Theater Arts
One of the Arts frequently drawn upon in Waldorf Education is that of Drama. In this extended cross-class course the full range of the Theater Arts will be developed in all aspects of preparation and production.
Curriculum Drawing 5 -8
Blackboard drawing, as well as further practice in the different techniques applied in Waldorf schools, will be our focus.
Recorder
Waldorf teachers – no matter whether they teach in the grades, early childhood or high school – will find the art of recorder playing both useful and enlivening. Basic music notation and playing for enjoyment also helps develop the musical sense for prospective teachers.
Painting Research
Painting is a vital part of child’s experience in the Waldorf curriculum, and is practiced from early childhood through high school. This course is an introduction towards experiencing and approaching this important skill.
Speech
The new art of creative speech seeks to involve language with the poetic element that naturally belongs to it. Healthy breathing techniques and fundamentals of poetry will be included. Individual instruction and independent practice will also be required. There is an emphasis on the three speech elements in order to establish style in recitation and storytelling.
Handwork
Dexterity of hand often translates itself into practical classroom applications, and therefore is of the essence for prospective teachers.
TDII - Pedagogical Conceptual Courses
Man as a Symphony
Discussion of these lectures will provide the context for examining the study of zoology, botany, mineralogy, biology and geography in the context of ecology. Course work will include block and lesson planning.
Waldorf Administration for Teachers
This course will explore aspects of working administratively in a Waldorf School. Topics will include Rudolf Steiner’s three-fold social order in society and its relationship to Waldorf education, leadership styles and decision making models, Waldorf School “self-administration,” evaluation, mentoring and supervision, communication and working with conflict. Special attention will be given to the anthroposophical and spiritual task of administration in a Waldorf School. The course will not prescribe how to manage or administer a school; rather engage participants’ thinking towards the question of how a school organization functions as a living organism.
Foundations of Educational Support
This course is intended to help future teachers to detect and deal with possible learning difficulties in students ranging from early childhood through high school, with the concentration on the early grades and exercises that can be used for the whole class. This will be done keeping in mind the development of the child according to Rudolf Steiner, via movement, reading, drawing and painting. No book is required. Each student will present their findings from a guided child observation. Students will also be asked to fully participate and practice all movement, drawing and painting skills presented.
Science In this course we will study the science blocks taught in Waldorf schools from grades 1-8, with a view to what is age-appropriate, and developmentarily necessary. We will explore samples of lesson content from each block, teacher preparation, lesson structure, and appropriate expectations of students. Participants will be asked to prepare a sample lesson from one of the blocks covered in the course.
Block Rotation and Lesson Planning
This course is focused on deepening the student’s understanding of principles of block and lesson planning. Each student will present a plan that they will use in their teaching practice. Key ideas from the Study of Man, Practical Advice to Teachers, Discussions with Teachers and the Child Development class will be referred to. Course work will be focused on presentation and discussion. Each student will be required to keep a binder detailing their plans and discussion notes.
Teacher Development II Observation
Additionally, 24 hours of classroom observation are required for the teacher development II student. Six weeks of student teaching are required to complete the training.
TEACHER DEVELOPMENT II
