top of page
Writer's pictureShellie Smith

What's it Really All About?


Teaching handwork is so much more than teaching basic knitting or sewing skills. We are not teaching projects, we are teaching developing humans and preparing them for an unknown future! The best way we can prepare each child is to find as many ways as possible to understand their unique needs and support them on their individual path of growth and development.


This will not only support your students, but it will support you, the teacher as well. Having more tools in your problem solving toolbox will let you breathe into your day with calm and confidence. Understanding the WHY behind teaching brings depth to your classes. This program will support you every step of the way so you can come home from your day of teaching feeling relaxed, rather than exhausted. One-on-one mentoring, peer support, and teacher self care are pillars of this program.


Every child is different and has their own unique strengths, needs, and sensitivities. Throughout this 2 year program we will look through many different lenses to better understand the children who stand before you.


We are thrilled to announce that Kristin Palen, OTR/L, Pediatric Occupational Therapist will be joining us this semester as a core faculty member. Each month Kristin will help us deepen our understanding of sensory processing, emotional regulation and co-regulation, gross and fine motor skill development, and executive functioning in handwork. This is one of the many ways we will build up your ability to meet the needs of EVERY child in your class.


How do you know if this is the right time for you to jump into the handwork teacher development program? Like all good things in life, there may never be a "perfect" time, but one thing is certain - you'll never regret taking the first step!


Let's take a deeper look inside our 1st semester program beginning in January 2025.


Understanding & Meeting Individual Needs in the Classroom

  • Understanding sensory processing

  • Emotional regulation & co-regulation

  • Executive functioning in child development

  • Developing gross & fine motor skills


Waldorf Philosophy

  • Anthroposophy: Body, soul, & spirit

  • 7 year cycles of childhood

  • Thinking, feeling, & doing

  • The 4 temperaments

  • 3-foldness & 4-foldness


Child Development

  • Age appropriate classroom management

  • Who is a 1st / 2nd grader at this stage of development?

  • Horizontal & vertical curriculum

  • Steiner's indications on child development


The Art of Teaching Handwork

  • Accelerations and accommodations: reaching EVERY child in the class

  • Adapting the handwork curriculum for your unique location, culture, learning environment, and the children who stand before you

  • Beginning 1st grade - setting up for success

  • Live teaching of best practices to support your students with each skills

  • Working with volunteers and assistants

  • Introducing purling, crochet, and how to teach spinning on the drop spindle

  • Steiner's indications on handwork


Inner Development & Artistic Work

  • Singing as a classroom management tool

  • Storytelling - Hone your craft: teaching through imagination and images

  • Steiner's foundational exercises - inner work for the developing teacher


Take the next step in your handwork teaching journey. Apply today! Your future self will thank you!


Financial aid is still available!








65 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page