Upcoming Events:
Teacher Informational Session
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
6:30pm at the Palmer Public Library
This informational session is for prospective teachers only. (If you are a parent with questions about Waldorf methods or curriculum, we welcome you to contact us directly.) This session will be a presentation designed to help teachers learn more about the experience of being a teacher in a Waldorf-inspired charter school. It will be hosted by Donna Levesque, a master Waldorf teacher, and Dr. Lisa Del Albo, an anthroposophical doctor now working in the Mat-Su Valley.
!! -- Cancelled -- Birchtree Charter School Enrollment Lottery -- Cancelled -- !!
Lottery Cancelled! We will not be holding a lottery on Wednesday, April 21st. If you applied on or before April 15th your child/children will have a spot at Birchtree Charter School. You should have received an email welcoming you to the Birchtree Charter School family. If you applied on or before April 15th and did not receive this email, please contact Cara Horvath immediately at 907-745-6510 or [email protected]. To read more about the enrollment process and to see how many spots we have left in each grade, read the enrollment page.
2010 Today's Woman Show
Friday, April 23rd - 2-7pm
Saturday, April 24th - 11am-6pm
Sunday, April 25th - 11am-5pm
Wasilla Multi-Use Sports Complex
Thank you to Michael Fisher for donating a booth to the Birchtree Parents Guild to promote Birchtree Charter School and the Arts and Movement Summer Camp. The Today's Woman Show will provide women with an opportunity to learn about what's new in business, fashion, health & wellness, cooking, recreation, and more! The 1st annual Alaska Home, Garden, and Outdoor Living Show will take place simultaneously in the same location.
Birchtree Parents Guild Board Meetings
- May 3rd, 2010
- June 7th, 2010
- July 12th, 2010
Waldorf-inspired Arts and Movement Summer Camp
June 1-25, 2010
The Birchtree Parents Guild is hosting a summer camp for kids ages 3-14. For more info click here.
Past Events:
Birchtree Charter School Informational Meeting
Tuesday,
April 13th, 2010
6-7pm at the Wasilla Middle School Library
We
will be holding another informational meeting for the community about
the mission of Birchtree Charter School and the definition of
Waldorf-inspired education. This time we will be in Wasilla.
Applications for Birchtree Charter School will be available! Children
welcome.
Tuesday, April 1st, 2010
6-7pm at the Palmer Public Library
An informational meeting for the community about the mission of Birchtree Charter School and the definition of Waldorf-inspired education. Applications for Birchtree Charter School will be available! Children welcome.
Come Explore Waldorf-Inspired education, crafts and games at the Palmer Library.
- June 27 - 11:30am to 2:30pm
- August 22 - 11:30am to 2:30pm
- September 26 - 11:30am to 2:30pm
- October 31 - 11:30am to 2:30pm
December 1st - Lantern Walk - CANCELLED due to weather!
3:30 to 5:30. Palmer Library.
Come make a lantern with your kids and join us for an outdoor lantern walk. Please bring outdoor gear.
December 22nd - Winter Spiral - 4:30 - 6:00.
Join us at Heaven's Hayfields for a quiet celebration of song and light.
Please wear warm outdoor gear! Bring a headlamp and a thermos filled with something hot to drink.
Directions:
Coming from the North (Wasilla):
Take the Fairview Loop/Hyer Road exit off the Parks Highway. Turn right onto Fairview Loop.
Coming from the South (Anchorage):
Take the Hyer Road / Fairview Loop exit off the Parks Highway. Go under the overpass, turn right, and then turn left onto Fairview Loop.
Go two miles down Fairview Loop. Turn left onto Davis Road. Go past three houses (Heaven's Hayfields is the third house) and down the hill.
Turn left into the hayfield. You will see the cabins and campfire area.
See the map below:
January 23rd - Meet and Greet Fundraiser - 6:30pm
Come chat with the members of the Birchtree Parent Guild and the Birchtree Charter School APC. There will be Silpada Jewelry, NYR Organics, wine, and snacks! Call Kelly Leonard (907) 355-0490 for info and directions. We hope to see you!February 14th - Turkey Red Valentine's Day Dinner - 5:30pm
Tickets are $65 a couple/ $35 for single. Tickets include dinner and one drink per person. Birchtree Parent Guild will also have a silent auction set up. Doors open at 5:30. There are a limited number of tickets and they may be purchased through paypal or directly from the Parent Guild. Please contact Heather Oberholtzer at [email protected] if you are interested in purchasing tickets.
Waldorf-Inspired Education in the Valley
School Year 2009-2010
For
the 1st and 2nd grades, Lori Berrigan is offering a 1st-2nd grade
Waldorf-Inspired class at Twindly Bridge Charter School. If you have
any questions, please contact Lori Berrigan at [email protected] or 907 745 4884. The class will continue through Spring 2010.
Waldorf-inspired 1st-2nd grade – Twindly Bridge
Fall 2009
13 weeks
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Schedule
2 weeks Form Drawing
Lesson A: Recorder
Lesson B: Handwork/Foreign Language
4 weeks Language Arts
Lesson A: Recorder, Painting
Lesson B: Handwork/Foreign Language
1 week Science/Nature
Lesson A: Cooking
Lesson B: Crafts
4 Weeks Math (Quality of numbers)
Lesson A: Form Drawing
Lesson B: Handwork/Foreign Language
2 weeks Language Arts
Lesson A: Recorder
Lesson b: Handwork/Foreign Language
Form Drawing
Form
Drawing is used in Waldorf School to improve children’s handwriting.
Form Drawing is about working with both the straight and curved lines.
Children walk these, stomp them, tiptoe them, and trace them into the
air. It is after this, they are ready to transfer these forms to paper.
These forms are never expected to be corrected, they are an expression
of the moment.
Language Arts
In
Waldorf Education, one always starts with the active, or experience.
Traditionally, children in Waldorf schools learn to write before they
read. Letters are brought to the child through story. As the children
grow, they are expected to write more. In terms of reading, children
are expected to read back what they have written. In a multi-age
classroom, children will be challenged to their ability. All will hear
the story and then each will be expected to write as their age and
ability dictate.
Math
During
this first block, numbers 1 – 12 will be introduced. Each child will
explore the quality and essence of each number. What makes up each
number? We will go from the whole to the part. We will take 3 and show
that 3 pinecones is 1+1+1. For the more advanced child, we will begin
to show all 4 math processes as well introduce Roman numerals. Active
movement will be included in each math lesson (such as times tables for
number 1-12)
Science/Nature
During
this week we will experience FALL. We will cook with seasonal foods,
plant sprint bulbs, put the garden to bed, and work with different art
mediums in order to explore the essence of this time of year. As with
every week, stories about fall and nature will be integral to our week
(please note, this week will change with the weather).
Recorder
Each child will have their own recorder and throughout the semester we will learn age appropriate songs.
Each child will have their own recorder and throughout the semester we will learn age appropriate songs.
Handwork
Knitting is introduced in 1st grade in Waldorf schools. This will be brought in after lunch.
Foreign Language
Will be taught 1 to 2 afternoons per week. Working out specifics at this point.
Schedule
1
to 2 stories will be brought to the children each week. This allows the
child time to digest each story and to be able to recall in the
classroom. This helps remove the hurried feeling that many children
feel each day in their lives. Both main Lesson and Lesson A will be
brought to the children each morning. Lesson B will be brought 1 to 2
days a week in the afternoons. Time for play will be woven into each
day.
9:00am Morning Walk or Indoor Movement
9:30am Begin Work
9:45am Main Lesson
10:45am Snack and Play
11:45 am Lesson A
12:15pm Lunch and Play
1:00pm Read Aloud
1:30 pm Lesson B
2:30pm End of Day
It
is my goal to find a handwork instructor so I am able to teach a 3 day
a week 1.5 hour class for 4th through 6th grade in math during the
semester. If this does not happen, I am able to teach knitting.
References include:
- Christopherus Homeschool Resources
- First and Second Grade Syllabus
- Living Language
- Joyful Movement
- Form Drawing
- A Path of Discovery – Erik Fairman – Grades one and two
- Dorothy Harrer books
Price
$50
a week per child. 3 days a week will be offered at Twindly Bridge with
a 4th outdoor day. This will include berry picking, skating, cross
country
skiing, hiking and nature walks. Parents will be required to attend or have designated chaperone on the outdoor day.