Waldorf Teacher Elementary Education Program
The Elementary Education program is designed to prepare Institute students to become Waldorf ”class teachers”. Because Waldorf class teachers remain with their cohort of children from 1st through 8th grades, the WISM Waldorf Teacher Elementary Education Program prepares prospective class teachers to teach all academic subjects. Courses in Anthroposophy, child development, Waldorf methods and the arts are required.
We offer a year-round format of courses on the weekend (Friday evening and Saturday). The term schedule for the year-round program includes two 11-week terms, one in the Fall and one in the Winter. A short, 3-weekend Spring term completes the year. Courses are offered in Ann Arbor on Saturdays and in Detroit or Rochester Hills on Friday evenings. The weekend program allows students to work full-time and complete Waldorf teacher training.
Concurrent completion of the Foundation Studies classes and a successful student teaching practicum are required before graduation from the Waldorf Teacher Elementary Education program. The entire program is offered in a two year completion plan —enabling completion of the foundation studies preparation, teacher preparation courses, and practicum within two calendar years. There is also the flexibility to extend the completion of the program over a longer period of time. Enrollment is on a rolling basis so you may apply to begin at the start of any term. We welcome your questions, contact us to learn more about becoming a Waldorf teacher.
Requirements for Waldorf Teacher Elementary Education Certificate
Foundation Studies Classes (Link to Course Descriptions)
Course No. Course Title
WISM 102 Human Development: The Individual Path
WISM 103 Cultural History
WISM 117 Chorus
WISM 118 Clay Modeling
WISM 119 Painting
WISM 120 Work, Life and Times of Rudolf Steiner
WISM 121 Basic Books of Rudolf Steiner
WISM 122 Foundations of Anthroposophy
WISM 124 Festivals
WISM 130 Eurythmy
WISM 131 Spacial Dynamics
WISM 135 Child Development: Birth to Seven
WISM 136 Child Development: Seven to Fourteen
WISM 137 Creative Speech
WISM 140 Images in History
Elementary Education Classes (Link to Course Descriptions)
Course No. Course Title
WISM 225 Administration in Waldorf Schools
WISM 226 The Inner Life of the Teacher
WISM 227 Exceptional Child
WISM 235 Music for Teachers
WISM 237 Speech and Drama in the Classroom
WISM 238 Handwork
WISM 242 Drawing and Modeling
WISM 245 Storytelling
WISM 301 Humanity and Nature
WISM 320 Curriculum Development
WISM 322 Waldorf Methods for Teaching Math
WISM 325 Waldorf Methods for Teaching Science
WISM 326 Waldorf Methods for Teaching Social Studies
WISM 329 Waldorf Methods for Teaching Language Arts Grades 1-4
WISM 330 Waldorf Methods for Teaching Langauge Arts Grades 5-8
WISM 401 Intuitive Thinking
WISM 450 Individual Project
WISM 455 Student Teaching Seminar
WISM 458 Student Teaching/Practicum In a Waldorf School
Are you interested in becoming a Waldorf teacher or taking a class for professional or personal development and wondering how to proceed? To apply into the certification program to become a teacher, contact us for an application or request a class registration form to take a class. Enrollment is on a rolling basis and you may apply to begin at the start of each term.
Why Waldorf teaching? In Waldorf schools, the human voice and human speech are cultivated through recitation and storytelling; imaginative play is a pillar of the work at school from early childhood on up to the transformation into drama through twelfth grade; and current brain research indicates that the curriculum in a Waldorf school supports development of the whole mind through play, the arts, and rigorous academics. Does this sound interesting to you? Join us to learn more about this joyful method and one of the fastest growing independent education movement in the world!
