Waldorf School of New Orleans is proud to announce its Fall Library Line Up featuring storyteller Jane Dorfman and children's book author Jewel Parker Rhodes.
"We are excited to bring an incredible mix of authors, poets, and storytellers to our students," says WSNO Librarian Lesley Rubenstein.
Waldorf education's approach to reading follows the path of child development. Reading and writing preparedness starts in kindergarten, not with an introduction to the letters of the alphabet, but with knitting and puppet shows. How do knitting an puppet shows prepare a child to read? Knitting develops dexterity, so fingers are ready for writing, and puppet shows exercise imagination and stretch attention span, so minds are well prepped for reading comprehension. The mechanics of reading are introduced in First Grade through stories, at an age when the human brain is primed for the work of reading. At that point, students are able to experience quick success in reading and appreciate its true rewards - and that's what makes lifelong readers.
Fall Library Line Up
Jane Dorfman - October 22 & 24
Jane tells tales of dutiful daughters and wise women, faithful sons and wicked kings, of magic skipping ropes and Irish heroes, of the angel Elijah and the fools of Chelm, of trick animals and clever kids. She tells personal stories about her New Orleans childhood and her Bethesda, Maryland neighbors, her favorite being "Daddy's on the Roof and He's Got the Ax." She is a Children's Librarian and knows the importance of reading and listening. Her children's programs are age-appropriate, and for the younger ones, build in lots of opportunities to join in the telling. Jane loves stories that carry the listener away. The world has an amazing heritage of stories and Jane wants to pass them on.
Jewell Parker Rhodes - November 15 Jewell has published five children’s books: the Louisiana Girls Trilogy of Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic; Towers Falling; and most recently the New York Times bestseller and #1 Kids’ Indie Next Pick Ghost Boys. When she’s not writing, she’s visiting schools to talk about her books with the kids who read them, or teaching writing at Arizona State University, where she is the Piper Endowed Chair and Founding Artistic Director of the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing.