Birthday Songs for Apple, Moon, and Raindrop

Dear Families,

       I have added recordings of birthday tune for our 3 celebrations at the end of the school year.  You should be able to access them by going to this facebook page.

At the first parent meeting, I described my personal and professional journey in which I was attempting to move away from the tangible and physical gifts either for or by the children.  In Baltimore, children and I became so efficient at candle dipping, for example, that children began taking home a candle everyday, and for some children, nursery became a big disappointment if they did not take something home like that every day.  This challenge provided an impulse for me to have courage to send home a lot less and focus more on cooking, care of the classroom, time in nature, and to treat music--the playing of the violin and Irish whistle in particular--as lawful, meaningful work to envelop the children with much as another Waldorf early childhood teacher might spin or sew or knit in the presence of the children.  It is an ongoing investigation for me, and I welcome feedback. 

I have also unabashedly made my birthday gifts for the children something that aims to be of interest in the future, whether in 6th grade when they are acquiring proficiency on violin or--in light of new roles in the school--in 8th grade when they can play chords on the guitar or when they are adults, possibly with children of their own.  Please do not worry if your child shows no interest in the gift; find a safe place (if possible) to store it away until your child is in 5th or 6th grade or so.  My intent is to in 10 years or so to be able to prepare your children to perform these songs on fiddle (or other melody instrument) and guitar toward the end of our 8th grade year (because I really try to hear a melody for each child, some of the tunes that come to me may still be a bit challenging in 8th grade).

With warmth and light,

William Dolde

p.s.  Please take everything out of your child's spare clothes bag today.  If needed, you might bring appropriate spare clothes in a back-pack, grocery sack, or paper bag.

birthdays, circle, and gear

Dear Families,

Tomorrow, Tuesday, will be the last time I tell "Wild Goose Lake" to the class. Children seem engaged, quiet, and thoughtful as I tell this story. Many sing along on the songs I put into the story; several also imitate some of my gestures (for the calm, still, lake). On Wednesday of this week and Monday and Tuesday of next week, we will be celebrating 3 summer birthdays. Children tend to become very excited about birthdays. Children also tend to get very excited at the end of the school year. Although many teachers might try to avoid placing birthday celebrations at year's end, I find the social exuberance (with moments of reverence) of the birthdays meets the exalted mood of children at the end of the year. One might say that I make up for a lack of wisdom with an excess of courage, but this method has worked well in past years.
Our nursery children showed delight and an ability to move as a group when we danced with the Maypole for the month after Spring break. Recently I have been sharing a spring circle of Wilma Ellersiek games (of a fish springing, a daisy warmed by the sun, roses growing by the gate, and animals visiting a flower to be rocked). Even as children can be boisterous, enthusiastic, and exuberant for much of the morning as summer approaches, most children in the class demonstrate great interest, reverence, and tenderness during this quieter part of the morning.

Please remember that next Wednesday is our last day before summer break, and dismissal is at 11am (but we invite you to come at 10:15 to share strawberry shortcake with us).
I will take the supply bags home to wash next Tuesday. Please bring home as much gear as you think is wise as soon as possible. Parents have reported that mystery boots linger around their child's cubby, and I suspect if we can clear the area, other parents may discover and solve mysteries. You might, for example, be so bold as to take rain gear home with the plan to only bring it if your child needs it (the long term forecast does predict rain next week). Do leave just enough spare clothes. Please do bring a bag from home to store them in on Tuesday.
There is a basket in the hallway for lost and found items. There will also be a basket for donations--clothes your child has outgrown. Other parents may take these home for their children, and teachers will use them to build up our supply of spare clothes. We will take the rest to Good Cheer.

With warmth and light,

William Geoffrey Dolde