This week’s course will be taught remotely in real-time. Details here. 

This course is now full. If you are interested, please add your name to our waiting list (as cancellations do occur!).

For those who would prefer  attending in person, this course is also being offered on campus from June 25-30.

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.

You may also be interested in EC Insights, our new online companion course taking place over the ‘23-24 academic year and open to anyone who has taken Introduction to Waldorf Early Childhood Education.

Instructors

Lisa Miccio, lead, joined Acorn Waldorf School in September 2022 as the Neighboring Tree Project (NTP) Specialist, overseeing a grant-funded AWS initiative that aims to create community partnerships with local early childhood educators, schools, and centers; at the School, she also provides professional development training and mentoring of teachers new to nature-based early childhood education. A Sunbridge Board trustee, Lisa taught kindergarten at The Waldorf School of Garden City from 2017-2022, where she chaired the DEIJ committee. Prior to joining the WSGC faculty, she was on the faculty of Green Meadow Waldorf School for a dozen years, where she taught kindergarten and parent and child classes, served as a co-chair of the early childhood section, director of early childhood admissions and family programs, and was a member of the Collegium, the Collegium Committee, and the Board of Trustees. Lisa’s teaching experience also includes working at Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, Dayspring Community School, and, during her 2016-17 sabbatical, teaching and mentoring in the Kathmandu (Nepal) Waldorf Kindergarten. She holds a BA in English from the College of Charleston, an MS in Elementary Education from CW Post, Long Island University, and an MS in Waldorf Education from Sunbridge College.

Motria Shuhan is the founder/director of Acorn Waldorf School, a full WECAN member in Accord, NY, where she serves as lead teacher in the Oaks Mixed Age Kindergarten. Prior to Founding AWS, she spent nine formative years at the Mountain Laurel Waldorf School, working in the nursery and kindergarten and serving as pedagogical chair for three years. Motria also serves as a mentor and educator in Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program. With a special interest in the art of puppetry, Motria has staged shows for conferences, festivals, and other community events. She completed a three-year Advanced Therapeutic Course for Early Childhood Educators in Denver and her Waldorf Early Childhood training at Sunbridge College.

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 specialist in diversity, equity, and inclusion, she is also a trained Waldorf early childhood educator and is active in WECAN and AWSNA. Meggan’s teaching experience includes most recently serving as lead toddler teacher at City of Lakes Waldorf School and, from 2009 to 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, Meggan taught kindergarten at the Olympia Waldorf School and parent-and-child and nursery classes at the New Amsterdam School. Meggan earned her undergraduate degree in health sciences from The Evergreen State College and her certificate in Waldorf early childhood education from Sunbridge.

Participants who took this course previously had this to say:

• The Intro to EC course exceeded my expectations.
• An amazing mix of hands-on experience, interactive group work, and lecture content.
• 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.
• Amazing. This is one of the best courses I’ve taken in my life.
• I am beyond grateful.
• Not only am I walking away with tools in my pocket, but with a growth and awareness in myself that I was not expecting.
• Lisa is wonderful. I have never met a teacher who in five days would be able to change a group of strangers in such a profound way.
• I really enjoyed Motria’s way of sharing information, her patience and fluid way of moving through topics. It is clear that she is very passionate about her work and enjoys sharing that with others. 
• I loved Rie’s art demos and her ability to bring you into the work (regardless of it being on zoom.) She is clearly passionate and I enjoyed her lessons.
• 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.
• The class was a fun mix of lecture, break-out groups and experiential learning.
• I found the topics engaging, loved the puppetry and am thankful for the library of music!
• 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.
• 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.
• Overall it was an incredibly insightful and grounding experience that left me thirsty for more.

Schedule

This course takes place June 18-23 in a synchronous online classroom

Sunday evening: 7-7:30pm technical check-in; first session starts promptly at 7:30 and ends at 9
Monday-Thursday: Instruction takes place between 10 am and 4:30 pm (excluding breaks)
Friday morning: Final session takes place from 10 am to 12 pm

ALL TIMES LISTED ARE EASTERN (NY) TIME ZONE

NOTE: Additional (optional) sessions may take place late afternoons/evenings, so we encourage you to leave your week open.

Cost
$635 includes all resource materials, yearlong access to your Sunbridge Google Classroom, and a $60 non-refundable registration fee.  A list of materials you will need to procure beforehand will be sent to you three weeks prior to your course start date.

Available Discounts

• Volume: $60 off each registration for schools sending 2 or more participants
• Alumni/CAD: 25% off for Sunbridge teacher education program graduates OR for payments made in Canadian dollars
• Current Students: 50% off for current Sunbridge teacher education students

Discounts may not be combined. Qualification for discounts will be verified by Sunbridge staff. 

Paid registrations must be received by Thursday, June 8.

This course is now full. If you are interested, please add your name to our waiting list (as cancellations do occur!).

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.