Alliance Led
Virtual Summer
Professional Development
The Alliance will return again this summer with our popular online professional development, designed for and taught by instructors with considerable knowledge and experience of the joys and challenges of Public Waldorf schools. There is a banquet of offerings this summer; we continue to offer our own series to meet specific needs.
Week 1: July 9th-11th
Fundamentals of Public Waldorf Education
Week One is a prerequisite for all grades or early childhood teachers new to Public Waldorf who wish to enroll in Week #2.
Fundamentals
This is designed specifically to meet the needs of those who are new or “fairly new” to Public Waldorf in particular. It includes an overview, introduction to the history and mission of Waldorf education, the development of Public Waldorf, an overview of our Core Principles, and an introduction to “nuts and bolts” of our classrooms, administration, and schools. Recommended for teachers, school directors, Board members, and leaders of parent and community groups.
Week 2: July 14th-18th
Early Childhood | Grades | | Leadership
Week Two is suitable for anyone who will be teaching or providing leadership in a Public Waldorf school.
Grades 1-5
Small classes for each grade, taught by experienced instructors who teach in Public Waldorf schools. They include an overview of the stage of development, key curriculum themes, standards, assessment, individualized student needs, curriculum alignment, and resources. Afternoons provide a range of arts and movement to help build confidence, technique, and ideas that you can carry straight into your classroom.
Early Childhood
One of few online offerings for early childhood educators, we focus on the essential elements of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. Topics include circle activities, crafts, movement, play, nature, puppetry, inclusivity and identity with the young child, and the integration of the foundations of language arts, math, and science. Classes are taught by experienced instructors with direct experience of public early childhood classrooms.
Grades 6-8
This year, we are delighted to offer middle school-specific sessions that recognize the unique delights and needs of teaching this age group and the realities of addressing diverse student needs, state requirements, early adolescent social-emotional development, and high school readiness from a Waldorf perspective. You will be guided by three experienced Public Waldorf teachers who will provide a combination of cross-grade middle school sessions (grades 6-8) and breakouts for each specific grade. They will address academics, social-emotional development, class culture, and the importance of enrichment activities such as service learning, individual projects, class trips, and working with parents. Our middle school emphasis will support teachers in meeting the unique needs of this age group, providing students with a "middle school" identity during a time of rapid, at times unpredictable, development. A range of developmentally appropriate artistic, craft, and movement sessions will be offered in the afternoon sessions.
Leadership
Perspectives from experienced school leaders who are currently active in a Public Waldorf school. Topics include working with the Board, roles and responsibilities of leadership, HR and hiring, the teacher lifecycle, budgets and resources, building inclusive schools and strong communities, special education, strategic planning, policies, and a chance to ask questions and build networks.
We firmly believe in the necessity of ongoing professional development. We understand that school resources are stretched: registration is being held at last year’s rate. Our online model ensures access for all, and our school discount supports registration of groups of teachers.
Join us this summer!
