THE ENDANGERED ART OF HANDWRITING:  

Michelle was sitting in my office this last week telling me stories she has heard from Mr. Friedman in first grade and what she has been writing. I asked her to make me a 'picture story' and write her name for me. Michelle made a beautiful picture and as I watched her pencil (crayon) grip, I could not help but think that a Waldorf school is a place where the endangered art of careful and beautiful handwriting development still flourishes.
From the first grade, the children learn to write by hand and do so beautifully and in an artistic way. This emphasis on handwriting, however, goes back to Rudolf Steiner, the founder of Waldorf education. He gave exact instructions on how it should be taught and provided form drawing exercises that help children develop and keep a legible and aesthetically appealing way of writing. As with many of the aspects of Waldorf education, this respect for the value of good handwriting is being corroborated by recent scientific research. Studies show a correlation between handwriting and the emotional psychological condition. These studies suggest the learning of good penmanship can support the healthy development of the child: that analysis of handwriting can be a tool for understanding a child's development; and that handwriting exercises can be a means to improve mood and behavior. In other words, handwriting is potentially an important pedagogical and remedial tool.

In his introduction to the teaching of writing, Rudolf Steiner recommends three steps. The first step links the child to the past, to the heritage of the culture into which s/he has been born; the second to the present and to the capacities that the human hands give each child; and the third to the future, to what s/he can accomplish by acquiring the ability to write. With these indications to guide us, one can sense that the art of handwriting is unique. It involves not only the careful, rhythmic exercise of fine motor skills but also the communication and the expression of ideas, imagination, thoughts, memories, wishes, experiences, and emotions. Thus, handwriting can be used to create a positive classroom environment for learning. It can be used as a way to understand the children more deeply. Steady year-to-year guidance towards aesthetic and balanced handwriting can promote psychological growth and health.

When we consciously guide children in their handwriting with the same devotion we give to other areas of teaching, handwriting can take its rightful place alongside the arts and intellectual learning in the Waldorf curriculum. It will become a powerful and anchoring means of strengthening children on a consistent basis, developing their capacities, and helping them move more confidently and courageously toward their future and their destiny.

As I continued to observe Michelle write her name, she reminded me of an additional, and often unspoken, reason for learning to hold a pencil correctly. Possessing the maximum range of control, flexibility, and fluidity means that one has the freedom to experiment with, and ultimately to choose, one's handwriting, one's signature, one's "mark in the world." With picture in her one hand, the other hand in mine, I escorted Michelle back to first grade and Mr. Friedman's class feeling confident about her and the children of Mountain Oak School making their "marks" in a 21st century global village world.

- Merrill Badger, Principal

Happenings:

Parent –Teacher conferences continue every day this week. through Friday, Dec., 10th. Half-day early dismissals at 12:30 pm. Remember to sign up in the office.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Mandatory 7th/8th grade parent meeting at 7:00pm in classroom.

TAX CREDIT HELP!

Please take part in this worthy program to help your school financially this year!
Online Credit Form (277Kb PDF)

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SCHOOL NEWS

 MUSIC FOR MUSIC 

Holiday Party
Saturday, December 10th at 6:00 pm
at the Unitarian Church
Buy your dinner tickets now!  Doors open at 5:30pm. Dinner will be served at 6pm
Tickets are $15 for a single or 2 for $25.
Call Lisa Mac at 445-1577

GARDEN OF LIGHTS FESTIVAL

This year, our Garden of Lights Festival will be held on December 17th at the Mountain Club Clubhouse. This peaceful and beautiful ceremony will take place in three sessions: Kindergarten at 5:30, First Grade at 6:15, and Second Grade at 7:00 p.m.

The Clubhouse will be set with a "garden" of fresh pine boughs that form a spiral path on the floor, leading in to the center where a single candle is lit.

Each child will take a turn to walk the pathway in, carrying a candle to be lighted at the center. Then, they turn to walk back out, along the path, and set their lit candle down by the boughs before walking out of the spiral garden. There is gentle harp music being
played all the while as the room becomes ever more brightened by the glowing lights. It is a dreamy, quiet "festival", as families gather to behold the "becoming" of a Garden of Lights.

How can you help with the preparations?  Every Mountain Oak family is asked to help gather fresh boughs; we will need a big pile of them by the 17th. Miss Therese in the kindergarten is the "Keeper" of this festival and will be preparing K-2 teachers with
sign up sheets. We will need: 2 Fire Marshals at each session, a Set Up Crew, and a Clean Up Crew.

Thank you in advance for helping out to make this a special and memorable event!

-Miss Therese

PARENT’S NIGHT OUT!!!!

Dear Parents of Mountain Oak,

Have you been waiting to get out, without your kids, maybe to buy some Christmas gifts, go out with your spouse and have a nice dinner or got to the school holiday party? But what about child care?

Problem solved, the 7th/8th class will be baby sitting on December 10th at the Reid-McKee’s home from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. There will be two adults present as well as six 7/8th grade students. The cost will be $3.00 an hour for the first two hours then it will be $2.00 an hour. For more than one child it will be an additional $2.00 an hour per child, for the first two hours, then it will be $1.50 for each additional child. If your child needs dinner bring an extra dollar for pizza, we will also be showing a “G” rated movie.

Fresh  Hand  Made
Beautiful  Wreaths