The Early Childhood Part Time Teacher Training Course in Chengdu (ETT)

After one year of preparation and many discussions with Thanh Cherry, we set up a three year part- time early childhood teacher training program that began in August 2006. We planned to accept 40 people. After publishing the news on our school web site only one month, there were 80 people signed up for the course. Participants came from all over Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. There were people on the waiting list because our space is too small to host so many people.

The training course was laid down by Thanh Cherry who has set up a training program in Thailand and Vietnam before. It will be divided into two sections each year. The course takes place in Chengdu one week in the spring and one two–week session in the summer. The course is being giving in cooperation with the International Early Childhood Association and with financial support from them.  Tutors has been selected by the committee of Chinese Early Childhood Teacher Training. Renate Breipohl-Long from the Rudolf-Steiner Waldorf International Early Childhood association will oversee the program ensuring the quality of the training course.

The course is conducted in English with Chinese translation. We welcome our friends from all over the world.

The first models has been conducted by Thanh Cherry, Tammy Hughes and Li Zhang led the first section of the training course, which took place from August 5 to 17. Thanh Cherry led the morning lecture block. Tammy Hughes led the handwork and Li Zhang led the water color painting. The course started from 8:45 AM till 5:30 Pm daily. It was quite intense. People wanted to get the most out of such short time. No one complained that it was too heady or too much work. We try to bring an Anthroposophical style to the workshops by engaging people in artistic expression and singing. It works beautifully. Many people felt revived, refreshed and touched in their hearts from their time with us. There were tears and hugs at the end of the course when everyone said goodbye to each other. The course has become a time of healing for many people. Some said that the course has been a new birth to them 

The two weeks course covers a great deal, although some subjects which we covers in a day or two really need four weeks to cover the curriculum of full time training course. 

Course Content

General Anthroposophy

Human Being as a Spiritual Being:

Threefold human being; Fourfold human being;

Sevenfold  human being

Evolution of Consciousness

Spiritual Beings in the Spiritual world

Elemental Beings in the world of Nature

Inner development of the teacher

Reincarnation and Karma

Biography, Life cycle and Destiny

Cycle of the year, with emphasis on the region

 

Education and Child Development

Embryology

The incarnating child: stages of development and related problems

Education of the senses – the 12 senses

Constitutional types

First grade readiness

Health and diseases in young children

Children with special needs

The four temperaments

Education of the Will

Imitation, Imagination and fantasy

Rhythm, Repetition and Reverence 

Pedagogical and Practical Work in the Kindergarten

Child Observation

Child Study

Understanding children’s drawings and paintings

Morning Circles and Games

Finger and Hand gesture Games

Celebrating festivals: with emphasis on regional festivals

Children’s play

Puppetry and Storytelling: emphasis on folk and fairy tales of the region

Toys in the kindergarten

Creative discipline

Children’s songs: pentatonic and mood of the fifth

Rhythm in the life of the child & Rhythm in the kindergarten

Working with parents

Working with colleagues

Community building and School organization

Kindergarten architecture and set-up

Arts & Crafts (for teachers & for children) 

Sewing

Knitting

Doll making and other soft toys

Plant dyeing

Eurythmy

Speech

Painting

Drawing

Sculpture

Beeswax modeling

Singing

Instrumental music – Lyre playing

Wood carving

Time devoted to groups of subjects

Child Development – Number of sessions: 60

Child Observation and Child Study – Number of sessions: 20