First Grade Support Program

Designed for children entering first grade who would benefit from daily individual support to help them be more resilient and successful in the classroom. This program brings together medical and educational streams to create an individualized program to address developmental needs and polarities within the child. This program is guided by anthroposophical therapies and philosophies to support the child. The healing power of movement, color, rhythm, simplicity, nature, collaboration, and working with the foundational senses (touch, life, balance, and movement) are emphasized.

The Program Includes:

• Daily individual support
• Collaborative work with an anthroposophical doctor
• Collaborative meetings with teachers, parents, doctor, and   other support people in the child’s life throughout the year.
• Support for parents

Daily Individual Support

The child will receive daily support during the school day with a variety of therapies determined by their needs. Therapies may include Extra Lesson, Chirophonetics, Rhythmical Massage, Colorpuncture, Reflex Integration work, Gardening/Chores/Woodworking, Equine Therapy and Main Lesson support. Therapies can be combined or presented in blocks separately. For more information about these therapies click on the Therapies tab.

Collaborative Work with an Anthroposophical Doctor

Anthroposophical medicine is practiced by conventionally trained doctors who have undergone additional specialized training, learning a broad array of natural medicines and therapies. It brings deeper insight into the care of the whole human being. This program gives parents and teachers the opportunity to work long distance with Dr. Adam Blanning, an anthroposophical pediatrician.

Collaborative Meetings
with Support People

At regular intervals throughout the school year all those involved in working with the child and the parents will meet to discuss progress and to refine the program and support measures. These support circle meetings will help provide a cohesive, evolving program for your child.

Support for Parents

Parenting in the best of circumstances is challenging. Parenting children with past trauma, developmental needs, and/or health needs is all the more challenging. This program offers parents support in order to help them be at their best when their child is at their worst. We will meet monthly to discuss challenges and look for ways to support the parents. We will work with Kim John Payne’s books Simplicity Parenting and Soul of Discipline, taking up what ideas seem doable for the parents. Parents will also have the opportunity to receive Rhythmical Massage on a monthly basis if they would like. In addition, we may practice the Compassionate Response Meditation developed by Kim John Payne, to help parents become less reactive in their parenting.