Curriculum Highlights – Year One
• EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT: creating environments for children with different learning
styles
• DEVELOPMENTAL PHASES: speciflc milestones and hindrances
• READING THE CHILD: Creating a living picture through phenomena-based observation
• SENSES AND MOVEMENT – GATEWAYS TO LEARNING: distinction and differentiation
• CHILD STUDY: Synergetic effect of group work
• INTRODUCTION TO EXTRA LESSON: the human blueprint
• ROLE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL SENSES: Touch, Life, Movement and Balance
• HIGH SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS: executive functioning and organization;
strengthening resilience and providing tools for managing stress
• EARLY CHILDHOOD: enhancing developmental movement activities and imaginative
play
• CLASSROOM APPLICATIONS: integrating exercises; body geography games; activities
to promote flexible thinking and memory; movements to reduce hindrances to body-free thinking; strengthening auditory processing; enhancing executive function,
self-regulation and focus
About AHE Courses and Programs
We are in our 21st year of offering professional development programs worldwide,
and have certified graduates from nine program cycles in the USA. (We have also
supported certifying programs in five other countries.) These teacher education
programs were initiated by AHE as a direct response to educators who wished to
understand and assist students with different learning styles in their
classrooms. The curriculum is based on developing our observational capacities
and increasing our understanding of the causes and challenges that children
meet as they find their place in life. Course content is primarily derived from
the works and influences of Dr. Rudolf Steiner and Audrey McAllen, together with
current research that promotes a developmental curriculum. We also sponsor
numerous workshops and conferences. As much as possible these programs are
organized in conjunction with local organizations or institutions.
AHE is an international, non-profit group and has graduated over 400 program
participants in the USA, Canada, Brazil, Portugal, Spain and Ireland. Previous
faculty has included: Mary Jo Oresti, Connie Helms, Jeff Tunkey, Dr. Andrea
Rentea, Rachel Ross, Joep Eikenboom, Joan Treadaway, Janet Oliver, Maria
Eugenia Obniski, Gerry LoDolce, Ingun Schneider and Dr. Bruno Callegaro.
Choice of One, Two or Three Year Part-Time Programs
If you would like to learn more about the children of today and how to guide
them, we offer you a step-by-step enrollment path that lets you choose your
level of deepening over time.
Year 1 Concentration on classroom work
Year 2 Deepening developmental insights and practices
Year 3 Certification as a Remedial Education Support Teacher
ALSO: Individual Sessions - see below
DATES: October 18 – 21; March 21 – 24; July 15 – 27
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan
COST: $2,500 – scholarships available
For more information or to apply, contact:
A growing portion of children in our classrooms demonstrate a wide range of
learning differences for which we need additional preparation. Some of these
are: abilities in specific modes of learning; comprehension and memory
weaknesses; social challenges and developmental hindrances. Teachers often ask
about creating effective environments for these children. What activities can
be included that will provide general or individual practice and bring more
balance to a child’s experience?
If you would like to learn more about the children of today and how to guide
them, we offer you a step-by-step enrollment path that lets you choose your
level of deepening over time.
Common themes throughout the years include: honing our observation skills, the
complexities of the child of today, causes of challenging behaviors, games and
activities to strengthen the developmental path, and pedagogical methods to
help children overcome the obstacles that lessen their capacity to reach their
full potential. We will tap into the little-known treasures of Waldorf Education, experience the Extra Lesson and its
application in the classroom, and consider like-minded researchers and methodologies.
Year One will concentrate on classroom work. Each day in the classroom we experience that
all children, including those raised in nourishing environments, have
individual needs. If a child needs more than mere moments of attention, are we
equipped to intervene? Fortunately, in the Waldorf movement; we have methods
that break ineffective ways of thinking and create new approaches to old
problems. For instance, if a child has poor handwriting we can work with the
feet as Dr. Steiner recommended. A child with poor or lethargic thinking can be
helped with body geography exercises or walking geometric forms with different
movements. These activities can be standard practices in our classrooms. We
have the methods and only need the courage to create the form.
Year Two will continue these topics and include assessment practices. The second-year curriculum will deepen your understanding of the developmental needs of
children, and increase your repertoire of methods that can be used in
classrooms and groups in kindergarten, grade school and high school.
Year Three will prepare a teacher for a profession as an Educational Support teacher. It
will address deeper issues regarding the children who meet school life with
more challenges. We will go further into Extra Lesson, develop assessment
strategies, examine early movement patterns, study common profiles such as ADD
and dyslexia, and learn intervention methods. A certificate will be issued to
those who fulfill the three year course requirements. Professionals and
graduates of other remedial programs may attend the full third year or enroll
in individual sessions to remain current in their studies.
Individual Sessions – many workshops are open.
By contacting the program directors, you can register for single sessions. Fall
topics include: reading the child and creating learning sensitive environments;
developmental milestones; classroom activities and games. Spring topics are:
the synergetic effect of child study; working with the foundation senses such
as tactile defensiveness; and more classroom applications.The fee for each of
the three-day sessions (October and March) is $375; each of the summer weeks is
$550. Graduates are encouraged to come and receive a reduced rate.
