“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17
Slöyd is about shaping the character of children through the process of working with their hands.
Slöyd is Swedish for “skill” or “craft.” Developed in 19th century Sweden, the curriculum uses intentional and directed hand tool woodworking to develop character temperaments necessary for learning and flourishing. Our class is guided by those original lessons practiced in an environment of Christian love.
Slöyd is not trade school. It is not “shop class” as commonly understood. Slöyd engages children’s body, mind, and spirit toward the good, the true, and the beautiful. Using traditional hand tools to make useful objects, Slöyd develops temperaments of patience, perseverance, confidence, concentration, stewardship, and joy in work. Slöyd encourages children to do their best work without striving for perfection. Mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow. Children are often challenged to “try again” to discover for themselves their limitations and especially their possibilities.
Slöyd begins with simple models and tasks, proceeding toward greater complexity and skill. Teaching is individualized, with each student working at their own pace, ability, and aptitude. The classroom atmosphere strives for focused attention on the work, as well as encouragement from teachers and peers. This individualized learning means that class sessions do not need to be divided rigidly by age.
Slöyd also has many cross-curricular benefits, touching on subjects such as engineering, math, forestry, biology, botany, art, design, music, reading, and history, among many others.
Class Structure
- Class is for students ages 7 – 14 *
- Maximum of four (4) students per class session
- Class length is 75 minutes
Cost: Classes are $40 for each session with scholarships available for St Paul member children.
Summer Slöyd at St. Paul begins Tuesday, June 24th.
Classes will be:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 AM, 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM
- Wednesdays at 10 AM and 11:30 AM
- Alternating Saturdays at 9 AM and 10:30 AM beginning on June 28th.
The last summer class will be Saturday, August 9th.
*Classes can have children of different ages at the same time. If your child is older or younger than 7-14, you may inquire with the instructor as to their suitability for the class.
Instructor – Steve Schwolert. Learn about Steve at our faculty page here. Contact him at steve.schwolert@stpaulaustin.org