Curriculum

The WHSTE program consists of courses in the following areas:

• Educational principles, methods, and curricula
• Adolescent development
• Anthroposophy, including inner development
• Practical work in a high school
• Artistic development

Fieldwork

In addition to in-person and online coursework, and in accordance with minimum expectations set by AWSNA, the program carries requirements for students to engage in practical experiences (“fieldwork”) in Waldorf classrooms during the course of your studies. The specific requirements for fieldwork will vary according to your work status as a Waldorf teacher. The program director/advisor will guide each student through their fieldwork for an optimum experience.

Fieldwork refers to:

• Observation: Observing a class other than the student’s own. All students are required to keep a journal of their observations and submit the journal to their advisor for review.
• Student teaching: Creating and delivering curriculum content under the guidance of an accomplished teacher in an AWSNA-affiliated school
• Mentored teaching: A student visited in their own teaching classroom by a highly experienced Waldorf high school teacher for observation, conversation, and feedback to support and guide the student in practical aspects of their work and in their development as an educator. The mentor’s observation records are shared with the student and with the WHSTE program director.

For the purpose of determining fieldwork requirements, WHSTE students are divided into two categories:

• In-service: Those students who are actively working as high school teachers in an AWSNA-affiliated school
• Pre-service: Those students who do not fall into the definition of in-service

NOTE: If a student’s work category changes during the course of the program, their fieldwork category (and requirements) will change accordingly.

Fieldwork Requirements for In-Service Students:

• Observation:  (18 hours minimum)
• • Three observations of 3-5 consecutive days each, at least two class hours per day.
    • Two of these three observations should be in one’s own school and one at another school, ideally a non-Waldorf school. Based on our experience, it is beneficial to observe in non-Waldorf schools to better understand what aspects of our work are common to all teachers who work with high school students and what aspects are relatively unique to Waldorf school.
    • Two of these three observations should be within a student’s own discipline; one should be in a different discipline. Similarly, understanding teaching in our own disciplines and subjects benefits from seeing how teachers of other subjects and disciplines parallel or diverge from ours.
• Mentored teaching:  (40 hours)
  • Students receive one week of mentoring in the fall and one week in the spring for two years. Mentoring is conducted by a school-assigned mentor or coach.

Fieldwork Requirements for Pre-Service Students:

• Observation:  (18 hours minimum)
  • Three observations of 3-5 consecutive days each, at least two class hours per day.
    • Two of these three observations should be in one’s own school and one at another school, ideally a non-Waldorf school. Based on our experience, it is beneficial to observe in non-Waldorf schools to better understand what aspects of our work are common to all teachers who work with high school students and what aspects are relatively unique to Waldorf school.
    • Two of these three observations should be within a student’s own discipline; one should be in a different discipline. Similarly, understanding teaching in our own disciplines and subjects benefits from seeing how teachers of other subjects and disciplines parallel or diverge from ours.
• Apprenticeship, including student teaching:  (30 hours minimum)
  • One seminar (main lesson, morning lesson) block of 3-5 weeks or equivalent number of hours (approximately 30-50), depending on subject area and schedule. School approved by director/core faculty.

Sunbridge aims to be flexible with and supportive of each student as they fulfill their fieldwork requirements. Students have a one-year, post-graduation grace period for fieldwork completion. Students requiring this grace period will be issued a completion of coursework certificate at commencement, with their final diploma issued upon completion of their fieldwork requirements.

Advising

WHSTE faculty are available in-person and remotely throughout the course of the program for advising sessions (each student receives 5 hours minimum). In addition, core faculty meets with sections or disciplines—math, science, languages, history and literature, and others as necessary—during lunch to discuss relevant topics.