Renewal Online Eigth Grade
Week 2 — Online July 6 – Friday, July 10, 2026 From your own chosen location REGISTER NOW Preparing for Eighth Grade Online with Sonya Schewe Eighth grade marks the culmination of the elementary school journey and the full immersion into adolescence. Students arrive with a growing sense of self, curiosity, and responsibility, ready to deepen their understanding of history, science, and the arts while stepping into leadership roles within their school community. This pivotal year is an opportunity to support students as they synthesize knowledge, develop judgment, and strengthen social and academic skills. What Makes Eighth Grade Unique? Eighth graders are navigating adolescence with increasing independence and critical thinking. They are ready to tackle more complex ideas, take personal initiative, and see themselves as active participants in their learning and community. This year invites teachers to meet students’ intellectual curiosity and moral questioning with a curriculum that balances challenge, relevance, and creative engagement. What This Course Covers This Renewal Course equips teachers with tools, insights, and inspiration for guiding students through this transformative year: Revolutions in History From the American and French Revolutions to the Industrial Revolution and the U.S. Civil War Explore pivotal historical events while connecting them to students’ personal growth and emerging leadership Biographies of Change-Makers Examine diverse figures who embody courage, innovation, and social responsibility Inspire students to see the possibilities of action and agency in their own lives Science Through Hands-On Exploration Engage with Meteorology, Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics through experiments and observation Support students’ growing capacity for abstract thought and practical application Language Arts and Artistic Expression Develop storytelling, creative writing, and analytical skills Incorporate drawing, painting, and other visual arts to foster both skill and imaginative development Classroom Practices and Teacher Guidance Practical strategies for lesson planning, classroom management, and student engagement Approaches for integrating diverse perspectives, fostering discussion, and supporting developmental needs What You’ll Gain Practical techniques for hands-on science experiments and artistic projects Strategies to weave diverse voices and perspectives into history and language arts Insights into adolescent development and how the curriculum supports growth in thinking, social awareness, and leadership A wealth of resources to keep students engaged, inspired, and ready for the transition into high school Who Should Attend This course is ideal for classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, online educators, and anyone preparing to teach eighth grade within a Waldorf-inspired framework. Both new and experienced teachers will find meaningful guidance, practical resources, and collegial support. Additional Course Offerings This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, and Teaching Science in Grade 8 with Will Minehart—offering practical, inspiring ways to integrate the arts, rhythm, creativity, and hands-on scientific exploration into your classroom and your own inner life practice. Join us to create a meaningful and impactful eighth-grade experience—one that honors the culmination of the elementary years while preparing students to step confidently into the next stage of their learning journey. Sonya Schewe has a BA from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, in Sociology and Anthropology. She earned her M.Ed. from Antioch University New England, where she also received her Waldorf teacher certification in 2008. Sonya is in her nineteenth year at the Cincinnati Waldorf School teaching as a class teacher. She took her first class grades 1-8, her second class 3-8, and is currently in her fifth grade year with a class she started with in first grade. Prior to working at the Cincinnati Waldorf School, she worked as a kindergarten assistant at the Briar Rose School in Columbus, Ohio. She has been involved in Waldorf education and anthroposophy for twenty years. Sonya is the mother of three amazing children, she teaches belly dancing, she dabbles in the fiber arts, she loves drawing portraits, and loves to spend time outside in nature. Sonya Schewe Included with all Online Renewal Courses: Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell Leading Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa plus Teaching Science in Grades 6, 7, & 8 with Will Minehart Meg O’Dell loves helping people access their innate capacity for wellness, vitality, and connection. She does this as a somatic coach, supporting individuals and couples in growth, transformation, and healing, and also as a music teacher and vocal mentor. She teaches music at The Bay School, a Waldorf school on the coast of Maine, and leads a large intergenerational all-comers chorus called Misty Mountain Singers. Meg serves as faculty for Antioch University’s Waldorf Teacher Training and CfA’s Waldorf High School Teacher Education Programs. She is a regular instructor for CfA’s the Renewal Courses and introductory Explorations program, and she has taught with LifeWays North America. She received her M.Ed. from Antioch University New England in 2008. Her great joys include spending time with her growing children and visiting the small, misty mountain that rises out of the sea near their home. Meg O’Dell Narsingh Khalsa is a Waldorf educator and artist with a degree in Education from Prescott College and teacher training from Sunbridge Institute. Currently teaching a combined 2nd and 3rd grade class at the Waldorf School of Princeton, Narsingh brings 18 years of experience teaching fine arts to students from 1st through 12th grade. Passionate about creativity, she enjoys making children’s books, developing Waldorf curriculum for homeschoolers and teachers, and engaging in handwork. Outside the classroom, Narsingh loves hiking, yoga, and exploring the beauty of nature. Narsingh Khalsa Will Minehart’s interest in the natural sciences began during his early youth in rural Pennsylvania, where he spent much of his time hunting, fishing, and birdwatching. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Bucknell University, then pursued Ornithological Research and Environmental Education before meeting his wife, starting a family, and becoming a full-time teacher. Before becoming a Waldorf teacher in 2014, he taught science in public high school and was an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. Will currently teaches sciences to grades 6-12 at High Mowing School in New Hampshire. Will Minehart Community Gatherings Online For all Renewal Participants, Monday, July