What can we do during this time of isolation and grief? We could see it as an opportunity to practice self-care and embrace productive solitude as we work on strengthening our inner selves for the sake of our communities. 

Form drawing, as it is called, is repetitive drawing of symbols and shapes. This freehand creation of patterns is more about process than product. It is the movement expressed through the drawing that holds the value.

AWSNA Member schools across North America plan to take students outdoors to mitigate transmission risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the true spirit of Waldorf education, our schools seek to not only meet the whole child developmentally, but to meet the immediate and future needs of our communities and our world.

Educators have a unique opportunity to interrupt the cycles of oppression, break down structural prejudice and shape progress in powerful ways. This can be done through increasing student awareness and modeling change within the classroom, the curriculum, the greater school community and education as an institution. We, like most educators, know that we must do better. But how? Where do we begin? 

While distance learning may be more suited towards delivering short term memory learning such as facts, vocabulary lists, or math worksheets, Waldorf educators continue to focus on applying and linking learning concepts to wider experiences. Maintaining this hallmark of Waldorf curriculum is where the creativity with distance learning really comes into play. 

The benefits of providing students with opportunities to volunteer in service to community has a far-reaching impact -- not only to the recipient but on the students themselves. Giving back empowers students, broadens their worldview, and strengthens their connection to the peers they serve and in the larger community.