Planting Seeds of Confidence

By Penni Sparks, keynote speaker February 14-16, 2026 Online International Waldorf Teaching Conference

I would wish anyone the opportunity to spend a year at the front of a 5th grade class! By this time, the students have developed skills in every area of study that was presented to both boys and girls in the School of Pythagoras of Ancient Greece, where all children were challenged to a full range of capacities from geometry to grammar to debate to movement to the arts, and they completed each with beauty, grace, and style.

We have the opportunity to plant the seeds of each of these capacities when we educate our children mindfully in the 5th grade. There is no need for specialization, as is practiced in the animal world. We as human beings can do anything we put our effort into! These seeds are the source of confidence in self and an attitude of “yes, I’ll try that,” which make expanding knowledge and deepening curiosity habits for life.

We can create a most colorful tapestry during the 5th grade year, weaving so many varying skills of hues and intensities, when we remember these young beings are capable of everything. It is up to us to make each challenge worthy and not give-in to allowing mediocrity or incomplete work.  We help them “tie-off the ends" when we create time to honor the skill of completing projects in every subject and finishing pages in our many Main Lesson Books, wordlessly offering each an experience of the sense of satisfaction.

In the 5th grade play Pythagoras, by Schwartz, Pythagoras spoke these wise words as their teacher:

I can only sow the seeds

I cannot make the plants grow faster

You will overcome the weeds

When your passions you can master.

Nothing ripens without patience.

As gardeners of these growing, young people, our task is to plow the fields and sow the seeds for every fruit of will and soul we wish them to harvest in the future. Some of the seeds we can plant are: how to take responsibility for a task not completed; how to work in a group; how to take responsibility for a mistake; how to work independently; how to follow directions exactly; and how to create beautiful, balanced, complete, accurate work.

Caution: This is the year of simply planting the seeds, not mastering their growth. That comes in the 6th grade when we start perfecting our skills. We watch for progress, not perfection.

If you're looking for some practical activities to keep your seedlings growing healthily, try some of these, and please tell me of the ones you've added:

*Have them write beautiful notes, perfectly spelled, beautifully written, no matter what the occasion.

*Have them make beautiful, handmade cards for birthdays and thank-yous.

*Have them make out the grocery list, perfectly spelled and beautifully written.

*Challenge them to use the thesaurus (a great gift idea) to choose a stronger word to express themselves.

*Have them use the dictionary to find spellings and to find out the true meanings (etymologies) of words.

*Have them write a newsy, lengthy letter to a grandparent or other family member.

*Have them answer the phone clearly and politely.

*Have them greet and thank hosts (other parents or teachers) clearly and politely.

*Have them speak at all times, clearly and politely; clear speech leads to stronger spelling skills.

*Have them do physical tasks to be of service to the family, without pay.

*Have them help you with dinner or clean-up; they're all quite capable of doing careful, thorough work anyone would be proud of. Let them show you!

*Go for a walk with them in the park or forest and let them show you what they've come to know about the plant world.

*Play games with dice or learn Cribbage to help them practice adding.

*Have them do the mental math for you at the grocery store, in cooking, in building, in estimating costs, time, or gas mileage.

No matter what you ask of them, expect confidence, clarity, and carefulness. Be truthful -- if it's not well done, let them know, and ask that it be done again beautifully and precisely. At this age there is no benefit in letting them get away with sloppiness or inaccuracy. We don't expect perfection, however we can help them know the joy of progress from sound effort.

This is one path of planting the Seeds of Confidence. 

Confidence is a word whose root meaning comes from ‘con’ meaning ‘with’ and ‘fidere’ meaning ‘faith or trust.’ In other words, confidence means “with faith.” We have the chance to develop faith or trust in one’s self. What an honor; what a task!

To learn more from Penni and hear her full presentation "The Seeds of Confidence: Beauty, Rhythm, and Balance", join us February 14-16 for our Online International Conference for All Subject Teachers! Penni Sparks will be one of several outstanding keynote speakers for this event.

Penni Sparks is a 41-year veteran Waldorf 1-12 educator. Most recently she’s the former director of Haleakala Waldorf High School; the former Pedagogical Director of Kona Pacific Public Charter School; the former faculty member of Rudolf Steiner College’s, and many more.

She taught high school drama, choir, English, math, history, and astronomy for 10 years before stepping-in as a class teacher to graduate 8 eighth grades.

She is the published author of 2 books. The ABC’s of Being Human, and coming out at the end of January 2026 The ABCs of Being Balanced: You’re Not Crazy; You’re Just Insane!