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Waldorf Teacher Education Full-Time Grades

RSCC Now a Recognized Career College

Career College (CC) status enables the College to enroll students who have no previous teaching experience, as was previously required when the RSCC teacher development program was classified as professional development.

Waldorf Teacher Education Full-Time Grades

The full-time Waldorf Teacher Education program of the Rudolf Steiner College Canada requires one year of study at our campus north of Toronto in Thornhill.

This program focuses on Waldorf grade school education from grades 1 through 8. Experience shows that effective Waldorf teachers are aware of the whole educational jouney from kindergarten through the grades and high school. Therefore, courses in early childhood education and high school education make our program comprehensive and give graduates some flexibility in pursuing their career objectives.

Strengths of the program include:

  • Low student to teacher ratio allows for considerable attention to each student’s personal development
  • 10 weeks of teaching practice with experienced Waldorf teachers
  • Understanding the whole journey of Waldorf education from birth to age 21
  • Comprehensive arts and crafts to inspire confidence in creative ability

Program Content

Fall Term: The Journey of the Child to Adulthood

Phases of Development from Birth to 21 Years

The objective of the first term is to give the student an overview of the stages of child development. This involves understanding the soul-spiritual processes of human development and the way in which the child develops through successive “births”, beginning with the physical body’s entry into earthly life, culminating in the emergence of the I-being in adulthood.

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

Module 1

1

The Education of the Child

12

1

Module 2

1

Early Childhood Education

45

3

Module 3

1

Grades – Phases of Childhood

30

2

Module 4

1

Child Observation and Study

15

1

Module 5

1

The Temperaments and the 12 Senses of the Child

15

1

Module 6

1

Adolescence

15

1

Module 7

1

Evolution of Consciousness: Ontogenesis in the Curriculum

30

2

Module 8

Festival Week: Presentation of the Students’ Work – Connecting with the Environment

15

1

TOTAL

8

177

12

Winter Term: Teacher as Artist

Waldorf Educational Methods in the Classroom

Based on the first term’s study of the stages of the development of the growing child, the second term teaches the student to create lessons which engage the child’s thinking, feeling and willing. The future teacher not only learns the content curriculum for different subjects but also how to present the material in a living and engaging way. From this perspective, the teacher develops the artistic skills to create in the classroom.

Included in this term are four weeks of teaching practice in a Waldorf classroom.

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

Module 1

1

Literacy: Curriculum & Methodology

15

1

Module 2

1

Mathematics: Curriculum & Methodology

15

1

Module 3

1

History: Curriculum & Methodology

15

1

Module 4

1

Living Science: Curriculum & Methodology

15 1

Module 5

.5

Educational Suppport in the Classroom

6 .5

TOTAL

4.5

66

5.5

Spring Term: Teacher as Autonomous Colleague

Waldorf schools are self-administered organizations governed by the standards of their membership in the governing body of AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America), which sets standards for member schools. As such, Waldorf teachers are expected to be persons of initiative with the resources to meet the needs of their children, parents and colleagues.

The spring term also includes four weeks of teaching practice in a Waldorf classroom.

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

Module 1

1

Biography and Destiny Learning: Pathway to the Future

15

1

Module 2

1

Lesson Planning, Methodology & Classroom Management /
Threefold Social Principles in Society and Waldorf Schools

15

1

Module 4

1

Diversity, Equity & Inclusivity: Indigenous Culture & Education

15

1

Module 5

1

Individual Research Project

15

1

Module 6

1

Meditation and the Spiritual Practice of the Teacher

15

1

Module 7

1

Graduation/Evaluation/Review

15

1

TOTAL

7

105

9

Teaching Practice

In 3 blocks of teaching practice (2 weeks, 4 weeks, 4 weeks), the student will accompany an experienced Waldorf teacher through the day with the children in an accredited Waldorf school classroom. Child observation and journaling of best practices will form part of the reflective practice, while assuming an increasingly active role in the teaching. All this takes place under the guidance of the host teacher.

First Block (2 weeks in Fall Term): Observation

Second Block (4 weeks in Winter Term): Gradual taking on of teacher responsibilities

Third Block (4 weeks in Spring Term): Full teaching responsibilities.

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

Module 1

1

Observation & Child Study

50

2

Module 2

1

Teaching Practice I

100

4

Module 3

1

Teaching Practice II

100

4

TOTAL

3

250

10

Skills Development

Throughout the year, afternoon time is dedicated to skills development for the different subject areas required of a Waldorf class teacher.

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

Module 1

1

Foundations of Human Experience

11.25

Module 2

1

Inner Development of the Teacher

11.25

Module 3

1

Teaching Methods – Storytelling

24

Module 4

1

Teaching Methods – Music

27

Module 5

1

Teaching Methods – Handwork

27

Module 6

1

Teaching Methods – Painting & Drawing

40.5

Module 7

1

Eurythmy & Movement

22

TOTAL

8

163

Overview of Courses and Total Hours for the Complete Study Year

SUBJECT

CREDITS

HOURS

WEEKS

1

The Journey of the Child to Adulthood: Phases of Development from Birth to 21 Years

8

177

12

2

Teacher as Artist: Waldorf Educational Methodology

4

  75

5

3

Teacher as Autonomous Colleague

7

105

9

4

Field Work in the Waldorf Classroom

3

250

10

5

Skills Development

8

178

TOTAL

30

785

36

Summer Festival of Arts and Education

Included in the full-time fees are two weeks of the Summer Festival. These two weeks may be taken before or after the year of study.

Rudolf Steiner College Canada is recognized as a full member teacher education institute of AWSNA (Association of Waldorf Schools of North America).

The course hours meet the minimum expectations for a full-time Waldorf Teacher Development program as established by the AWSNA Teacher Education Delegates’ Circle.

Graduates who have successfully completed the program will be awarded a Waldorf Teacher Certificate. The awarding of a certificate for the one-year program will require the completion of Foundation Studies in Anthrosoposophy – Distance or Encounter program.

The awarding of a Waldorf Teacher Certificate for the one-year program will require the completion of Foundation Studies in Anthroposophy – Distance or Encounter program. 

What Do Graduates Say About the Program?

Oana-Maria Nichifor: “It made it easier for all the information to settle. Learning through practice and the relationships were so important.” (class of 2020)

Sulamita Herrera Gomez: “I speak from experience as I did the part-time program in Mexico. Anthroposophy and Waldorf education are so deep – it was good to have the opportunity to fully immerse in the learning, to think about it and to reflect. In the part-time program I did, I went right back to teaching, to my family – you are present of course but always thinking forward. Doing the full-time program was difficult because of the finances, but I advise everyone to do it. You are present with your full self. I appreciated the weaving between the theoretical and artistic courses. This opportunity to build your skills in art and see a difference is a really important part of the full-time program. I completed Foundation Studies before I came. I already had ideas about anthroposophy and was open – still!! I had a whole week to digest between sessions and this process was well underway so that I didn’t have to listen to something for the first time in class.” (class of 2019)

Application Procedure

1. Click on the button above for an online application form. Complete the form and submit it with online non-refundable application fee of $100 CDN.

In addition to completing and submitting the application form, you will also need to complete the following steps:

2. Obtain letters of reference: personal & professional.

3. Once your application has been received, we will contact you to schedule an interview in which we will talk about your preliminary studies in anthroposophy, your reasons for applying and your professional goals

4. Upon acceptance student teachers must obtain a police clearance letter from their local police department.

5. International students will need to obtain a student visa. RSCC is registered with Immigration Canada as a Designated Learning Institute. Upon acceptance into our one-year program, you may apply for a one-year study visa.

6. International students will also need to arrange for travel health insurance to cover the duration of their stay in Canada since international students with visas are not covered by Ontario health insurance.

All of the above documents must be submitted to info@rscc.ca

Applications are due by the end of August. (Applications received after this date may be considered if places are still available.)

$10,200 CAD tuition fee.

Financial Assistance

1. AWSNA Loan/Grant

AWSNA offers financial aid in the form of a loan/grant. The loan is forgiven (becomes a grant) when the graduate completes three years of successful teaching in an AWSNA-recognized school. Applications go directly to AWSNA.

Click here for details of the program.

AWSNA Loan Application Form

If your school is a member of AWSNA, definitely apply for this loan which turns into a grant, which can be up to $2,000 depending on the number of applicants.

AWSNA offers financial aid in the form of a grant for those teachers currently working in an AWSNA accredited Waldorf school. 

2. Vidar Foundation Tuition Loan

Vidar offers limited, no-interest loans to students (Canadian only) to cover tuition and other expenses associated with becoming a Waldorf teacher or Waldorf early childhood teacher through RSCC.

Loans will be secured through community co-signers (‘loan guarantors’) and will be repayable over a five-year period following graduation. Vidar will forgive 10% of your loan after each year of full-time teaching at a Canadian Waldorf School, to a maximum of 3 years and 30% of tuition in the 5 years after graduation. This is in addition to any other tuition assistance or bursaries from other sources.

Vidar Foundation Tuition Loan Program Info

Vidar Foundation Tuition Loan Program Application Form

Your school does not need to be an AWSNA member for you to apply for this loan/grant. However, your school must be Canadian.

Program Director

James Brian has been the executive director and director of teacher education at RSCC since June of 2017. He has completed three diplomas in Waldorf education: a three-year special education degree in Germany (Curative Education Diploma, 1978-82), Waldorf teacher’s certification in Germany (Waldorf Teacher Diploma 1982-83), and a two-year post-graduate diploma in Waldorf School Administration and Community Development (1998-2000). James was active as a Waldorf class and subject teacher for 18 years in Germany and Canada.

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