Class Five And Six In Waldorf Education Hovering Near The Light

Maintaining their altitude up there in the blue, Class Five children are exploring the heavenly realms of historical myths this fall with Mr. Stopeck. Their study of a handful of ancient civilizations took flight a mere three weeks ago, with an introduction to early India, and Mr. Stopeck tells me that hell be piloting them through a gentle, year-long descent to earth. Having made the acquaintance of Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva, up there in the Hindu pantheon, the class is now greeting the Buddha. From the heady realms of those Lords of heaven, the class finds its feet on the ground for a moment just long enough to learn the story of Siddhartha Gautama, the young prince who abandoned his youth of disengaged luxury to search out the source of human suffering.

With the Buddhas jewel of compassion in their hands, they are airborne again, on their guided tour of the human spirit, as seen through the eyes of those who came so long before us. Great mountain landscapes graced with elephants, and colour-filled, tight-focus portraits of lotus flowers, document the students work with these new experiences on the classroom walls. Mr. Stopeck tells me that there will be plenty of stop-overs before the grade five flight is over: ancient Persia, Babylon, Egypt, and Greece will be visited through this school year.

And speaking of new experiences of the heavenly, this teacher was obviously excited to report that his group has begun to master, in only three weeks of school, the playing of a five-page score of J.S. Bachs Jesu, Joy of Mans Desiring on their flutes. That should lift some tired spirits transiting the school corridors.

In complement to Gautama Buddhas story, and as a Michaelmas lesson, the class is reading together a book called Naya Nuki: Girl Who Ran, by Kenneth Thomasma. In it, an eleven-year-old Shoshoni girl is taken as a slave by enemies. Naya Nuki literally runs alone through the wilderness, for over a month, to find her people, and the home of her heart. Thus courage is added to compassion.

Up To New Tricks in Grade Six

Adolescent queens and kings? Pre-pubescent wild horses??? A dozen or so twelve-year-olds, many of them first-borns, who like to have their say, have their results immediately, and want attention now. Think about it. Where would you start with them? Heres Gus El-Moussas tale of engagement and learning with Sunrises current class of pre-teens.
In grade six, students get to live the 12 year change. One could say that the 9 year change amounts to: We now interrupt your regular childhood programming to bring you a brief message from adolescence, and that at about 14, children fully pass through the gate to adolescence and puberty.

In the middle, at 12, the newly pubescent child is in an interesting situation: she starts walking the path, but is not yet fully on it. Its a sensitive time in ones life. Just by being born into our culture with its frenetic speed and ubiquitous, self-referential noise, screens, and information, children tend to be pulled into the intellectual fast lane and towers of abstraction, and out of their bodies and innocent feeling lives. The Waldorf schools insistence that story, music, visual art, drama, and movement through Eurythmy, games, and outdoor adventure play an integrated role in education and are a remedy to this pull. Balance is sought in the childs growth and fluency in mind, heart/spirit, and body. As life becomes more complicated when children make their first real acquaintance with the challenges of adolescence, this balance is truly needed.

In the middle of all this is the adolescents authentic awakening into new awareness, and her/his genuine need to experiment with language and attitudes and engage others (i.e. get a reaction!). Class Six students repertoire in this area includes general naughtiness in word choice, cheekiness in manner, and pervasive arguing. Mr. El-Moussa says this last is one of his favourite things to do with his class at the moment: argue. His reasoning familiar to anyone connected to Waldorf ways is the following: as they develop, they need to argue, they need to explore arguing. How does the teacher best make use of this need to encourage the childrens growth, positive world-concept, and eventual freedom and responsibility? In this case, the answer is: they will get a dose of focused guidance in social skills and courtesy, and they will channel their obstreperousness into the form of disciplined team and individual debate.

– This article was written by a Sunrise Waldorf School parent for the Daybreak Monthly Newsletter which can be viewed online.

The Burnham Review, An Integrative Manual Therapy Consulting Company Increases Education And Quality Of Life

Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT), developed over the last 30 years, has helped people recover from Autism, Crohns disease, Visual dysfunctions, Spinal Cord Injuries, Chronic Fatigue, Back Pain, Traumatic Brain Injuries and significantly increased quality of life for thousands of people.

Still, so common is the question…..Why havent I ever of Integrative Manual Therapy?

This despite the fact that an internet search for the phrase Integrative Manual Therapy turns up over 20,000 sites and references. A search on Sharon Weiselfish-Giammatteo, the developer of Integrative Manual Therapy turns up several thousand references. Dr. Giammatteo and IMT are mentioned in Wikipedia. Many of the sites refer to clinical books and easy to use self-care books, written by Sharon W. Giammatteo, PT, PhD for therapists and the general public.

Kimberly Burnham, PhD, MT, IMTC is launching a service to increase the visibility of Integrative Manual Therapy and increase the quality of life of so many more people.

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The Burnham Review e-newsletter ($100 /24 issues) will cover what the medical literature has to say about the benefits of manual therapy, massage therapy, Osteopathic Manual Therapy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Reiki and other modalities from Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).

In 2008, these will be put into a book entitled, The Reasons to Consider Manual Therapy in Your Recovery.

The medical literature indicates hands-on techniques can help people recover from the signs and symptoms of diabetes, macular degeneration, strokes, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, hip pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gluten sensitivity, trigeminal neuralgia, celiac disease, cerebral palsy, failure to thrive, reflux, Downs syndrome, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and much more.

With Integrative Manual Therapy, a hand-on therapy practiced by advanced physical therapists, massage therapists, chiropractors and other healthcare practitioners, many people are feeling better, functioning better and improving their quality of life.

The Disadvantages Of A One Size Fits All Education

The public schools that most kids attend have several disadvantages compared to homeschools. The main idea of one curriculum for all the students and one teacher for an entire class brings the possibility of individual attention to each student to near zero. Some children who require special attention in these classes may end up failing due to the one size fits all education system. Here are some of the main disadvantages of this schooling system.

Bigger class sizes: Most public school systems have large class sizes. In these classes many students do not receive the attention they need. Most studies show that homeschooled children often outscore public school students. Another study shows that classes with less students score better than classes with more students. This clearly shows that more personalized attention leads to better results, and homeschooling provides students with much more one-on-one attention than is possible in public schools.

State determined rules: In public school systems, the state usually determines the rules for the school. This does not consider the fact that some children are different from others. Some children suffer in this system causing them to perform more poorly than they are capable.

Same curriculum for all: Public schools have the same curriculum for all the students. Usually some students are stronger in math while others are good at literature. The same curriculum sometimes causes problems to a student whose only choice is to go into a field of literature while he has to take up math which he finds useless for his cause.

Common grading system: The public schools grading system is very much separated from the students. Each student should be scored individually, keeping in mind their abilities and weaknesses. Some grading systems can be very tough on the morale of some students.

Common pace of teaching: In a class of 30 students, all are taught the same thing at the same time and are given the same time to assimilate and understand the new concept. Each student has a unique curve of learning which takes different lengths of time to capture a new concept. If the required amount of time is not given to a student, then he or she will not be able to learn the subject well.

Common method of teaching: Among all the students, some learn better from books, some learn better by listening to lectures while others learn better by doing activities on the subject. When a teacher teaches at the same pace, some students may find it hard to learn as the teachers method of teaching varies from the students way of learning.

Competition towards success: Public school systems, with their common curriculums and grading system, usually end up creating a sense of competition among students. Though this may sometimes be good, this is generally detrimental to the students. When the competition gets tough, some students resort to malpractices during tests. Excess competition among students can not only occur in studies but also in sports, events and other interpersonal arenas.

Top Universities In Delhi Imparting Education

The significance of education has grown leaps and bounds over the past couple of years. With increasing number of people becoming aware and attentive, there are various colleges and universities that have been set up in the country. These educational institutions deliver quality education in a professional manner. The colleges and institutes are spread across the length and breadth of the country. Metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Chennai offer a plethora of educational institutions striving to provide education and training to students. Delhi undeniably is one of the main cities to offer education. From arts, science, commerce, management and engineering to fashion designing, advertising, animation, publishing and others, Delhi offer s a gamut of career options to students. The top universities in Delhi involve government as well as private ones. There are plenty of AICTE approved colleges in Delhi NCR. They strive towards excellence in their respective domains. The top universities in Delhi deliver knowledge through practical approach and truly believe in the concept of experiential learning. They offer training by ways of classroom teaching combined with activities like industry visits, meetings, conferences and events. Through such an approach, students get an in-depth understanding of the business.

There are various AICTE approved colleges in Delhi NCR that meet the needs and requirements of students. The top universities in Delhi house excellent infrastructure that facilitate the learning and development. With well equipped classrooms, computer labs and a library with journals, books and various references, the best private universities as well as government ones enhance deeper understanding of the various issues.

Along with this, the top universities in Delhi boast of a brilliant and outstanding faculty with rich and profound experience. Eminent personalities with rich and profound experience are called by the educational institutions to deliver lectures on various issues. This constitutes faculty from abroad and also professionals working in the industry. The plethora of extra-curricular opportunities offered at the top universities in Delhi needs to be given emphasis. With the aim to enhance the overall personality of the students so that they become efficient professionals, these centers of education provide a platform to students to identify, enhance and cultivate their talents and skills. This fosters them to reach the pinnacles of success with a holistic approach.

These educational centers also maintain corporate interface that help students during their trainings and final placements.

Truly, with such a direction, the top universities in Delhi produce competent and competitive professionals who carve a name for themselves in the industry.

The Growing Need for a College Education

include the commerce degree and the criminal justice degree. The commerce degree is becoming more important as an increasing number of people make their livelihoods in the business world. A commerce degree provides a good understanding of business for those wanting to build a successful business career. The growingpopularity of the criminal justice degree is indication that a college education is becoming more important in fields which previously did not require such a high level of education. It is not uncommon for police officers to get college degrees now; in fact it is preferred in order to help them advance in their career.

How to Get a College Degree

There are many different ways to approach a degree. Students used to be required to attend a university or college campus in order to get this level of education. Now, there are a wide range of possibilities that take advantage of the Internet. Many campus courses now rely on the Internet for much of their content, and the communication between students and instructors. It is now possible to get an education from the comfort of your home. Many formats are not shy about using the Information Superhighway as the very foundation of their class. Online courses allow students to attend class when they want and study when they want. These flexible courses are convenient and perfect for students who have to work while they study, or have difficulty attending class on college campuses.

A Word about Finance

Though online courses have reduced the costs of education somewhat, college is still an expensive undertaking. It is always important to look for scholarships to fund your education if paying for college is going to be difficult for you. When scholarships are not available, many people resort to loans.

College may not be for everyone, but it has become much more accessible than it used to be. The wide variety of degrees and ways to get them make it convenient for anyone with an interest in furthering their education to gain the degree of their dreams. “>The value of a college education has increased a great deal. Presently it is very difficult to get a high paying job without some type of post-secondary education. However, it is a mistake to try to pursue a college education without first considering a few key factors. There are many kinds of degrees available for a wide variety of focused careers. Acquiring these degrees requires money and focus.

Common Types of Degrees Earned Today

The degrees being earned today are a mixture of traditionally sought educations and newer degrees that have become popular due to the technologically rich world we live in today. There is always a need for people with degrees in standard subjects such as Law, Education and Medicine. However, there are many new opportunities appearing in the work force today. For example, any degree in health care is always a popular choice among young people. Nursing, a very old profession, remains very popular and necessary, but a variety of jobs using new medical technology also exists today making the medical profession even more desirable.

Other new degrees include the commerce degree and the criminal justice degree. The commerce degree is becoming more important as an increasing number of people make their livelihoods in the business world. A commerce degree provides a good understanding of business for those wanting to build a successful business career. The growing popularity of the criminal justice degree is indication that a college education is becoming more important in fields which previously did not require such a high level of education. It is not uncommon for police officers to get college degrees now; in fact it is preferred in order to help them advance in their career.

How to Get a College Degree

There are many different ways to approach a degree. Students used to be required to attend a university or college campus in order to get this level of education. Now, there are a wide range of possibilities that take advantage of the Internet. Many campus courses now rely on the Internet for much of their content, and the communication between students and instructors. It is now possible to get an education from the comfort of your home. Many formats are not shy about using the Information Superhighway as the very foundation of their class. Online courses allow students to attend class when they want and study when they want. These flexible courses are convenient and perfect for students who have to work while they study, or have difficulty attending class on college campuses.

A Word about Finance

Though online courses have reduced the costs of education somewhat, college is still an expensive undertaking. It is always important to look for scholarships to fund your education if paying for college is going to be difficult for you. When scholarships are not available, many people resort to loans.

College may not be for everyone, but it has become much more accessible than it used to be. The wide variety of degrees and ways to get them make it convenient for anyone with an interest in furthering their education to gain the degree of their dreams.