It might be a truism and needless to say that all teachers should make efforts to understand their students. Real understanding is a sure foundation and support for children's healthy development, without which lessons will be random and connect with the students only superficially. Skilled teachers try to understand their students so they can lift learning beyond mere compulsion and drills. Rudolf Steiner's ideal was the weekly pedagogical meetings in Waldorf schools to support the teachers' developing insight into their students. He exhorted them to "become psychologists," though not in the sense commonly understood. He demonstrated the "art of evolving insight" himself during faculty meetings in which he participated. It is an essential to the quality of any teacher's work to develop skills of perception, reflection, and insight. Christof Wiechert presents Rudolf Steiner's guidelines anew. He elaborates the art of child study as a key tool for nurturing student development, as well as the teacher's growing powers of insight. In short, the approach described here can enliven and support the educational and social dimensions of a whole school community.

18 lectures in Dornach, January 9 - February 22, 1920 (CW 196) In the vast range of Rudolf Steiner's lectures, jewels of all kinds lie hidden in plain sight, awaiting only our discovery of them. Such lectures contain a kind of wisdom not found anywhere else. And sometimes, as in What Is Necessary in These Urgent Times, they also have a translucency and conviction that makes them transformational. In early 1920, political, economic, social, and spiritual chaos was everywhere. The old world had fallen apart and would need to be rebuilt. Anthroposophy, too, had to be remade. Recognizing this, Rudolf Steiner tirelessly working for the "threefold social order," establishing the first Waldorf school, helping to create businesses, and addressing the talented, educated, and idealistic young people who were beginning to turn toward Anthroposophy for answers. In these lectures, Steiner speaks in the new, direct "Michaelic" way, seeking the path to a new way of doing Anthroposophy. Throughout the critical situation of the time, he never lost his sense of humor or his compassion and equilibrium. His tone is warm, relaxed, and intimate. Rather than following a strictly predetermined path, he speaks directly from the heart about what concerned him. He stresses that the task of spiritual science is to awaken us to reality and to a true understanding of life that sees through illusions and understands the ever-present potential of evil. Speaking both esoterically and exoterically, he returns repeatedly to the importance of community, of meeting one another face-to-face, heart-to-heart, as individuals. Thus, rather than seeking power and control, we are called to cultivate trust and receptivity. This takes a spiritual transformation. We must learn to live this present life in the context of our greater spiritual life, which extends from before birth through earthly life and into the life after death that precedes our next birth. At the same time, we must come to know the Christ, who is to be met only in community. Selfishness, egotism, has no part in the new way: "When someone is alone Christ is not there. You cannot find Christ without first feeling a connection to humanity as a whole. You must seek Christ on the path that connects you with all humankind.... To be connected only with your own inner experiences leads you away from Christ." Steiner deals with many other important themes, as well, including "imperialism," the initiate behind Shakespeare, Bacon, and James I--makers of our modern age--and well as fascinating, initiatory remarks on reincarnation, esoteric physiology, and psychology. Running throughout the talks is the earnest admonition to be true to the spirit and the call to come to our senses and not fall prey to self-pity. Now, as it was then, the world needs us to be awake spiritually, and we need the world to be awake spiritually. There is nowhere to hide. What Is Necessary in These Urgent Times is a translation from German of Geisitige und soziale Wandlungen in der Menschheitsentwikelung (GA 196).

How can teachers develop best practice in art teaching? This fully updated third edition of Rob Barnes’ classic text blends practical ideas with sound principles of art education. Teachers and student teachers will find a range of ideas and tried and tested classroom examples; whilst for those looking for firm principles of art teaching and ‘best practice’ this book presents many important issues in art education with clarity and insight. Based on first-hand experience of teaching children, this text uses many examples from early years and primary school contexts, and tackles essential topics with realism and imagination such as: developing skills through using media how children draw encouraging artistic confidence in children producing original artwork and making use of digital imagery Rob Barnes’ unique approach encourages teachers to develop and think about art as part of a rich curriculum of learning, highlighting how it shouldn’t be taught in isolation but with purposeful links to other areas of the curriculum.

For over four decades, Ruskin Mill Trust has worked with young people with special educational needs and behavioural issues who learn traditional crafts and organic farming as part of an integrated curriculum of therapeutic education, overcoming barriers to learning and re-engaging with the wider world. This accessible and inspiring book showcases how an appreciation of place, traditional crafts, farming and transformative education offers a wider route to human well-being for all. The authors outline the different fields of the “Practical Skills Therapeutic Education” method, which includes developing practical skills, learning the ecology of the farm and understanding therapeutic education, holistic care, health and self-leadership. Taking the reader on a tour of Ruskin Mill’s many extraordinary provisions across Britain, and going deeper in conversation with its founder, Aonghus Gordon, this book is an outstanding story of creative thinking in an age of narrow focus on classrooms and written examinations, presenting a transformative perspective on education and care. Being grounded in work supporting young people with complex additional needs, it provides a rare insight into the work of one of the world’s leading charities working with neurodiversity. With its non-specialist language, Place, Craft and Neurodiversity offers ideas and resources for work in different areas of education and therapy. It will inspire parents, educators and care workers around the globe.

"Interactive book: download the Blippar app to activate!"--Cover.

This second edition of a classic and popular book includes new chapters, figures and colour plates. The book blends practical ideas with sound principles of art education. For the teacher or trainee-teacher looking for ideas, there are plenty of tested classroom examples. For those looking for firm principles of art teaching and 'best practice', this book presents many important issues in art education with clarity and insight. Based on first-hand experience of teaching children, the book uses many examples from the school situation. Essential topics, such as developing skills through using media, how children draw, producing original artwork, developing ideas and Art and the digital image are tackled with realism and imagination. An important feature is that these subjects are not seen in isolation but are purposefully linked with other areas of the curriculum. The author's approach should encourage teachers to develop and think about art in the National Curriculum. His writing shows a deep sympathy with children and sensitivity to the real task of teaching art to the young.

Liza, Bill, and Jed Roberts unravel a series of coded clues that solve a family mystery while spending the summer on their grandparents' farm. Reissue.