I m a g i n e A P l a c e … Where Every Teacher Has The Freedom To Become Their Favorite Teacher…

Imagine being a teacher for the fastest growing educational movement in the world…

North America

hosts more than

250 Waldorf

schools and

numbers worldwide

have doubled in the

last decade to more

than 1,000 schools.

Consequently, there

is constant demand

for qualified Waldorf teachers.

Imagine an education that teaches to the whole

child….

Waldorf education

cultivates three

principle faculties in

children: thinking,

feeling and willing.

As such, it is often

described as

education for

the “head, heart and hands.”

Imagine having job security...

In the Waldorf

model, the teacher

progresses with the

students from 1st

through 8th grade.

The class teacher is

committed to the

long-term

development of the

child.

Imagine building long-term relationships between student, parent and teacher…

The Waldorf model supports

student learning by building

a solid, long-term

relationship between

student, parent and teacher.

When students or parents

have a conflict with the

teacher, they are

encouraged to work out

their differences, building

conflict-resolution skills in

the process.

Imagine being familiar with each student at the start of every school year…

Having one teacher for

eight years allows for a

deeper understanding of

each student’s strengths,

challenges and

developmental milestones.

No time is lost at the

beginning of each

academic year, since the

teacher is already familiar

with learning styles and

material already covered.

Imagine personalizing lessons to specific children and individualized learning styles…

In addition, the

teacher theoretically

should truly

understand how

each child learns

and can personalize

the lessons to

specific learning

styles.

Imagine a worldly and humanistic approach to

education…

Waldorf views

education as far

more than regular

an academic

curriculum. In a

Waldorf school,

children are taught

the importance of

what it is to be a

human being, which

includes social and

environmental

responsibilities,

respect and compassion for all.

Imagine stimulating the healthy development of a child’s own imagination…

Preschool and

Kindergarten children

learn primarily through

imitation. The goal of

the kindergarten is to

develop a sense of

wonder in the young

child and reverence for

all living things.

This creates an

eagerness for the

academics that follow

in the grades.

Imagine teaching

through art…. The Waldorf model

infuses academics

with the arts all the

way through the

primary grades and

into high school.

The arts are part of

every lesson, using

drama, music,

movement, crafts,

and visual arts to

illustrate what the

children are learning.

Imagine a place that has a reverence for nature at its core... The outdoor classroom

guides students towards

an increased awareness

of the environment and a

deeper understanding of

ecological principles.

The outdoors provides

experiences in the

natural environment that

help awaken a sense for

beauty, truth and moral

responsibility for all life.

Imagine a school without typical

textbooks….

Typical textbooks

are not found in

the Waldorf

classroom.

Rather, each

student draws

and creates a

personal book

that exemplifies the lessons.

Imagine an education that embraces

creativity….

According to

research conducted

by Earl Ogletree

who analyzed

students in both

Waldorf and

traditional schools,

those in Waldorf

schools scored

higher on the

Torrance Test of

Creative Thinking Ability.

Imagine a school that does

not “teach to the test...”

Waldorf students are

less exposed to

standardized testing;

such tests are generally

absent in the elementary

school years.

Waldorf teachers have

the freedom to engage

their students in an

imaginative curriculum

that is not confined by

the narrow mandates for standardized testing.

Imagine a school that discourages TV

watching…

Instead, children are

encouraged to

indulge in free play

that nurtures the

imagination and

stimulates healthy

interactions with

other students.

The lack of media

exposure may also

reduce attitudes of

consumerism in

younger children.

Imagine teaching around the

globe… With more than

1,000 Waldorf

schools in over 60

countries, and over

2,000 Waldorf early

childhood programs

on five continents,

Waldorf Education

is truly global - not

only in scope, but in

its approach.

Imagine teaching tolerance as part of your everyday lesson plan…

A primary aim of

Waldorf

education is to

develop values

and social

competence

necessary to

become active

members of a

democratic and

multi-cultural society.

Imagine fostering social-emotional development, not only intellectual and physical development…

Children's social-

emotional skills motivate

them to learn to

communicate, connect

with others, resolve

conflict, and cope with

challenges.

These skills give children

the confidence they need

to reach goals and the

ability to persist in the

face of life's difficulties.

Imagine the entire academic program is purposefully integrated with art, movement and music…

These rich curricular

experiences enhance the

schoolwork, insuring that the

students are always engaged in

three essential ways: actively,

emotionally, and thoughtfully.

This comprehensive, three-

dimensional focus helps to

develop the mastery of skills

and the essential capacities that

children need for their future in

school and find success and

fulfillment in life.

Imagine a school directed by a group,

not a principal…

One of Waldorf

education's central

premises is that all

educational and

cultural institutions

should be self-

governing.

The teachers, board,

and administration are

called on to work

together and their

effective collaboration

is responsible for all

decision making and

healthy functioning of

the school community.

Imagine becoming part of a community that celebrates the cycles of the year through a rich festival life…

In Waldorf schools, the elements of

festival—light, food, song and

story—permeate the weekly school

rhythm; but the cadence of the

year receives its form through

festivals.

Annual festivals of nature and

humanity are celebrated in ways

that foster wonder, reverence and

gratitude. They nourish the future

capacity to respond to and be

responsible for the world in which

we live.

Imagine a place that engages students to be thoughtful, caring,

and active stewards of the Earth…

Waldorf schools work with an

awareness of where all things

originate as gifts from the earth;

teachers lead students in the daily

practice of remembering these

gifts with gratitude and in using

the earth’s resources with care.

This builds inner habits that

prepare children for being

environmentalists on the deepest

levels.

Imagine a place where children

begin learning without technology…

We feel it is more important for students,

especially in the younger years, to have

the opportunity to interact with one

another and with teachers in exploring

the world of ideas, and participating in

the creative process, without the use of

electronic devices.

Waldorf students have a love of learning,

an ongoing curiosity, and interest in life.

As older students, they quickly master

computer technology, and graduates

have successful careers in all aspects of technology.

Imagine this…

• 94% attend

college or

university

• 47% choose

humanities or arts

as a major

• 42% choose

sciences or math as

a major

• 89% are highly

satisfied in choice

of occupation

• 91% are active in

lifelong education

• 92% place a high

value on critical

thinking

• 90% highly value

tolerance of other

viewpoints.

Imagine being your favorite

teacher… Founded on Rudolf

Steiner’s humanitarian

curriculum,

The Waldorf School

awakens and inspires

students’ critical thinking,

emotional intelligence,

and artistic expression,

preparing them to bring

relevant contributions to

the world.

The Art Of Being A Waldorf Teacher

The Waldorf Institute of Southern California

www.waldorfteaching.org

Los Angeles 818-349-6272 office@waldorfteaching.org

San Diego 760-451-2139 sdoffice@waldorfteaching.org