grade school teacher preparation

 Waldorf grade school teachers provide their students with a rich educational experience that integrates movement, art, and music into each day to engage their students in active learning. Children are guided to develop strong social-emotional, problem-solving and creative thinking skills. 
WTI’s Grade School Program is designed to equip future Waldorf grade school teachers with a practical working foundation and skill set to begin their teaching career successfully.  

 Adult students are actively engaged in discussion based classes on the foundational principles of Waldorf Education, self development and contemplative practice. The art of teaching classes focus on all aspects of teaching including child development, curriculum design, classroom management, to name a few.
Art classes provide an opportunity for practicing new skills as well as understanding their use in the classroom.
Additional classes are focused on working with parents and colleagues, organizational principles  and the wider Waldorf movement. 

WTI students complete two full week-long Summer Intensives, which occur at the end of June each year.  Summer Intensive weeks allow students to delve in-depth to topics of interest.  Recent Summer Intensive week topics include: biodynamic farming and beekeeping, educating the will in the young child, speech and living language, and educational support.

Classroom observation is an invaluable opportunity for WTI students to experience different Waldorf teachers in action. These experiences ground the students’ coursework, provoke many questions and enrich discussion. Students are required to complete 20 hours of observation each year and we  encourage students to visit a number of Waldorf schools to get a sense of how this unique education is shaped in different settings. 

WTI students complete two three-week student teaching practicums with experienced Grade School classroom teachers.  WTI students meet with their supervising teachers regularly for support and guidance during their student teaching.  They are fully engaged in the life of the class and school during their teaching practicums.

WTI students are paired with a mentor who will help support them through completing their coursework and student teaching requirements.  Mentors also are available to help students explore employment goals and opportunities.