A Jouney in Learning

A. Personal & Artistic Development

As it is widely recognised that a person's personality, motivation and creativity are the most vital elements of being a good teacher, much emphasis in our Teacher Training programme is put on the personal and artistic development of the student. Throughout the course, but with an emphasis on the first year, a variety of artistic and developmental modules are offered, in which the student can:

1. Balance and harmonise the inner person
2. Stimulate and enliven imaginative and creative thinking
3. Engage with philosophical ideas and discussions
4. Deepen respect for the human being as well as motivation for the teaching profession
5. Discover the artist in oneself
6. Develop practical skills through craft work
7. Learn to live with questions
8. Cultivate an attitude of life-long learning

Modules addressing these aims
• Painting & Drawing
• Clay Modelling
• Handskills
• Form-Drawing
• Speech and Drama
• Story-Telling
• Music
• Eurythmy
• Educational Philosophy
• Goetheanistic Observation
• Biography and "Parzival"
• Celebrating Festivals

B. Educational Background

A thorough understanding of the human being and his development through the ages forms a vital basis for understanding how a child grows up into adulthood. The Teacher Training programme includes a wide variety of modules building this understanding in the prospective teacher. Through these modules the student will be able to:

1. Differentiate various levels of the human being, e.g. physical, soul and spiritual levels; thought, emotion and action.
2. Understand how the development of the child reflects the developmental history of the human being.
3. Have an overview of the needs of children at various stages of their development.
4. Develop a resource file of myths, fairy tales and stories appropriate for teaching different age levels.
5. Develop clarity in observation and thinking.
6. Relate consciously to basic educational principles and theories.

Modules addressing these aims
• The Three-fold Human Being
• The Senses
• The Four Levels of Existence
• Human Temperaments
• Child Development (early & middle childhood / adolescence)
• Educational Psychology
• An Introduction to Waldorf Education
• Teaching Practical (observation)

C. Proficiency in Early Childhood Development

During the second and third years of the programme, the development of the young child is studied extensively and the needs of children from the ages of 4-6 are investigated thoroughly.

Participants learn to nourish the child's soul with quality stories and meaningful ring games and activities, with celebrating festivals, with facilitating free play, with love for the child and interest in his/her development.