This course is now filled and is no longer accepting registration. Cancellations do occur, so feel free to sign up on our waiting list if you wish to be in line for an opening.

This week’s course will be taught remotely in real-time. Read all about Summer Series 2024.

Open to everyone, including current and prospective early childhood educators, parents, grandparents, and caregivers.

Join us for a wondrous journey! In this comprehensive course, you’ll explore the essential elements of Waldorf early childhood education. Through the guidance of highly experienced Waldorf early childhood educators you’ll delve into child development; learn about rhythms, transitions, and the cycle of the year; explore the importance of play; examine the inner development of the teacher; experience circle time activities, lessons in handwork, art, and movement, and the essentials of a morning in a Waldorf early childhood setting; and develop a true practical understanding of Waldorf early childhood education. A perennial Sunbridge summer favorite, this rich and extensive course has launched many early childhood careers.

Instructors

Meggan Gill became Sunbridge’s director of education and organizational culture in 2021 and is also a member of the Sunbridge teacher education faculty. A member of Alma Partners and a specialist in diversity, equity, and inclusion, she is also an active committee member and workshop presenter for AWSNA and WECAN. Meggan’s teaching experience includes most recently serving as lead toddler teacher at City of Lakes Waldorf School and, from 2009-2020, serving on the faculty of the Brooklyn Waldorf School, where she led parent-and-child and kindergarten classes and was active on the Faculty Council. Prior to joining BWS, she taught kindergarten at the Olympia Waldorf School and parent-and-child and nursery classes at the New Amsterdam School. Meggan, who originally hails from the Pacific Northwest and is a certified yoga teacher, earned her undergraduate degree in health sciences from The Evergreen State College and her certificate in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge.

Aliya Birdoff teaches nursery at her alma mater, the Rudolf Steiner School in New York City. Before joining the RSS faculty, Aliya worked in the nursery and kindergarten at the Brooklyn Waldorf School and served as pre-kindergarten teacher at the Cedarwood Waldorf School in Portland, Oregon, where her legacy is in advancing the school’s work in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. A graduate of LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, Aliya holds a BA in Sociology from SUNY Purchase and a diploma in Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher Education from Sunbridge.

Clair Boswell is a teacher—along with her mother, noted Waldorf early childhood educator, Laurie Clark—at Songbirds Playgroup, a Denver-based, Waldorf-inspired in-home program for 2-4-year-olds. She also leads parent-caregiver classes at The Denver Waldorf School. Clair, who attended the Denver WS from kindergarten through 8th grade, began her Waldorf career as a volunteer at a Waldorf initiative in Nepal. She then joined the faculty of the Brooklyn Waldorf School, where, as a kindergarten teacher, she helped form the school leadership and shape its early childhood program. Clair did her Waldorf training at Antioch University New England, from which she earned her master’s degree in education.

Gun Lee Blue is an early childhood educator teaching in the nursery at the Brooklyn Waldorf School. She is the author of Toy Making: Simple Playthings to Make for Children, a WECAN publication born from her final project while a student in Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program, from which she earned her Waldorf teaching certificate.

Participants who took this course previously had this to say:

• Amazing. This is one of the best courses I’ve taken in my life.
• I am beyond grateful.
• The class was a fun mix of lecture, break-out groups and experiential learning.
• It was well structured, the faculty was exceptional and held each class with knowledge, joy and humor. I appreciated the opportunity we were given to be broken into groups, discuss topics and get to know more about the participants.
• I found the topics engaging, loved the puppetry and am thankful for the library of music!
• Meggan’s class was so helpful and insightful. There were so many things about circle time that I didn’t fully understand and this course really helped me learn. I really appreciate the openness, humor and warmth that she brings to the class.
• I really enjoyed attending lectures and the articles that were provided for homework. It was great to dive right in and begin learning more about Waldorf EC. I found everyone to be very passionate and present in the program. I found that I got something out of every class.
• It was an incredibly insightful and grounding experience.
• Not only am I walking away with tools in my pocket, but with a growth and awareness in myself that I was not expecting.
• The entire course was so nourishing and fulfilling. It gave me more than I ever expected.
• I would suggest this course to all teachers and parents interested in deepening their knowledge in Waldorf EC education. It was truly eye-opening.

Schedule

This course takes place July 28-August 2 in a synchronous online classroom. ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN (NY) TIME ZONE

Sunday evening
7:15 pm-7:25 pm: Log in for technical check and attendance
7:30 pm to 9:00 pm: First session

Monday-Thursday
9:45 am-9:55 am: Log in for technical check and attendance
Sessions take place between 10:00 am and 4:30 pm (including breaks and lunch)

Friday
9:45 am-9:55 am: Log in for technical check and attendance
Final session takes place from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Note: Participants should be prepared to work on course-related assignments outside of their regularly scheduled instructional sessions (including some that may be assigned in advance). Complete schedules will be sent two weeks before your course start date, along with a list of materials you will need to procure for your handwork classes.

Cost 
$615 includes all resource materials, yearlong access to your Google Classroom, and a $55 non-refundable registration fee

25% discount for:

• Students currently enrolled in a Sunbridge teacher education program
• Sunbridge program graduates
• Payments made in Canadian dollars

Accounts must be in good standing and discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff.  

This course is now filled and is no longer accepting registration. Cancellations do occur, so feel free to sign up on our waiting list if you wish to be in line for an opening.

Questions?
Please contact Barbara Vitale, admissions and summer coordinator, at [email protected] or 845-425-0055 x20

Sunbridge reserves the right to make faculty substitutions when necessary. See registration form for refund policy.