March 5

Dear Parents,

We are singing this perfect song for this season when we go out for a walk.

I. Spring is coming, spring is coming, birdies build your nest! Weave together straw and feather doing each your best.

2. Spring is coming, spring is coming, flowers are coming too. Pansies, lilies, datfodillies, all are coming through!

3. Spring is coming, spring is coming, all around is fair. Shimmer quiver on the river, Joy is everywhere!

ln our garden in the big oak tree, birds are making a nest for the baby birds to come. It is fun watching the process. On gardening day, we planted snap sugar peas and sweet peas. We will start watering the plants first thing in the morning.

Father Sun is getting stronger. Please send sunscreen and a sun hat. We will start eating snacks outside again.

We also started to make a wooden picture stand. This will be a long-term project.

Thank you very much giving me a week off to go to the Waldorf Teachers’ Conference at Steiner College. This year the focus was on the hands and the connection to the soul. The conference entailed 4 nights and 3 days of intensive workshops and lectures.

The workshop I took from Janet Kellman (former director of early childhood education, now preschool teacher at Live Oak Waldorf School) was especially meaningful. The first thing she asked the participants to understand was what area is most developing.

Age Birth-3: Head. Memory,(ego, sense of “l”)
Age 3-4: Chest area, rhythmic system, trusting
Age 5-7: limb, leg, arms, detailed hand movement

Then we focused on ages 3 and 4. Janet asked us to do a play. Two people were the lungs in the middle. Two people facing the lungs were blood transporting oxygen to the body. Two people were air moving back and forth to supply air to the lungs. We observed what is really developing the 3 and 4 year old body. We noticed the rhythm. We also noticed that after the sense of”l” was established at age 2, age 3 is more social. As the gesture of lungs and blood shows, 3 and 4 year olds begin developing socially -giving and receiving.

On Friday of that week, I had a story telling and Origami open house. Thank you very much for bringing your children and friends. I raised $37, and donated it to the Shriner Hospital. For the pre-school age group, just the story telling (not a puppet show) could be a little harder to make mental pictures. Next time I will try to arrange a puppet show.

If you are interested Treasure Garden summer camp, and/or next years program please let me know.

As most of you know by now, I am going to have a breast biopsy. The date will be March 24th. I am very sorry for the inconvenience. I am also very thankful for your kind words and thoughtfulness. The children are giving me courage and helping me stay in the state of “Now”.

With Love,

KEIKO