Visual Arts In The Teacher Education Year
In the second year the visual arts are now brought into the realm of pedagogy and curriculum. With continual practice and development of one's artistic capacities, the student prepares to teach art. Methodology and techniques are studied within the themes of:
- Handwriting
- Chalkboard writing and drawing
- Lesson book composition and illustration
- Modeling in wax and clay
- Painting
- Drawing
- Classroom decoration
- Art history
An emphasis is placed upon the importance of practical organization in the classroom and in art lessons. Students demonstrate lessons throughout the year. They also have the opportunity to practice directly with the children of the Eugene Waldorf School.
Singing
Singing in the Education Year focuses primarily upon increasing one's confidence and love of singing, and upon teaching and singing with children in Waldorf schools. Students sing pentatonic songs through adult level music, all the while practicing reading, sight reading, and for those who wish it, composing original songs. Students work towards an understanding of the singing curriculum from kindergarten through eighth grade. In this process they learn how to select, prepare and present songs to children. They practice singing exercises, parts singing, rounds, musical games and stories, and rhythm work. Lyres, tone flutes, pentatonic and diatonic flutes are also introduced and practiced.
Recorder
Second year recorder classes focus on learning and playing music appropriate to each grade. Students learn basic conducting skills and recorder pedagogy appropriate in Waldorf schools. They also practice introducing musical notation, introducing second and third voices, and preparing for celebrations. Students continue ensemble recorder playing with soprano, alto and tenor recorders. They learn to play the pentatonic flute, which is played by first, second and third graders. Students are encouraged to participate in Eugene Waldorf School and Anthroposophical Society festival events.
Eurythmy
Some previous study of Eurythmy is a pre-requisite for joining the Education Year Eurythmy lessons, as the exploration of basic elements from the Foundation year continues, alongside a presentation of the Eurythmy curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade Eight. This presentation includes sample lessons as well as discussion time. After Christmas, the students are guided to choose a fairy tale or story which is suitable for young children, and all the aspects of artistic performance become the focus of their work. Students are encouraged to develop their characters through what they have learned, and also to participate in costuming, lighting, speech work and music for the performance, which happens at the year's end. Eurythmy lessons are 45 minutes long and are scheduled 2-3 times weekly, depending upon the time of the year.
Games And Spacial Dynamics®
An introduction to a Waldorf School movement curriculum is brought through various activities such as children's games, tumbling exercises, and juggling games. See the Foundation Year for more information about Spacial Dynamics.
Speech And Story Telling
Speech and storytelling classes are held weekly for 90 minutes, during which time students each present prepared materials from the curriculum. The presentations are critiqued, and suggestions are made for the benefit of the whole. Some of the assignments are prescribed and some free choice. Such presentations may include circle work, poem recitation, fairy tales, fables, creation stories, myths, biographies, or speech exercises. Students are encouraged to prepare original materials where appropriate. Generally, a speech specialist visits for one week. During this time intensive speech classes preempt other classes.
Form Drawing on Chalkboard
Form Drawing
From the simple to the complex, students are introduced to form drawing with particular emphasis being given to the early grades curriculum. The students receive instruction for approximately four hours class time. The course includes lectures on form drawing as a rhythmic artistic activity, which can penetrate and loosen etheric rigidity. For the balance of the year, students receive weekly form drawing assignments from the instructor which they complete independently.
Wood Carving
For approximately nine weeks during the first term, students work on a simple wood carving project, for one and one half hours per week in class and as much as they have time for outside of class. The teacher strives to engage their will forces to experience: the particular personal qualities which differentiate one carver from the next; delicately guided movements alongside brute force; the difference between clay and wood; the taking off versus the putting on; you cannot put the chips back. The metamorphosis of the project gradually affords a unique opportunity to steadily let go of fixed ideas. Students finish one to two projects during this time, and are not specifically prepared to teach wood carving as an extra subject.
Handwork
During second term, students learn basic skills in knitting, crochet, small animal making, felting and cross stitch. Students are given handwork tutorials as needed outside of class.Volunteer Requirements
As the program is conducted within the Eugene Waldorf School, the opportunity for regular and ongoing classroom experience is readily available. All Grades and Kindergarten students are required to complete no less than 100 hours of active volunteer time in the classroom, assisting in areas for which the class teacher requests a student.
Practicums
Second year students have two practicums during the year, three weeks in the fall term and four weeks in winter term. The first practicum is more introductory in nature than the second. We carefully place students with experienced teachers adept at mentoring, located throughout the U.S. And Canada. There are a few opportunities to remain in Eugene, mainly reserved for single parents who are unable to travel.