What's Included

• Overview

  Learning to be a First Grade Waldorf teacher is as challenging as learning to be a First-Grade student! In this 21-page guide you will find both inspiration and practical steps to help you embrace the role of the “wise elder,” as one of my mentors referred to it. The primer begins with a picture of the first grader and shows you how to “swim” with your students’ tendencies not against them. This is followed by a full description of each of the five steps* required to achieve loving, firm discipline, as well as doable, pragmatic ways to master these steps. As a mentor of Waldorf teachers, I am honored to share with you these tried-and-true teaching gems chockfull of the wisdom I learned from my study of Rudolf Steiner, the guidance of my amazing mentors, and of course from direct experience with my three 1st grade classes. 

  *The Five Steps to Loving Firm Discipline:  
  1. Become the wise, magic elder  
  2. Be on a path of self-discipline 
  3. Create and follow healthy lesson rhythms  
  4. Build your class community 
  5. See a child’s misbehavior as an opportunity for learning