Oaks in Texas Hill Country. Theodora has over twenty years of teaching experience, with over sixteen of them teaching children in a Waldorf school.
Theodora is a graduate of level l and an ongoing student in the level ll and lll Spacial Dynamics training program, certified in Bothmer gymnastics, a life-long yoga practitioner and a certified instructor. She understands the vital importance of an education that supports and encourages each child’s development as a free human being.
Jennifer Gould
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Jennifer Gould has been a Movement Education teacher, coach, mentor, and Waldorf parent for more than two decades, based at the Pasadena Waldorf School in Southern California. While holding the role of Lower school (grades 1-8) Games/PE teacher, she appreciates the multidimensionality of the work, including helping the children navigate social/emotional spaces as well as physical activity and play in various forms while swimming in rivers of joy and laughter. Dedicated to being a lifelong learner, she is grateful for the value which schools place upon professional development. In addition to Waldorf teacher training, Jennifer completed a 5-year certification with the Spacial Dynamics Institute, with continued studies through that body of mentorship in Bothmer Gymnastics, Pentathlon/Hands in Peace event coordination training, as well as intensives with the Movement for Childhood organization. She has hosted multi-school gatherings for Pentathlon events, Medieval Games, and Track and Field competitions. She finds it invaluable to gather with colleagues over the course of a year to share, collaborate, and help strengthen each other and is especially proud to be a mentoring member of the collective of Waldorf movement teachers in the US and abroad, an incredibly diverse and fun group of people.
