Whole-Class Enrichment
Rethinking the Elements of a Balanced Day
A Practical Course for Class Teachers, and/or Teachers Who Want to Become Their School’s “Enrichment Teacher”
NOTE: Admission to this program is now closed. There may be other offerings in the future.
This course guides participants to personal mastery of a broad repertoire of methods for strengthening student capacities. Students will return to their schools ready to provide an innovative and effective whole-class, or even whole-school, approach. The ultimate goal is to prepare attendees to inspire and support a school-wide culture in which all teachers know the reasons for and practicalities of developmental activities for the whole class; to learn the activities themselves and then to help other teachers become inspired. This could be as simple as setting a personal example in one’s class, or as extensive as adding a formal position for Enrichment Classes to the school’s program. The course focuses on hands-on learning, devoting more than 20 hours to classroom activities participants can take back to their schools ready to work with and research.
The program includes two in-person sessions, fall and spring, and an online "check-in" session in winter.
If you have any questions about the above, or want to discuss your particular situation, contact Erin McNamara at erin@healingeducation.org.
Rationale
The developmental activities and approaches presented and practiced in this course have for decades been within the domains of Extra Lesson practitioners and Waldorf movement teachers (as well as some Class teachers). However, our experience shows that they are meant to be staples for all students, in all classes, every day. Even students who excel in most or even all academic areas will benefit from the focus-strengthening inbreath and outbreath rhythms this program can provide. The traditional “morning circle time” (and many other daily intervals) can become an even deeper preparation for each day’s academics
Timing and Sequence
The course is structured in three parts: a three-day in-person session covering half the material; next, an “in-service” period of several months, allowing time to put into classroom practice what was learned and explored, and reporting/checking in about progress via an online session; and then a final three-day in-person session during which we will review, report, and finish up.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for experienced and new teachers in Waldorf charter or independent schools; for both class and remedial teachers, as well as program/pedagogical leaders.
Reading list
Before the first session, attendees are expected to read at least chapters 1, 2 and 5 of Educating for Balance and Resilience, and to bring with them their copy of the book. This is so we can spend only a little time with lecture/seminar work, and the great majority of the time on experience and practice.
In addition, attendees will find it very helpful to have on hand a copy of Audrey McAllen’s The Extra Lesson (either a personal copy or your school’s copy). Also highly recommended is The Human Soul by Karl König.
Clothing
This is a very active and informal course from start to finish. So unless youʼre planning evening or tourist activities off campus, casual, athletics-friendly clothes are all you need to pack.
Lead Instructor: Jeff Tunkey
Over a 30-year teaching career at Aurora Waldorf, Jeff researched, developed and carried through a unique, multidisciplinary school-wide program to address this vital aspect of education. His roles at AWS included teaching games, tumbling and athletics; inservices for class-teachers; Extra Lesson student support; remedial math support; chairing the Educational Support Team; and creating a stand-alone “Enrichment” class for the lower grades. In addition, as an AHE faculty member he has visited dozens of Waldorf schools as workshop provider or mentor. In 2020 he collected this approach in a book, Educating for Balance and Resilience. Other AHE faculty will join him in the teaching