Length

Sunbridge’s Early Childhood Teacher Education program is divided into seven terms:

Unless conditions necessitate otherwise, all sessions are held on campus.

Curriculum

Classes include the following areas:

• Child development and Waldorf education
• Anthroposophical studies and human development
• Artistic and handwork activities of Waldorf early childhood education
• Professional and social aspects of Waldorf early childhood education
• Inner development of the educator

Coursework

In addition to in-person classes, students complete study assignments and independent projects, as well as attend some online evening classes, between sessions.

Fieldwork

In accordance with minimum expectations set by WECAN, the Sunbridge Early Childhood program carries requirements for students to engage in practical experiences (“fieldwork”) in Waldorf classrooms during the course of their studies. The specific requirements for fieldwork will vary according to the student’s work status as a Waldorf teacher. Sunbridge program directors/advisors guide each student through their fieldwork to ensure an optimum experience. All students are encouraged to visit and experience Waldorf early childhood settings as often as possible.

Fieldwork components:

• Observation: Observing an experienced teacher in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated classroom setting other than the student’s own. 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 in a WECAN/AWSNA early childhood classroom setting under the guidance of an experienced teacher.

• Mentored teaching/advising: Each student in good academic and financial standing will be assigned a mentor, a highly accomplished Waldorf early childhood educator matched according to the student’s individual needs to support and guide that student in practical aspects of their work and in their development as an educator.

For the purpose of determining fieldwork requirements, WECTE students are divided into three categories:

• In-service lead: Those students who are actively working at least three days a week as lead teachers in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated early childhood setting (including WECAN-affiliated home-based programs)

• In-service assisting: Those students who are actively working at least three days a week as assisting teachers in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated early childhood setting (including WECAN-affiliated home-based programs)

• Pre-service: Those students who do not fall into either of the above definitions of in-service, including those who work in early childhood settings that are Waldorf-inspired but not WECAN- or AWSNA-affiliated as well as those who work in a non-early childhood capacity in an AWSNA-affiliated school.

Applicants/students who are uncertain as to their service status should contact our admissions office for clarification.

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

Sunbridge students who are in-service teachers are required to complete a total fieldwork experience of three weeks (lead teachers) and four weeks (assisting teachers) during the length of the Sunbridge program. Sunbridge students who are pre-service teachers are required to complete a total fieldwork experience of eight weeks. This experience is comprised of the following observation and student teaching requirements:

Fieldwork Requirements for In-Service Students Who are Lead Teachers:

• Observation:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will spend 5 days total observing in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated school.

    • 3 days in the three early childhood classrooms (Birth-3, Nursery, and Kindergarten)

    • 1 day in a grade school (grades 1-8) classroom

    • 1 day in a high school (grades 9-12) classroom

    • Students may observe all five days in one school or observe in different schools. The five days need not be consecutive, but three of the days must occur in the first year. All observations must take place in classrooms other than the student’s own.

• Student teaching:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will perform a total of two weeks of student teaching.

  • Each week (made up of five consecutive days) needs to be in a classroom other than the student’s own.

• Mentored teaching:

  • Each student will receive three hours of phone/Zoom conversations with their mentor per year. As a graduation requirement, they will also receive one two-day, in-person visit by their mentor in their workplace setting, for a total of six hours of virtual mentoring and two days of in-person mentoring over the course of the program.

Fieldwork Requirements for In-Service Students Who are Assisting Teachers:

• Observation:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will spend 10 days total observing in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated school.

    • 8 days (at least 3 of which must occur in the first year) in the three early childhood classrooms (Birth-3, Nursery, and Kindergarten)

    • 1 day in a grade school (grades 1-8) classroom

    • 1 day in a high school (grades 9-12) classroom

    • All observations must take place in classrooms other than the student’s own. The days do not have to be consecutive.

• Student teaching:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will perform a total of two weeks of student teaching.

    • One week (five consecutive days) in their own class

    • One week (five consecutive days) in a class other than their own

• Mentored teaching:

  • Each student will receive three hours of phone/Zoom conversations with their mentor per year. As a graduation requirement, in their second year of training they will also receive one two-day, in-person visit by their mentor in their workplace setting, for a total of six hours of virtual mentoring and two days of in-person mentoring over the course of the program.

Fieldwork Requirements for Pre-Service Teachers:

• Observation:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will spend 10 days total observing in a WECAN/AWSNA-affiliated school.

    • 5 days minimum in the three early childhood classrooms (Birth-3, Nursery, and Kindergarten)

    • 1 day in a grade 1-4 classroom

    • 1 day in a grade 5-8 classroom

    • 1 day in a high school (grades 9-12) classroom

    • Students may observe all ten days in one school or observe in different schools. Five days must occur in the first year and five days in the second year. The days need not be consecutive. All observations must take place in classrooms other than the student’s own.

• Student teaching:

  • Over the course of their studies, students will perform a total of six weeks of student teaching.

    • 3 weeks (including at least one set of five consecutive days) in the first year

    • 3 weeks (including at least one set of five consecutive days) in the second year

• Mentoring:

  • Each student will receive three hours of phone/Zoom conversations with their mentor per year, for a total of six hours of virtual mentoring over the course of the program.

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.

​