Summer Waldorf Teacher Training Program: Early Childhood In-Service option

Rudolf Steiner College is pleased to offer a professional development course for practicing Waldorf Early Childhood teachers and assistants. This program is designed for those who have familiarity with Waldorf education and have worked at least one year in an approved Waldorf early childhood setting, under a trained, experienced Waldorf teacher. This program offers a solid philosophical, artistic and practical training for those wishing to work with children in Waldorf early childhood programs, including parent/infant, parent/child, nursery and kindergarten settings.

The full course is designed to include portions of the Summer Foundation Courses, and includes early childhood development, Waldorf early childhood pedagogy and practical activities, as well as the arts. In addition, each student will be assigned a master teacher as a mentor, to provide consultation and support in child development and ongoing teacher development. A nourishing component of the program is the relationship which develops among classmates who are also currently teaching.

Course Prerequisites

• A.A. or A.S. degree (or 60 college credits) from an accredited college or university.

• At least one year working in an approved Waldorf early childhood setting under a trained, experienced Waldorf teacher. The student must continue working in an early childhood setting throughout the training.

Program Overview

This is a three year program that follows the following format:  

Year 1

• A 3.5-week summer session in Fair Oaks, CA (the first 8 days of which are Summer Foundation Courses)

• Continuing coursework through the fall and spring, to include observation and mentoring

Year 2

• A 3.5-week summer session in Fair Oaks, CA (the first 8 days of which are Summer Foundation Courses)

• A one-week fall session including Foundation Courses  in Fair Oaks, CA

• Continuing coursework through the fall and spring, to include observation and mentoring

Year 3

• A 3-week summer session in Fair Oaks, CA

Summer session classes are from 8 am until as late as 9 pm for the Foundations courses, and 8 pm until 6 pm for the curriculum courses, Monday through Friday and some weekends. The fall session (in the second year only) occurs over a long weekend (Friday – Tuesday) with classes from 8 AM till 6 PM.

Students of this program join the Summer Foundation Courses for their first two summers (which comprise the first 8 days of the 3.5 week summer sessions), and then complete their foundation courses during the week-long fall session in the second year (plus additional online elements in between sessions).

*In some cases, equivalency will be granted for foundation coursework done at another institution. This requires an assessment, transcripts, and documentation of equivalency. Please contact Admissions for more information.

This program begins on June 20, 2013. For students in Year 3, or those with completed foundation courses, the summer session begins on June 30, 2013.

Topics of study include the following:

Early Childhood Development • Rudolf Steiner's Foundations - Human Experience • Philosophy of Freedom • Anthroposophical Home Care • Medical Aspects • Storytelling and Fairy Tales • Topics in Anthroposophy • Circle Activities • Handwork • Festivals and the Cycle of the Year • Gardening • Painting and Drawing • Child Observation • Biography and Life Cycles •  Outline of Esoteric Science and Spiritual Hierarchies • Inner Life of the Teacher • Speech • Puppetry and Marionettes • Domestic Activities • Creative Play • Music for the Young Child • Eurythmy

Culmination

Successful completion of this program leads to a Waldorf Teaching Diploma with a concentration in early childhood. An M.A. option is available*.

How to Apply

For information about the Admissions process, Tuition and Fees, and Financial Aid, go to our Admissions page or contact us.

Program Director

Lauren R. Hickman, MA directs all early childhood programs at Rudolf Steiner College and is the Early Childhood Department Chair. Lauren is a passionate advocate for young children and their families. She holds a M.A. in Education from Touro University, an Early Childhood Teaching Diploma from Rudolf Steiner College, a B.A. in International Relations from U.C. Davis and an A.A. in Chemistry from American River College. An alumna of the Sacramento Waldorf School, she has been a Waldorf Educator for over twenty years, as a Parent-Infant, Parent-Child, Nursery and Kindergarten Teacher. She is a former Waldorf school administrator and has served on several non-profit boards. Lauren is an early childhood mentor and a Licensed Preschool Director. One of Lauren's particular interests is bringing Waldorf education into everyday life, by teaching parenting classes to homeless mothers, working with at risk families and bringing festivals, puppetry and storytelling to the greater community.

*M.A. in Waldorf Education: The Master of Arts in Education with a Concentration in Waldorf Education from Rudolf Steiner College has been reviewed and found acceptable by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), by which Rudolf Steiner College was awarded Candidacy for Accreditation as of 3/08/12. RSC has institutional approval. For further information, please visitwww.steinercollege.edu and click on Admissions, College Catalogue. See section four of the Catalogue for requirements and course descriptions. If you would like one of our faculty or staff to contact you about our MA options, please e-mail rsc@steinercollege.edu.

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