Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, California: Waldorf Teacher Education



	Foundation Year Waldorf Teacher Education Early Childhood San Francisco Teacher Education Los Altos Teacher Education Waldorf Administration Consciousness Studies Nature & Art for Japanese
		Summer Teacher Education Early Childhood Track This is an intensive course designed for students who have completed or are currently enrolled in a foundation year at Rudolf Steiner College or have completed the equivalent studies. The course time is three - five weeks for four summers. Each student will be mentored by a master teacher during this program. Completion of the training programs leads to a certificate.

	The Early childhood teacher in a Waldorf School must acquire skills playing simple musical instruments, singing, and dancing games. Movement activities for both indoor and outdoor play will be developed. Storytelling techniques as well as speech are essential skills. Celebrating the festivals with children as well as parent groups is a vital part of the early childhood curriculum. The early childhood student will develop the ability to create and maintain a beautiful and hygienic early childhood environment.
	Curriculum for Nursery & Kindergarten • Circle Time Activities • Music for the Young Child • Early Childhood Handcrafts • Puppetry for the Young Child • Marionettes for the Young Child • The Cycle of the Year: Celebrating Festivals
				Early Childhood Development In a Waldorf School early childhood is a period of life from birth to seven years. Teachers working with young children need to have a thorough understanding of the developmental stages which occur during these years. Teachers must not only understand this development, they must be able to articulate the principles to parents. It is necessary for student teachers to become familiar with the child's development in the areas of social, physical, cognitive, and emotional growth. This course will also include a class which surveys the medical and remedial perspectives of Early Childhood.


	• Child Development: Birth to Seven Years • Development of the Senses • Movement in the Early Childhood Classrooms • The Medical Perspective of Child Development
			Parent Work, Working with Colleagues and Record Keeping Early Childhood Teachers are often the first contact parents make when they come to a Waldorf School. Students must be able to welcome and communicate effectively with these parents. These course are designed to help teachers in their relationship with parents as well as colleagues.
	• Record Keeping • Parent Conferences • Parent Night and Festivals with Adults • Writing Reports • Working with Assistants and Colleagues
	Creating and keeping an Environment of Truth, Goodness and Beauty The Waldorf Nursery or Kindergarten classroom is a unique environment. Students will develop an understanding of what makes a healthy environment for the young child. They will learn the necessary elements to include in a classroom. Students will have opportunities to select and work with colors and substances in creating play spaces and nature tables.

	• Living Forces of Nature • Keeping the Kindergarten Environment • Developing a Children's Garden • Plant Dying Homework Homework will be assigned in three categories: 1. Reading will be assigned to prepare for each summer class 2. Child observation and classroom observations will also be assigned each year. 3. The third aspect of the home assignments consists of preparing a personal record. Mentoring Each student is assigned a mentor who is a master teacher in the field for Waldorf early childhood education. There will be metor's visits to the student's classroom, and telephone conversations and ongoing objective feedback from the mentor will be offered during the training course. Admissions For information about becoming a student and our admissions process please contact the RSC office or click here: admissions.
		Faculty Peggy Alessandri · BA Director of Early Childhood Education Peggy has been an educator for thirty-five years and a Waldorf Kindergarten teacher for over twenty-five years. She is currently on the faculty of Rudolf Steiner College teaching in the many Early Childhood programs, and helping to develop components of the summer program and Family Ways Course.
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