The Art of Waldorf Education - Rudolf Steiner College

28 ABOUT RUDOLF STEINER COLLEGEABOUT RUDOLF STEINER COLLEGE29RUDO L FS T EINERCOLLEGEAs one of America’s leading Waldorf TeacherEducation Colleges, Rudolf Steiner Collegeis a center for transformative adult educationand anthroposophical studies. Programs areinspired by the work of Rudolf Steiner (18.61-1925), an Austrian philosopher, scientist, andeducator. His innovative ideas and discoverieshave inspired a wide spectrum of practicalactivities worldwide—in the arts, banking,architecture, medicine, agriculture, care of thedisabled, and education.Located on a beautiful thirteen-acrecampus in Fair Oaks, California, just eastof Sacramento, Rudolf Steiner College offersstudents a wide range of full-time and parttimeeducational opportunities includingWaldorf teacher education (with an MAoption), eurythmy, biodynamic education,anthroposophical studies, and personalenrichment classes. The campus includes abookstore, dining hall, biodynamic gardenand orchard, a performance hall, a studenthousingcomplex, and a LifeWays Children’sCenter. Our campus has an extension centerin San Francisco, California.Foundation andWaldorf TeacherEducation ProgramsPrograms offered in 2012-2013 are listedbelow. A description of each program can befound at www.steinercollege.edu by clickingon Admissions, College Catalogue. SectionSix of the Catalogue lists course requirements,descriptions, and more.Foundation ProgramClasses begin September 4, 2012.The full-time September through MayFoundation Program is a creative gateway intothe work of Rudolf Steiner and the world viewof anthroposophy (the wisdom of becominghuman). It is a full-time program of discovery,personal growth, self-transformation, andpractical activity leading toward professionsthat renew culture and heal the earth. TheFoundation Program provides tools to gaindeeper insights into the meaning of life onearth, and pathways to help individualsachieve creativity, freedom, and greatercapacity to love. For those preparing tobecome Waldorf teachers—kindergarten,grades, or high school—the FoundationProgram fulfills the prerequisite for all of ourWaldorf Teacher Education programs.The Foundation Program includes coursesfocusing on the humanities, arts, and sciences,and explores the path of inner developmentdescribed by Rudolf Steiner. Intensive workin the visual arts (drawing, painting, andmodeling) and performing arts (eurythmy,music, speech, and drama) helps each studentbring forth latent capacities and awakenartistic perception essential to many areas ofhuman life and vocation, including that ofteaching.Waldorf Teacher Education(Full-Time)Classes begin September 4, 2012.Prerequisite: Foundation Program courses.Allows future Waldorf teachers to develop theimagination, perception, and skills neededto meet the growing child with care andunderstanding. In addition to the academicand artistic curriculum, coursework includes:strengthening inner life; child development;philosophy; pedagogical lectures; and practiceteaching in a Waldorf classroom. Studentschoose a focus of early childhood or grades.The high school curriculum is offered eachsummer. Culminates in a Certificate inWaldorf Teacher Education. A state-approved,non-accredited MA option is available.Early Childhood Teacher EducationOur early childhood programs are based onthe latest research and our understanding ofthe need to protect the wonder of childhood,including the child’s right to learn throughcreative play. The curriculum is focused ondevelopmentally appropriate caregiving andeducation with emphasis on the young child’sphysical, emotional, and mental health.Students learn activities that help fosterenthusiastic learning, intellectual growth,self-esteem, and social responsibility. Practiceteaching in a Waldorf classroom offersopportunities to enhance classroom skills,gain self-confidence through mentoring, andunderstand the complex responsibilities ofbecoming a Waldorf teacher.Grades Teacher EducationTeacher education for the grades in additionto studies of child development also includes agreater emphasis on the curriculum, pedagogy,methodology, creative integration of thearts, and practical aspects such as classroommanagement. Practice teaching in a Waldorfclassroom offers opportunities to enhanceclassroom skills, gain self-confidence throughmentoring, and understand the complexresponsibilities of becoming a Waldorf teacher.Waldorf Teacher Education(Part-Time)Weekend/Summer Waldorf TeacherEducation Program in San FranciscoClasses begin September 14, 2012.Three-year, weekend/summer program forthose living in the greater San Francisco BayArea. Combines Foundation Studies andWaldorf Teacher Education—meeting Fridayevenings and Saturday mornings, September–May, with three-week, full-time summersessions in Fair Oaks for each of the threeyears. During the summer, students choosea focus of early childhood, grades, or highschool. Seven weeks of classroom observationand practice teaching are also included.The program culminates in a Certificate inWaldorf Teacher Education. A state-approved,non-accredited MA option is available.Summer Waldorf Teacher Education forEarly Childhood, Grades, or High SchoolClasses begin June 21, 2012.Three summers—four weeks each summer,Monday–Friday. The first week of Foundationcourses are included in all three years,although there is an option for studentswho have completed Foundation courserequirements set by the College. The programinvites teachers in any school setting—Waldorf, charter, or private—to learn together.Enriched by a diversity of experiences,participants can develop the mutual supportand understanding that translate into apositive impact on American education.Each student will have a mentor who willprovide support over the training period, andwill observe the student in the classroom.Although this program is primarily for thosealready in the classroom, exceptions are madeby application review. For those not currentlyteaching, field experience will be arranged in aWaldorf school. The emphasis of the programwill be on practical application of Waldorfpedagogy, which participants will be able toput into practice if they are currently teaching.