Form Drawing

Form drawing, the freehand drawing of geometric shapes, is a subject taught in Waldorf schools. The technique was created by Rudolf Steiner to help develop a young child's handwriting, hand-eye coordination, ability to concentrate and other capacities. Children learn that every shape in the world consists of either straight or curved lines, or some combination of the straight and the curved.

Ms. Melanie's 1st & 2nd grade practice form drawing every Friday afternoon at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. The tide provides a natural canvas for the children to hone their techniques, while the surf & sun foster an environment one could only dream of learning within.

Friday

One of the most endearing aspects of our school is its ease of transition. The slow movement from imaginative play, the soft graduation into the grades, and on a smaller level the sweet ending to each school week.

The grades children bid farewell to their peers each Friday afternoon at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. For Ms. Melanie's 1st/2nd grade class, the last lesson of the week is form drawing followed by free play - parents and friends gather & the afternoon slowly melts away into early evening.

Sanderling Waldorf School: Moonlight Beach from Embry Rucker on Vimeo.

May Light Arise in our Garden

As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, we treasure the gifts of light and community. The Winter Spiral Celebration took place on Saturday, December 12th.

Every child enters this beautiful festival with a mood of wonder and quiet anticipation. Walking along the scented evergreen path, all is quiet except for the soft notes of the lyre. Ambient light reflects from the children’s faces as they place their candle along the spiral & return to their seats – the room illuminates brighter and brighter, until the light of the community glows strong.

Season’s Greenings

Sanderling participated in the 2009 Encinitas Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 5th.
In keeping with this year's parade theme, Season's Greenings - Celebrating All Things Environmental, the children created a float entitled A Walk in the Woods.

Twinkle-lit canopies of trees hosted fairies, plants & animals – a magical vision, whether sipping hot cocoa from the sidelines or walking the 101. Thank you to Rose Kindergarten mom, Amy Ruecker, for leading the effort.