Faculty Spotlight, Kindergarten: Raina Curtin
Raina Curtin
What Class Do you Teach?
Kindergarten in the Birch Tree room.
What is the age range of the children in your class?
About 4.5 through age 6.5.
How did you arrive at the Minnesota Waldorf School and what is your educational background?
I moved to Minnesota about 20 years ago to teach at the Spring Hill Waldorf School in Excelsior. I was recently graduated from my Waldorf teacher training and post training, EC movement therapeutic programs in the San Francisco bay area, CA where I'm from. I was teaching at the Peninsula Waldorf School there the previous 3 years. When the Spring Hill School sadly closed, I started my own home program which was quite successful! Then found our way to Minnesota Waldorf where my children also attended.
The Waldorf philosophy of education focuses on the whole child. What does this mean to you?
This means that we look at not just meeting exterior, pre disposed bench markers of success. We are trained and passionate to see the childs WHOLE self. Who they really are to the best of our ability. We work quite close to all of our families as well. Everyone learns at their own pace. And teaching only to certain parts of the brain does not reach a growing person's potential. We aim to teacher through genuine curiosity and awaken inspiration and critical thinking in ways that really make sense to the young child. Through this lens and other magical ways - we see children get so curious and excited for future learning. We live to let children be children. It really is such a flash of time with the most impact
How do you approach conflict or challenging moments with young children?
We teach emotional regulation through in the moment guidance. Showing how both sides can participate in making a an uncomfortable situation feel good, true and safe. Sometimes redirection helps, sometimes a quick anecdotal story or entering an activity with a teacher can help too.
We get to know the children so well and get to learn potential triggers and aim to prevent them the best we can.
What activities do you enjoy bringing to your classroom?
I love singing through the day! I especially enjoy bringing and enriching circle with beautiful movements, seasonal songs and poems and even humor when appropriate. Gosh.. I love it all.. the crafts, the stories, our home-cooked snacks and ask the free play too!
What is your favorite time of year?
No surprise that I find a deep connection with all the seasons in one way or another, however autumn really speaks to my soul.
What is your favorite children's book?
Apple cake is one of my all time favorite books!
Ms. Raina is one of three Kindergarten Teachers at The Minnesota Waldorf School, thank you Ms. Raina for taking the time to share your work with us!