Our lineup of online events are open to all, as we aim to highlight the benefits of Waldorf education. For more on all happenings at The Denver Waldorf School, please refer to our school calendar.
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First Grade Readiness Q&A
November 29, 2022 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Learn more about elementary school academics, assessments, and how Waldorf education prepares children for the future. Ideal for parents of preschool and kindergarten students, this Q&A will be led by long-time Waldorf educator and student evaluation specialist Faustina Pfister.
Date: Tuesday, November 29th, 2022
Time: 4-5pm
Location: DWS First Grade Classroom (2100 S Pennsylvania, Denver, CO 80210)
Please register to reserve a seat.
Childcare will be provided through our aftercare program. Please sign up through BigSIS if you have a currently enrolled student or email Ben Katz at benkatz@denverwaldorf.org if you have a prospective student. All students must be at least 3.5 years old and toileting independently.
What You’ll Learn
Our faculty will answer common questions about:
- The transition from kindergarten to 1st grade and the first grade readiness process and evaluation
- Specific pedagogical elements of the first grade, presented by Magally Luna (current first grade teacher)
- Why a strong foundation positively sets up children to excel in the lower grades (1-4) curriculum, presented by Jessie Cartwright (current third grade teacher)
Specifically, our faculty will cover why we do a readiness screening (versus solely going by birth date as in public school), and how to look at physical development, but also neurological development as shown through body movement and integration, spatial perception and orientation in space, and memory. Additionally, in Waldorf we strive to develop a holistic picture of each child in these realms plus speech and listening capacities and social/emotional maturity as well. Therefore, we’ll describe the “Why?” of readiness screenings and provide some examples of the “What?” each child experiences during the screening,
About Our First Grade Program
First grade is a child’s introduction to the collective being of a class. We nurture a deep reverence for the earth, compassion for classmates, and a healthy respect for every living thing.
From knitting to numbers, fairy tales to falling leaves, we help first graders discover the wonders of our world and understand the rhythm of life. This year is the beginning of a multi-year relationship with their teacher.
About Waldorf Educator Faustina Pfister
Faustina Pfister has been a teacher at The Denver Waldorf school for over 20 years. She started as a teacher in the kindergarten, then became a grades teacher 1-8. She is a certified in a variety of therapeutic modalities including Brain Gym, Handle, BRMT reflex integration, and executive function. When she left teaching, she went on to complete a certification in the Extra Lesson, an anthroposophical approach to curative education based on Audrey McAllen’s work. Supporting students who are non-traditional learners has been the main focus of my teaching. Currently, she works with students one-on-one and conduct screenings.
About The Denver Waldorf School
The Denver Waldorf School is an urban pre-K through 12 independent school in Colorado. Founded in 1974 on Rudolf Steiner’s humanitarian curriculum, DWS believes education should foster what it is to be human, cultivate lifelong curiosity, and inspire a love for the world. We are currently enrolling for in-person learning:
Want to learn more about us? Schedule an in-person tour of our Denver campus or join us online during our virtual events.
Register to Reserve a Seat
Before the Q&A
Please review the following webinar and this brief document on the 23-24 First Grade Readiness Process two weeks prior to the event.
