Steiner Voices XYZ

Steiner X Dr Luke Fisher has published nine books: five in academic philosophy, two volumes of poetry, and two books of childrens’ stories. Luke grew up in Steiner education, and inspired by vivid story-telling at both school and home, he recalls his imagination being stirred by rich imagery and the power of language. His PhD from the University of Sydney explored the link between the poetry of German poet Rilke and the philosophy of the romantic movement. Luke works as a writer and independent scholar publishing across these seemingly diverse fields. In this episode he discusses the common language of imagination that unites poetry, philosophy and story, a language that he believes takes us to the heart of human creativity. Luke is now a Steiner parent himself, and he begins this episode with a poem he wrote for his daughter as a baby exploring the wonders of her own body: On the Musical Structure of Human Nature.  For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Catherine Pilko is an experienced Kindergarten teacher in Sydney and in this podcast she shares the beautiful first year in a Steiner school that children enjoy in Kindergarten (NSW, ACT), Prep (Qld, Vic, Tas), Reception (SA), Pre-primary (WA) and Transition (NT). Catherine takes us through a typical day, showing the calm, ordered and productive routines that provide a nourishing start to the child’s life at school.  It’s a rich world of learning from everyday life where English, Maths, and even Science outcomes are embedded in practical activities that build independence and personal competence. Self directed play has a central place and Catherine shares touching and amusing stories of the powerful creativity that children can demonstrate when they are allowed a safe and natural play environment. It’s all a profoundly social and character-building foundation to a child’s school journey.   For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Emily Collett teaches Eurythmy at two Steiner schools in Sydney. Her own education included a Major Project on Eurythmy in Year 12, but it after an Honours degree in International Studies at Macquarie University that she committed to a full professional Eurythmy training in Germany. Three years of performing across stages and schools internationally followed, before she returned to Australia to become a qualified teacher. Emily reflects on the new art form of Eurythmy and its powerful ability to embody the inner moods of words and music in movement and gesture. In school, students gain inner capacities of coordination, collaboration and concentration. In performance, audiences move inwardly to the beauty and artistry of the words and music as revealed by the Eurythmists on stage. In short, Emily calls it “gym for the soul”. For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Mary Heard returns to Steiner Voices to discuss screens and how to protect children from the dangers of their addictive use. Although the evidence of the negative impact that screen use has on young people is well established, parents can still feel they are swimming against the tide in a society where screen use for children is so widespread. Screens have an inherently addictive quality designed into them, and Steiner schools have always advised parents to first restrict and then manage their children’s use of phones and digital devices. Mary outlines useful strategies that families take to actively manage screen use, so children can grow up using screens in a responsible and intentional manner. Mary is a long term parent in Steiner schools, and is now a parent educator working with the program Simplicity Parenting: her website has many valuable resources for further reference: maryheardsimplicityparenting.com . For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/

Evan Sanders is Design and Technology teacher at Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School in Sydney. He teaches the artisan subjects where students produce useful and beautiful objects which are so emblematic of Steiner schools. A former Steiner student himself, he values the learning that goes into working with the many different materials in the Steiner curriculum at different ages, from wool, textiles and clay in primary school to wood, metal, glass, stone and more in high school. For Evan, making things is not just about making things. It is also a parable about human development, human resilience and human creativity. When a student makes a useful and beautiful object, they are also making themselves.  For more information about Steiner education: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/⁠⁠ For more information about locations and contact details of Steiner schools: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/schools/⁠⁠  Teacher education and professional learning: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/events/⁠⁠  Working in a Steiner school: ⁠⁠https://steinereducation.edu.au/jobs/#vacancies⁠⁠  Our facebook page is ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/steinereducationaustralia⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/steinereducationaustralia/⁠⁠  The beautifully performed theme music ‘Libertango’ is played by Esther Abrami and Alexandra Whittingham.   Esther’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.estherabrami.com/⁠⁠  Alexandra’s website: ⁠⁠https://www.alexandrawhittingham.com/⁠⁠ Podcast produced by: ⁠⁠https://piccolopodcasts.com.au/