Program Overview

The Arcturus Rudolf Education Program has been educating Waldorf teachers and preparing adult students to enter the professional Teacher Education Program for 10 years. Sessions  meet at the Chicago Waldorf School building on weekends. The Foundation Studies Program can be completed in 1 year with full time attendance. The Teacher Development Program can be completed in 2 years with full time weekend attendance. Details of the Program are given below:

Three Year Weekend Program with Summer Intensives. Classes meet on Friday from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm and on Saturdays from 8:30am until 3:15pm. The current full time program consists of  weekends in the Fall,  weekends in the Winter, and weekends in the Spring. All 5 festival weekends are obligatory for full time participants.

 Summer Intensive Week  (A 6 day week full time) provides a strong impetus for the following year's weekends of transformative course work. Although required of those in the Teacher Development Program, this week is open to all without any prerequisites.

Foundation Studies work introduces participants to various aspects of Rudolf Steiner's Worldview as well as to a variety of art and movement disciplines. This year’s studies enable the student to absorb the philosophical basis of Rudolf Steiner’s work within the framework of the challenges and promises of our contemporary world. Humanity today needs individuals who are whole in body, mind and spirit. The Arcturus faculty, inspired by Rudolf Steiner’s ideas, strives to enliven human beings toward this goal.

The Foundation Studies Year intends to serve as the introduction to several career possibilities for all students: Thus they may find fulfillment in education, the arts, therapy, social work, business, agriculture, or wherever their life’s path leads. Conceptual and arts courses aim to develop the student’s own threefold being to serve her/his further training for a specific anthroposophically-inspired career, or to enhance and balance his/her self-development.

 Teacher Development I allows the participant to enter into Steiner's basic principles of evolution, child development and psychology. This year presents an introduction to the principles underlying Waldorf education in a more general way. The summer course on Steiner’s Foundations of Human Experience will be a guide, as well as fundamental works on Child Development, such as Steiner’s Soul Economy and Waldorf Education. Independent study on both these books is a requirement for completing this year, and will be monitored by arrangement with a mentor. As the philosophical basis of Rudolf Steiner’s world view is deepened, it is expanded to develop the psychological foundation of the Waldorf approach. Child development, historical and evolutionary aspects of humanity are imbedded in continuing artistic experience. This could also be useful for those not planning to become Waldorf teachers.

Teacher Development II devotes itself to specific curriculum studies and classroom management as practiced in Waldorf schools worldwide. During the final year, several weeks of classroom student teaching will be arranged with experienced teachers at the Chicago Waldorf School or other Waldorf schools. The emphasis on all classes is the teacher’s practical preparation. Curriculum classes in several subjects as well as classroom management and lesson planning will be covered.

R. Steiner’s lectures to the teachers of the first Waldorf School, Practical Course & Discussions with Teachers form the conceptual preparation for Waldorf Teaching. Independent Study work on these lectures will be required background reading this year, as will be Karl Stockmeyer’s Rudolf Steiner’s Curriculum for Waldorf Schools.

A Certificate of Completion is given to those who successfully complete three years of course work.