Teaching Handwork in Waldorf Education
Each afternoon from 11:30 to 1:30 Pacific time handwork teachers will gather together for presentations and discussions specifically relevant to teaching handwork in Waldorf education.
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Topics will include:
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Steiner's indications and the "WHY" behind teaching handwork grades 1-8
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Developmentally appropriate handwork content throughout the grades
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Meeting and engaging today's children (classroom management, time management, curriculum development/lesson planning)
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Creating space for sharing challenges, successes, and resources
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2:00-2:30pm Pacific time - Subject Specific Artistic Work
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Cross-curricular Handwork Projects
Explore fresh ideas for short-term projects that give your students a welcome break from longer handwork endeavors. Cross-curricular projects weave together math, world languages, and movement, bringing learning to life through creative, hands-on experiences. In Waldorf education, we’re not just teaching content—we’re guiding children to integrate their learning in meaningful, tangible ways that engage their hands, hearts, and minds.
Registered participants click below to access the handwork materials page
Meet the Handwork Team!
We are honored to be working with an amazing team of handwork teachers who are teaching and leading this portion of the conference!
Elizabeth Seward
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Elizabeth Seward is the co-founder and director of Waldorf Handwork Educators. She has 35+ years teaching Handwork and other subjects in public, private, and homeschool Waldorf settings. She was co-director of a nationally recognized Waldorf teacher training institute from 2000 - 2003. Elizabeth is a trained Waldorf class teacher in the grades. She holds a PhD in Education, an MA in second language learning, and an MA in Education and Spirituality. She is author of Teaching Through Stories: Jane and Jeremy Learn to Knit
Shellie Smith
Shellie Smith is is the co-founder and director of Waldorf Handwork Educators. She has found profound joy in guiding and empowering handwork teachers around the world. Shellie is a lifelong educator with over two decades of experience in both public and private Waldorf schools. For 12 years, she served as the handwork teacher for grades 1–8 at the Haleakala Waldorf School on Maui, where she nurtured a deep love for the transformative power of handwork.​
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With a background in social work and education (BA), and formal training in Waldorf handwork education from the Rudolf Steiner College, Shellie brings a rich blend of skill, heart, and experience to her work. She believes that teaching through the imagination and fostering authentic relationships are the keys to meaningful, lasting learning. Shellie is also the author and illustrator of A Twisted Tangled Tale: A Handwork Fairy Tale,
