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Renewal Courses

Week-long, certificate earning professional development courses designed to nourish and inspire your body, soul, and spirit.

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Deepen your relationship with Waldorf education and anthroposophy, through community connections and engagement with the arts.

Welcome to Renewal

Renewal Courses offer a nourishing, practical, and inspiring professional development experience rooted in Waldorf pedagogy. Designed to support educators in preparing for the year ahead, Renewal Courses bring together teachers from around the world in a shared experience of learning, artistry, and connection. Courses offer educators the opportunity to step back, reconnect with purpose, and prepare thoughtfully for the year ahead—whether you join us in person or online. Grounded in best practices in Waldorf education and responsive to the needs of today’s classrooms, each course supports teachers in deepening their understanding of child development through the lens of anthroposophy and engagement with the arts, strengthening curriculum practice across all core subjects, and renewing confidence in their work. Through guided study, practical application, and shared inquiry, participants engage in meaningful professional learning that honors both individual pathways and collective wisdom. Wherever and however you join us, you’ll be part of a vibrant learning community dedicated to meeting children and students with clarity, creativity, and care.

What are Renewal Courses?

Renewal Courses are designed to meet the different needs of class teachers, special subject teachers, pedagogical leaders, homeschool parents, mentors, and teacher trainees who are serving in both independent and public Waldorf education.

Each summer, hundreds of educators join us from across the U.S. and many countries worldwide, forming a vibrant global community of practice, both in-person and online.

What Is a Renewal Course?

A Renewal Course integrates pedagogy, artistic engagement, movement, best practices, and inner life development into a whole-teacher experience.

In every Renewal Course, participants will explore:

Child development and age-appropriate learning
Core academic subjects (Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science) through a Waldorf pedagogical lens
Social–emotional learning practices that support healthy classroom relationships and culture
Differentiated teaching strategies to meet the diverse learning needs of students
Artistic and movement-based approaches that support engagement and learning
Practical guidance for the year ahead through suggested block planning and classroom inspirations
Connection and collaboration with educators teaching the same grade or walking similar professional paths

What You’ll Take Home

Every Renewal Course is designed to support you before, during, and long after the summer experience.

All Renewal Courses In-Person and Online Provide

Clear curriculum frameworks for your grade or focus area
Practical teaching approaches, strategies and lesson planning ideas
Renewed confidence and clarity for the year ahead
New found collegial connections with fellow educators and mentors
Year-long access to electronic resources
Artistic inspiration and embodied learning experiences
Downloadable curriculum resources and teaching materials
Inspiration drawn from shared space, place, and community

Registration Opens February 1, 2026

HOUSING & MEALS INFO & REGISTRATION

Karen Atkinson

Director of Renewal

Contact Karen directly with questions about the program.

Two Ways to Participate

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Wilton, NH

Week 1: Renewal and Inspiration In-Person

An immersive, community-centered experience with daily intellectual and artistic practice, movement, keynote lectures, community singing, and shared wholesome meals.

Click to View Week 1 Schedule

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Option 1: Teaching Grades 1–8 “Choose your Grade”

Option 2: Teaching Special Subjects Classes in Waldorf Education

Option 3: Movement Education and Renewal Through the Grades

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

By participating in an In-Person Renewal Course, educators will:

Deepen their understanding of child development through direct observation, dialogue, and shared pedagogical inquiry
Strengthen confidence in teaching core academic subjects through hands-on, experiential, and artistic practice
Engage in embodied learning through movement, eurythmy, music, and visual arts that support classroom vitality and holistic learning
Develop practical tools for lesson planning, curriculum pacing, and year-long organization
Explore strategies for supporting diverse learners within a living classroom community
Refine classroom leadership and presence through collegial exchange and reflective practice
Build lasting professional relationships with educators teaching the same grade
Leave with tangible artistic work, curriculum materials, and practical guidance to support your planning for the school year ahead

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

with lead instructors

A complete Waldorf Renewal for your grade. Each grade course offers an integrated exploration of core subjects and learning approaches grounded in the developmental needs of the child at that level of age. Explore child development, curriculum, core subjects, and artistic teaching methods tailored to your grade. Gain clarity, inspiration, and practical tools to carry you confidently into the school year.

Focus Areas:

Child development and the child’s changing consciousness
Curriculum overview, goals, and lesson structure
Academic and social-emotional wellness content across the year
Artistic and practical teaching methods
Pedagogical clarity to meet learners of different needs in today’s classrooms
Place based teaching and learning

Teaching First Grade: Laying Foundations for Lifelong Learning
In-Person with Sarah Galligan

The first-grade year is a momentous and imaginative threshold. Children step fully into grade school life, encountering learning through story, movement, rhythm, artistry, and meaningful work. The first-grade teacher carries the essential task of forming a cohesive class community while laying the foundations for reading, writing, and arithmetic in a way that nourishes the whole child.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet this pivotal year with clarity, confidence, and joy.
Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of first-grade teaching, including:

Storytelling and Imagination
Choosing and telling stories that enliven learning and speak to the developmental needs of the first grader.

Movement, Rhythm, and Sensory Integration
Circle work, games, verses, and rhythmic activities that support healthy learning and embodied understanding.

Artistic Practice
Guided drawing, form drawing, painting, chalkboard art, and beeswax modeling as foundations for academic and soul development.

Curriculum Foundations
Language arts and mathematics through Rudolf Steiner’s indications, thoughtfully adapted for children today.

Nature, Festivals, and Reverence
Integrating seasonal rhythms, nature study, crafts, and festivals to deepen connection and meaning.

Classroom Life and Social-Emotional Learning
Establishing rhythms, fostering respectful relationships, and creating inclusive classrooms that support belonging and community.

Additional Course Offerings — In-Person (Grades 1–5)
This course also includes Eurythmy with Alexandra Spadea, offering developmentally appropriate movement experiences that support embodiment, balance, and learning readiness across the grades. Participants will also engage in Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, providing practical and inspiring approaches to cultivating a rich musical life in the classroom, as well as Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, offering immersive artistic experiences that strengthen teaching practice, creativity, and inner renewal.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and the inspiration to guide their class through this transformative year – laying strong foundations for learning, community, and lifelong growth.

Read Sarah's bio

Born and raised in New Hampshire, Sarah Galligan landed in the Monadnock Region 16 years ago to undertake Waldorf teacher training, and never left. During that time, she has held many roles working with children and families, including Director of Davis Public Library, Founding Director and Lead Teacher of Calendula Garden Children’s Center, and Kindergarten Teacher at Monadnock Waldorf School. This is her fourth year teaching first grade at Gathering Waters Charter School. Sarah holds a BA in Fine Arts from Franklin Pierce University and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education with a Waldorf teaching certificate from Antioch University New England. Sarah is inspired by an unwavering commitment of Waldorf Education to meet the needs of children today through developmentally appropriate curriculum and its creative and holistic approach. Sarah lives in Keene and loves to spend time with her family and in her garden.

Teaching Second Grade: Meeting the Child at the Threshold of Imagination and Moral Awakening
In-Person with Jen Persinotti

Second grade is a year of transition and awakening. Children stand at a meaningful threshold between early and middle childhood, ready to engage more consciously with a world that now reveals its contrasts – virtue and mischief, strength and vulnerability, truth and imperfection. Building on the self-assurance gained in first grade, second graders enter new academic, emotional, and social territory with curiosity and intensity.

Through story, humor, and imagination, children explore the duality of human nature. Tales of heroic individuals and traditional fables offer a developmentally appropriate mirror through which students can reflect on themselves and their relationships to others. At the same time, academic work deepens: reading instruction becomes more fluent, writing grows into fuller composition, and mathematics begins its gradual movement from concrete experience toward abstraction.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet the richness of the second-grade year with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of second-grade teaching, including:

Story and Moral Imagination
Working with stories of saints and heroic individuals, legends, and fables to support moral development, self-reflection, and imaginative engagement.

Movement, Rhythm, and Sensory Integration
Circle work, rhythmic games, verses, and movement activities that foster harmony, focus, and embodied learning.

Artistic Practice
Guided drawing, form drawing, beeswax modeling, and wet-on-wet watercolor painting as integral supports for academic, emotional, and soul development.

Curriculum Foundations
Language arts and mathematics through Rudolf Steiner’s indications, thoughtfully adapted to meet the needs of today’s second graders.

Nature, Festivals, and Reverence
Integrating seasonal rhythms, nature study, crafts, and festivals to nurture reverence and connection to the natural world.

Classroom Life and Social-Emotional Learning
Establishing healthy rhythms, supporting peer relationships, and creating inclusive classrooms where every child feels a sense of belonging.

Teacher Practice and Planning
Guidance for year planning, block rotations, classroom management, parent communication, and sustaining oneself in the work of teaching.

Additional Course Offerings — In-Person (Grades 1–5)
This course also includes Eurythmy with Alexandra Spadea, offering developmentally appropriate movement experiences that support embodiment, balance, and learning readiness across the grades. Participants will also engage in Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, providing practical and inspiring approaches to cultivating a rich musical life in the classroom, as well as Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, offering immersive artistic experiences that strengthen teaching practice, creativity, and inner renewal.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and inspired ideas to guide their students through this year of contrasts – supporting growth, moral imagination, and a joyful love of learning.

Read Jen's bio

As a second-generation Waldorf teacher and a former student of Pine Hill Waldorf School in Wilton, New Hampshire, Jen Perinotti has been connected to Waldorf education from her earliest years. She has been a class teacher at the Waldorf School of Philadelphia for eleven years, graduating the class of 2021, and now leading the class of 2029. Jen enjoys bringing the rich Waldorf curriculum to life and is passionate about creating spaces of belonging for her students, honoring the unique gifts that every child has to offer. She holds a BSE in Earth and Space Science from Millersville University and received her Waldorf teacher training certificate from Sunbridge Institute.

Teaching Third Grade: Grounding the Child in Work, World, and Community
In-Person with Kris Ritz

Third grade is a deeply formative year, marked by an inner shift as children begin to experience themselves more consciously in relationship to the world around them. As their sense of self strengthens, students seek reassurance, purpose, and connection through meaningful work, clear structure, and lived experience. This year invites children to engage more fully with the earth, their community, and the rhythms of daily life.

Through practical activity, rich storytelling, and hands-on learning, third graders explore essential human experiences—building, cultivating, cooking, and caring for the land. These studies provide both emotional grounding and intellectual engagement, helping children develop confidence, responsibility, and a growing sense of stewardship. Academic work is strengthened through purposeful application, as language arts, mathematics, and artistic processes are woven into lived experience.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, pedagogical insight, and practical tools for teachers preparing to meet the third-grade year with clarity, warmth, and developmental understanding.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of third-grade teaching, including:

Story and Human Experience
Working with stories from the Hebrew Bible, Native American traditions, and other cultural narratives that speak to humanity’s relationship with the earth, work, and community.

Practical Work and Experiential Learning
Gardening, farming studies, cooking, building, and local crafts that ground learning in purposeful activity and foster responsibility, resilience, and connection to the natural world.

Movement, Rhythm, and Daily Lesson Life
Establishing supportive daily rhythms through movement, practice work, storytelling, and bookwork that bring structure, reassurance, and balance to the school day.

Artistic Practice
Form drawing, painting, color blending, and other artistic processes that support integration, expression, and cognitive and emotional development.

Curriculum Foundations
Language arts, mathematics, and social studies presented through developmentally appropriate frameworks that connect academic content to lived experience.
Music and Singing Developmentally aligned songs, rhythms, and musical activities that strengthen class community, support emotional life, and enliven daily classroom practice.

Classroom Life and Social-Emotional Learning
Creating a classroom culture that fosters belonging, cooperation, and trust as children navigate growing independence and social awareness.

Teacher Practice and Planning
Guidance for year planning, block sequencing, classroom organization, parent communication, and sustaining oneself in the work of teaching.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical resources, and inspired clarity to guide students through this grounding and transformative year—supporting connection, responsibility, and a deepened relationship to the world.

Read Chris's bio

Kris Ritz joined the Emerson Waldorf School community in 2008. Currently, she is enjoying the hearty and robust students of the upper grades and all that is unfolding in the various blocks of study presented. Before returning to North Carolina, she was a class teacher at the Austin Waldorf School and spent a year at Plowshare Farm, an anthroposophical life-sharing community. Born in Upstate New York, Kris graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. During a career in advertising, she discovered Waldorf education, returned to school, and earned a Waldorf certificate and Master’s degree from Antioch New England Graduate School. Whether supporting the efforts of the students in the classroom or working with third grade teachers as it relates to the curriculum and the developmental threshold of the 9-/10-year change, Kris is inspired by the questions, answers, and “Ahas!” that unfold while working and learning together in community.

Teaching Fourth Grade: Exploring Individuality, World, and Belonging
In-Person with Irene Richardson

Fourth grade is a dynamic and transformative year. Children are increasingly grounded and capable, ready to meet new academic challenges, while also awakening more fully to their own individuality and to the differences they perceive in others. As the dreamy qualities of early childhood recede, fourth graders develop sharper awareness, stronger opinions, and a growing capacity for critical thinking. This lively developmental moment offers rich opportunities for self-reflection, social growth, and deepened connection to the world.

Through story, inquiry, and experiential learning, students explore themes of courage, individuality, community, and responsibility. Norse and Yoruba myths provide powerful archetypal images that speak to the child’s emerging sense of self, while studies of local geography and history foster belonging and place-consciousness. Animal studies invite students to observe the natural world with curiosity and discernment, discovering both differences and relationships as they reflect on what it means to be human.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, pedagogical insight, and practical tools for teachers preparing to meet the fourth-grade year with confidence, creativity, and developmental understanding.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of fourth-grade teaching, including:

Story, Myth, and Cultural Imagination
Working with myths and Native American stories to explore themes of individuality, strength, moral choice, and relationship within community.

Human–Animal Studies and Natural World Exploration
Animal studies that invite careful observation, comparison, and reflection, supporting intellectual curiosity and a growing sense of relationship between humanity and nature.

Geography, History, and Sense of Place
Local geography and history studies that strengthen students’ connection to their environment and foster a grounded sense of belonging.

Movement, Rhythm, and Classroom Life
Supporting focus, social development, and healthy learning through rhythmical lesson structures, movement, and practical classroom activities.

Artistic Practice
Form drawing, painting, and artistic work that deepen understanding, support integration, and provide expressive pathways for cognitive and emotional development.

Curriculum Foundations
Language arts, grammar, literature, mathematics (including fractions), and social studies presented through developmentally appropriate and integrated Waldorf frameworks.

Classroom Life and Social-Emotional Learning
Guidance for navigating peer dynamics, fostering inclusion, supporting social awareness, and creating a classroom culture grounded in respect and belonging.

Teacher Practice, Planning, and Wellness
Practical tools for lesson planning, assessment, classroom management, parent communication, and sustaining a healthy work-life balance.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical resources, and inspired clarity to guide students through this year of growing independence—supporting curiosity, courage, connection, and a strong sense of belonging.

Read Irene's bio

Irene Richardson is currently serving as gardening teacher and pedagogical chair support at the River Valley Waldorf School. She has served as class teacher to three groups of Waldorf students, in Princeton, Tucson, and Philadelphia. A love of mythology and folklore, the natural world, and growing things were common threads that ran through her undergraduate degree in comparative religion at Bard College, her master’s in education at Sunbridge College, and her certificate in biodynamics at the Pfeiffer Center. When she is not teaching, Irene is supporting collaborative leadership and self-development in Waldorf schools through her work as an AWSNA delegate. She is enthusiastic about the work of carrying Waldorf education forward into its second century and toward liberation for all. She balances her work life with time exploring forests and museums with her child and collecting stacks of books she hopes to read eventually.

Teaching Fifth Grade: Harmony, Growth, and Curiosity
In-Person with Jen Kershaw

Fifth grade is a year of balance, exploration, and curiosity. Students stand confidently with “feet on the ground and eyes to the heavens,” ready to engage academically, socially, and artistically with the world around them. They approach learning with enthusiasm and wonder, eager to explore its patterns, relationships, and mysteries. As teachers, we meet this energy with a rich, expansive curriculum designed to nurture the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, socially, and artistically.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for educators preparing to meet fifth graders with clarity, creativity, and confidence.
Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of fifth-grade teaching, including:

History and Cultural Studies
Exploring ancient civilizations, legends, and stories of diverse peoples to illuminate universal human themes, nurture empathy, and connect students to the broader world.

Geography and Science
Studying North America’s landscapes, biomes, and native cultures, alongside botany and the plant world’s unique gestures, deepening students’ connection to the earth and its living systems.

Mathematics and Practical Application
Transitioning from form drawing to freehand geometry, decimals, and practical math, supporting both intellectual rigor and imaginative engagement.

Artistic Practice and Creative Engagement
Painting, modeling, drawing, crafts, and other artistic experiences that foster self-expression, collaboration, and a healthy class community.

Story, Music, and Singing
Integrating story, song, and singing to strengthen memory, rhythm, and social-emotional development. Music and voice are woven into daily classroom life to inspire wonder and deepen learning.

Classroom Life and Social-Emotional Learning
Building rhythms, fostering respect and inclusion, and creating a safe, joyful, and supportive learning environment for all students.

Teacher Practice and Planning
Guidance on year-long planning, block rotations, classroom management, parent collaboration, and addressing the diverse needs of your students while sustaining yourself in the work of teaching.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and inspiration to guide their fifth graders through this pivotal year—supporting intellectual growth, artistic expression, social-emotional development, and a love of learning.
View Instructor’s Bio (drop down menu)

Read Jen's bio

Jen Kershaw earned her B.A. in Acting/Theater Performance from the University of South Florida, a Masters of Science in Education from Wheelock College in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Waldorf Teaching Certificate from Antioch University New England. In the theater world, she performed with Metro Theater Company from St. Louis, Missouri, performing and teaching workshops across the United States. Jen has been teaching in classrooms for twenty – five years, first as an artist educator, then as a middle school math and history teacher, and finally as a Waldorf class teacher. For the past six years, Jen has been a member of the adjunct faculty at Antioch University New England, where she has taught classes in Math, Language Arts, and Drama. A class teacher at heart, in 2011, she joined the faculty at High Mowing School as a class teacher and with her special education degree has also served as the Educational Support Coordinator for the past seven years. In 2018, Jen completed the eight-year journey as a class teacher and recently finished seventh grade with her second class.

Preparing for Seventh Grade: Meeting Students at the Threshold of Adolescence
In-Person with Sarah Azzinaro

Seventh grade can be a turbulent time for students, teachers, and parents, as early adolescents navigate shifting dynamics and the search for independence. Yet, the rich seventh-grade curriculum offers an antidote to disaffection, engaging students’ curiosity, creativity, and sense of wonder. From perspective drawing to discovering the golden ratio in nature, this year is filled with subjects that capture imaginations and expand worldviews—providing the perfect tools to meet students where they are.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet this pivotal year with confidence, clarity, and creativity.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of seventh-grade teaching, including:

Curriculum Blocks and Creative Exploration
Presentations and discussions on each traditional seventh-grade block, including history, math, perspective drawing, and more, with strategies to deliver content in ways that excite, challenge, and motivate students.

Child Development and Social-Emotional Learning
Insights into the developmental shifts of seventh graders, including identity formation, social dynamics, and ethical inquiry, with practical strategies for supporting students’ growth with empathy and creativity.

Arts and Rhythm
Incorporating artistic activities, movement, and rhythm into the classroom to foster focus, creativity, and embodied learning.

Social Justice and Representation
Exploring ways to integrate themes of justice, diversity, and decolonization into the curriculum, cultivating relevance, critical thinking, and inclusive engagement.

Practical Guidance for Teachers
Resources and strategies for lesson planning, classroom management, parent communication, and balancing the demands of teaching with self-care and professional development.

Additional Course Offerings
This course also includes Eurythmy with Alexandra Spadea, supporting movement, coordination, and embodied learning appropriate to the middle school years. Participants will engage in Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell and Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, offering meaningful artistic renewal and practical classroom applications.

By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and inspiration to guide students through the transformative challenges of seventh grade—fostering curiosity, imagination, and meaningful engagement with the world.

Read Julia's bio

Sarah Azzinaro is very grateful for having been introduced to Waldorf Education during her college years and discovering the learning methodology she craved and longed for as a child. As a Waldorf teacher, she is dedicated to awakening the potential of each child in her care, so that they can develop into lifelong learners with the ability to see what is hidden and wanting recognition. She earned her B.F. A in Theatre Arts from Cornish College of The Arts, a Fine Arts Certificate in Early Renaissance Art History from Scuola Internazionale d’Arte Santa Reparata Campus di Firenze, and an M.Ed. in Waldorf Elementary Education and Integrated Learning from Antioch University New England. For six years, Sarah was a professional actress in New York City, discovering teaching when hired to work as a teaching artist for three years with The Missoula Children’s Theatre. Since 2013, Sarah Azzinaro has taught at The Brooklyn Waldorf School, Sophia’s Hearth, The Monadnock Waldorf School, and Pine Hill at High Mowing School. She has served as an AWSNA delegate for the past 4 years. In 2025, she graduated the eighth grade class from High Mowing School. She is now headed into third grade with her second class. When she is not teaching, she enjoys crafting, pickling and canning, traveling, hiking, practicing yoga, and learning Italian.

Teaching Eighth Grade: Cultivating Independence, Insight, and Community
In-Person with Sonya Schewe

Eighth grade is a year of consolidation, growth, and emerging leadership. Students continue to emerge into adolescence, developing a stronger sense of self, navigating complex social relationships, and seeking to understand the world with curiosity, reflection, and critical thought. This pivotal year offers the opportunity for students to deepen their academic, social, and artistic capacities while stepping confidently into leadership roles within their school community.

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet this transformative year with confidence, creativity, and insight.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of eighth-grade teaching, including:

History and Biography
Exploring revolutions from the American and French Revolutions to the Industrial Revolution and the U.S. Civil War, and studying the lives of change-makers, students gain a window into leadership, courage, and societal insight.

Science and Exploration
Hands-on experiences in Meteorology, Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics bring scientific principles to life and connect students to the natural world.

Language Arts and Artistic Practice
Short stories, creative writing, and artistic projects—drawing, painting, and visual arts—support both intellectual and imaginative development.

Story, Myth, and Cultural Imagination
Working with myths, legends, and diverse cultural stories to explore individuality, moral choice, and relationships within community.

Movement, Rhythm, and Social-Emotional Learning
Incorporating movement, class plays, and rhythms to foster focus, self-awareness, and a sense of shared responsibility.

Classroom Life and Teacher Practice
Guidance on planning, block rotations, classroom management, parent communication, and supporting students’ growing independence while modeling healthy self-development for yourself as a teacher.

In addition, Teaching Science in Grades 6–8 with Will Minehart provides hands-on, developmentally aligned approaches to physics, chemistry, and earth sciences, supporting adolescent curiosity, critical thinking, and experiential learning.
By the end of the course, teachers leave with renewed confidence, practical tools, and the inspiration to guide students through this pivotal year—cultivating independence, insight, and community while preparing them for the transition into high school.

Read Sonya's bio

Sonya Schewe has a BA from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC, in Sociology and Anthropology. She earned her M.Ed. from Antioch University New England, where she also received her Waldorf teacher certification in 2008. Sonya is in her nineteenth year at the Cincinnati Waldorf School teaching as a class teacher. She took her first class grades 1-8, her second class 3-8, and is currently in her fifth grade year with a class she started with in first grade. Prior to working at the Cincinnati Waldorf School, she worked as a kindergarten assistant at the Briar Rose School in Columbus, Ohio. She has been involved in Waldorf education and anthroposophy for twenty years. Sonya is the mother of three amazing children, she teaches belly dancing, she dabbles in the fiber arts, she loves drawing portraits, and loves to spend time outside in nature.

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

Eurythmy
with Alexandra Spadea

offering developmentally appropriate movement experiences that support embodiment, balance, and learning readiness across the grades.

Read Alexandra's bio

Alexandra Spadea grew up in a Waldorf school in Germany, where she developed a lifelong love for eurythmy. She completed her professional eurythmy training at the Elena Zuccoli School in Dornach, Switzerland, and later graduated from Eurythmy Spring Valley, New York, in 1994 under the directorship of Dorothea Mier.

Alexandra began her teaching career at Green Meadow Waldorf School, where she taught high school eurythmy from 1994–2000 while continuing her artistic work with various ensembles and colleagues. Following a nine-year pause from teaching, she traveled, explored new areas of interest, and, together with her husband, composer John McDowell, farmed their land in Rockland County. In 2005, they welcomed their daughter, Luna (RSS ’23).

Since 2009, Alexandra has been a dedicated member of the Rudolf Steiner School community in New York City, where she teaches eurythmy in grades 7–12 and serves as a class advisor. While teaching full time, she earned her postgraduate B.A. in Eurythmy Pedagogy in 2015–2016.

Teaching Music and Singing
with Meg O’Dell

Practical approaches to cultivate musical life, rhythm, and singing in the classroom.

Read Alexandra's bio

Meg O’Dell loves helping people access their innate capacity for wellness, vitality, and connection. She does this as a somatic coach, supporting individuals and couples in growth, transformation, and healing, and also as a music teacher and vocal mentor. She teaches music at The Bay School, a Waldorf school on the coast of Maine, and leads a large intergenerational all-comers chorus called Misty Mountain Singers. Meg serves as faculty for Antioch University’s Waldorf Teacher Training and CfA’s Waldorf High School Teacher Education Programs. She is a regular instructor for CfA’s the Renewal Courses and introductory Explorations program, and she has taught with LifeWays North America. She received her M.Ed. from Antioch University New England in 2008. Her great joys include spending time with her growing children and visiting the small, misty mountain that rises out of the sea near their home.

Artistic Engagement
with Narsingh Khalsa

Guided artistic practice in drawing, painting, form work, and creative exercises to inspire teaching and inner life development.

Read Narsingh's bio

Narsingh Khalsa is a Waldorf educator and artist with a degree in Education from Prescott College and teacher training from Sunbridge Institute. Currently teaching a combined 2nd and 3rd grade class at the Waldorf School of Princeton, Narsingh brings 18 years of experience teaching fine arts to students from 1st through 12th grade. Passionate about creativity, she enjoys making children’s books, developing Waldorf curriculum for homeschoolers and teachers, and engaging in handwork. Outside the classroom, Narsingh loves hiking, yoga, and exploring the beauty of nature.

Teaching Science in Grades 6–8
with Will Minehart

Hands-on, inquiry-based scientific exploration tailored to middle school students’ developmental needs.

Read Will's bio

Will Minehart’s interest in the natural sciences began during his early youth in rural Pennsylvania, where he spent much of his time hunting, fishing, and birdwatching. He earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Bucknell University, then pursued Ornithological Research and Environmental Education before meeting his wife, starting a family, and becoming a full-time teacher. Before becoming a Waldorf teacher in 2014, he taught science in public high school and was an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. Will currently teaches sciences to grades 6-12 at High Mowing School in New Hampshire.

These offerings provide teachers with practical tools, inspiration, and experiential learning to integrate the arts, rhythm, creativity, and science into classroom practice while supporting their own professional and personal growth.

Teaching Special Subjects Classes in Waldorf Education
In-Person with Jason Child

This Renewal Course is designed for teachers of special subjects seeking deeper alignment with Waldorf pedagogy across all grades. Whether your focus is music, handwork, movement, world languages, gardening, woodworking, or other specialty areas, this course supports you in understanding how your subject integrates with the broader arc of child development and the class teacher’s work.

Participants will explore developmental themes from grades 1–12 and investigate how your teaching can consciously support academic learning, social development, and the emotional life of the child. Through practical pedagogical study, you will examine how rhythm, repetition, artistic process, and age-appropriate challenge can be woven into your lessons with intention and clarity.

The course emphasizes collaboration between special subject and class teachers, offering tools for meaningful communication, shared planning, and curriculum alignment. You will engage with lesson structure, classroom management, assessment, and differentiated instruction, all through a Waldorf lens that honors the diverse needs of mixed-ability classrooms.

Time will be devoted to translating principles into practice: developing lessons that are developmentally appropriate, pedagogically grounded, and adaptable to various school contexts. Participants will leave with renewed confidence in their role, a deeper understanding of how their work supports the whole child, and practical strategies to bring greater coherence, purpose, and inspiration to their teaching.

Read Jason's bio

Jason Child has been teaching in schools ever since he completed his Master’s in Music Education in 1994. He was appointed as Music Director at the Emerson Waldorf School in Chapel Hill, NC in 2005, where he has taught 1st – 12th grade music, choruses, and bands. He has also served as the school’s College and Faculty Chair, as well as coordinator of multiple accreditations.

Jason, who served for ten years on the Leadership Council of the Association of Waldorf Schools of North America (AWSNA), is now mentor, evaluator, and consultant to Waldorf schools throughout North America. He began teaching in the AWSNA teacher training program in Cuernavaca, Mexico in 2017, was the keynote speaker for AWSNA’s Mexican schools seminar 2015-2017, and has presented numerous workshops within and outside of Waldorf circles. The father of four Waldorf students, Jason loves exploring Waldorf pedagogy with seasoned experts and newcomers alike.

Movement Education and Renewal Through the Grades
In-Person with Jan Lyndes, Kim John Payne, Will Crane, Marie Douce Dorion & Jane Swain

This Renewal Course offers an embodied, pedagogically grounded exploration of how movement supports learning, self-regulation, social health, and healthy development from early childhood through adolescence. Designed for movement teachers, class teachers, and pedagogical leaders, the course integrates Waldorf developmental understanding with practical movement education across the grades.

Participants will experience age-appropriate movement practices that support balance, coordination, spatial orientation, emotional regulation, and social connection. Through study, observation, and practice, teachers will deepen their understanding of movement as a foundational support for academic learning, wellbeing, and inclusion in today’s classrooms.

What this Course Offers:

Foundations of Waldorf Movement Pedagogy
Movement Education in the School Community
Applied Movement Modalities
Therapeutic and Supportive Movement Perspectives
Learning Focus & Outcomes

Throughout the course, participants will:

Deepen their understanding of child development through movement from early childhood through adolescence
Strengthen pedagogical clarity around why and how movement supports learning, regulation, and social health
Gain practical tools and adaptable movement practices for classroom, gym, playground, and therapeutic contexts
Explore inclusive, relationship-centered approaches that support belonging and differentiated learning needs
Renew their own connection to movement as a source of vitality, insight, and professional growth
This course offers both renewal and rigor-supporting teachers in bringing movement education forward with greater confidence, coherence, and purpose.

Participants will leave with a renewed sense of their role, expanded pedagogical understanding, and a rich repertoire of practices to support healthy development throughout the grades.

Read Jan's bio

Jan Lyndes is an experienced Waldorf educator and mentor with over thirty years in both Waldorf and diverse educational settings. She holds degrees in Fine Arts and Education, as well as Waldorf Teacher Certification from Antioch University New England, and has spent the past fifteen years studying Spacial Dynamics®. Jan has taught Movement at the Monadnock Waldorf School and Gathering Waters Charter School and has mentored teachers through Antioch and the Center for Anthroposophy. Her work is deeply informed by studies in anthroposophy, curative education, Extra Lesson, and her early background in Deaf Education and ASL interpretation. Her years living off the land in Alaska continue to inspire her commitment to human development and the spiritual foundations of Waldorf education.

Read Will's bio

Will Crane brings more than three decades of experience as both a class teacher and director of physical education at Green Meadow Waldorf School. Today, he expands his work in movement education through teaching Spacial Dynamics® in adult education and professional programs including Sunbridge Institute, the Fiber Craft Studio, and the Christian Community Seminary. Will also serves as a movement therapist at the Otto Specht School and supports Waldorf teachers internationally as a mentor and consultant. He completed his Foundation Year and teacher training at Rudolf Steiner College and is a long-standing faculty member of the Spacial Dynamics Institute.

Read Kim's bio

Kim John Payne is a renowned educator, researcher, and best-selling author of Simplicity Parenting, The Soul of Discipline, and several other influential works on child development and social health. A Waldorf movement educator and school counselor for nearly three decades, he also served as Co-Director of the British School of Bothmer Movement and founded the Antioch Collaborative Waldorf School and Family Counseling Program. Kim is the founding director of both the Simplicity Parenting Institute and the Center for Social Sustainability. He has trained over 1,500 Simplicity Parenting coaches worldwide and worked with hundreds of schools on integrative student support. His work has been featured in major media outlets internationally, and his books have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Read Marie's bio

Marie Douce is a movement educator and therapist whose path began as a circus performer and teacher in Mexico, where she experienced the transformative power of circus arts for children’s confidence, collaboration, and joy. After moving to New Hampshire, she completed ten years of Spatial Dynamics training and is certified at Level III. She teaches movement at Pine Hill Waldorf School, maintains a private therapeutic practice, and collaborates internationally—traveling to Asia with Jaimen McMillan to train educators in circus arts and embodied, connective learning.

Read Jane's bio

Jane Swain is Associate Director and core faculty at Sophia’s Hearth and is a pediatric physical therapist, movement therapist, and Level III Spatial Dynamics trainer. She is also certified in Bothmer Gymnastics, Sensory Integration Praxis, and Neuro-developmental Treatment in pediatrics, and has studied at the Pikler Institute in Budapest. Jane formerly taught movement in the early grades at the Monadnock Waldorf School and has long supported children through private practice and classroom consultation. She teaches nationally and internationally and is the author of Free Movement from the Very Start, Volume 1, with Volume 2 forthcoming.

Community Gatherings In-Person, June 28 - July 3, 2026

Community Gatherings bring together participants attending Renewal Courses and the Mentor Training Program, twice daily, at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Daily Keynote with Carol Ann Bärtges Spiritual Cognition: How Wonder, Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition Inform our Work

Eurythmy with Alexandra Spadea

Midday Community Singing with Meg O’Dell

Evening Events In-Person

Monday, June 29, 2026
Evening Lecture : The Five Circles of Love and Friendship with Kim John Payne

“Helping students navigate their class social dynamics and adults to calibrate the complexities of collegial relationships”

Join us for an illuminating evening lecture with Kim John Payne exploring the Five Circles of Love and Friendship. This thoughtful presentation offers practical insights for helping students navigate the social dynamics of their classes, while also supporting adults in skillfully calibrating the complexities of collegial relationships. Grounded in warmth, clarity, and real-world experience, this evening invites reflection, understanding, and renewed capacity for fostering healthy relationships in both educational and professional communities.

Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Affinity Group Connections with Renewal Faculty

Join us for an engaging session of mutual support and shared wisdom. Affinity group connections are dynamic roundtable forums designed to foster collaboration, exchange, and community among Waldorf educators. These interactive sessions offer teachers preparing to enter their next grade an opportunity to gain insights, ideas, and best practices directly from colleagues who have recently completed teaching that grade.

Teachers who have just completed a grade can share their experiences, challenges, and successes, providing invaluable guidance to those stepping into new roles. These conversations are also inclusive and supportive for special subject teachers, pedagogical leaders, and anyone wishing to deepen their engagement with movement practices, arts integration, curriculum development, or broader Waldorf pedagogy. Participants leave inspired, connected, and equipped with practical strategies to enhance their classroom work and professional growth.

Thursday, July 2, 2026
Live Music and Contra Dancing with Carey Bluhm, Gordon Peery, and Diane Goodman

Join us for a joyful evening of live music and contra dancing with Carey Bluhm, Gordon Peery, and Diane Goodman. Come move, laugh, and connect through spirited music and shared rhythm in a welcoming, celebratory atmosphere. This lively gathering offers a perfect opportunity to unwind, enjoy community, and end the day energized and uplifted for a memorable summer start.

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Attending a summer course in person offers more than just professional inspiration and community connections—it’s an opportunity for deep personal rejuvenation. Take time to relax and nurture your well-being by indulging in some much-needed self-care.

Choose from a variety of wellness offerings designed to nourish your soul and body. Whether you seek quiet reflection, hands-on healing, or artistic renewal, these options are crafted to support your journey of self-care and rejuvenation.

Wellness sign-up options will be available in the spring—stay tuned to secure your moments of personal renewal!

Holistic Custom Facial with Kira Atkinson
Healing Massage with Lilliana Rivera
Restorative Yoga and Meditation with Allison Kibler
Forest Bathing Explorations with Will Minehart
Guided Bird Walk with Will Minehart

Artistic Engagement for the Soul with Chenoa Pelligra

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

From Your Own Chosen Location

Week 2: Renewal and Inspiration Online

Global connection. Live learning: Virtual, interactive Renewal Courses for Grades 1–8, offering global connection, pedagogical depth, and year-long access to resources.

Click to View Week 2 Schedule

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Option 1: Teaching Grades 1–8 “Choose your Grade”

Option 2: Teaching Special Subjects Classes in Waldorf Education

Option 3: Movement Education and Renewal Through the Grades

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

By participating in an In-Person Renewal Course, educators will:

Deepen their understanding of child development through direct observation, dialogue, and shared pedagogical inquiry
Strengthen confidence in teaching core academic subjects through hands-on, experiential, and artistic practice
Engage in embodied learning through movement, eurythmy, music, and visual arts that support classroom vitality and holistic learning
Develop practical tools for lesson planning, curriculum pacing, and year-long organization
Explore strategies for supporting diverse learners within a living classroom community
Refine classroom leadership and presence through collegial exchange and reflective practice
Build lasting professional relationships with educators teaching the same grade
Leave with tangible artistic work, curriculum materials, and practical guidance to support your planning for the school year ahead

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

with lead instructors

Focus Areas:

Child development and the child’s changing consciousness
Curriculum overview, goals, and lesson structure
Academic and social-emotional wellness content across the year
Artistic and practical teaching methods
Pedagogical clarity to meet learners of different needs in today’s classrooms
Place based teaching and learning

Preparing for First Grade Online
Online with Lori Kran

Read Sarah's bio

Step into the transformative journey of teaching first grade with confidence, creativity, and purpose. This course offers an inspiring and practical foundation for educators preparing to guide young learners through their first year in the Waldorf approach.

First grade marks a profound developmental milestone for children as they step into the classroom as individuals and as part of a new community. This course equips you with the tools and understanding to meet their unique needs with warmth, artistry, and intention, while also fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for all.

Foundational Insights
Learn Rudolf Steiner’s perspective on child development and how it informs the first-grade experience.

Artistic Education in Action
Explore how to weave academics, arts, and movement into an engaging, holistic curriculum.

Classroom Culture
Discover strategies to build an inclusive and collaborative classroom environment that supports co-creation and restorative practices.

Practical Resources
Receive comprehensive access to electronic resources and materials, including stories, poems, verses, painting and drawing guides, a resource list, and demonstrated movement, speech, song, and artistic techniques.

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for teachers, homeschooling parents, and anyone curious about the Waldorf approach. Whether you’re an experienced educator, new to teaching, or exploring Waldorf education for the first time, you will leave with the tools, inspiration, and confidence to guide a meaningful first-grade year.

Additional Course Offerings
This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing in First Grade with Meg O’Dell, offering practical, developmentally appropriate approaches to cultivating musical life and rhythm in the classroom, as well as Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, providing rich artistic experiences that deepen teaching practice, inner life development, and pedagogical renewal.

Teaching Second Grade: Meeting the Child at the Threshold of Imagination and Moral Awakening
In-Person with Jen Persinotti

For the second-grade teacher, this year is both dynamic and rewarding. The curriculum offers a harmonious balance of reverence, humor, and engaged learning—inviting creativity while supporting strong pedagogical foundations.

What This Course Covers
This course equips teachers with the tools, insight, and inspiration needed to meet the richness of the second-grade year with clarity and confidence.

Curricular Foundations
Selecting stories, songs, and activities that resonate with the developmental needs of second graders.

Artistic Practice
Guided drawing, form drawing, beeswax modeling, and wet-on-wet watercolor painting as integral supports for academic and emotional development.

Movement, Rhythm, and Sensory Integration
Circle work, rhythmic activities, verses, and games that foster classroom harmony, focus, and embodied learning.

Festivals and Nature
Integrating seasonal rhythms, festivals, and nature-based experiences to nurture reverence and connection to the natural world.

Inclusive Classroom Life
Creating environments that support belonging, community, and healthy peer relationships.

Language Arts and Mathematics
Exploring Rudolf Steiner’s indications for language arts and math, thoughtfully adapted to meet the needs of today’s learners.

Teacher Practice and Sustainability
Guidance for year planning, block rotations, classroom management, parent communication, and balancing the demands of teaching with self-care.

What You’ll Take Away
Participants leave the course with a rich collection of practical and inspiring resources, including:

Sample main lesson book pages, songs, poems, and classroom activities
Sample block plans, parent communication templates, and a curated reading list
Artistic projects and ideas to enliven teaching and learning

Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, online educators, and anyone preparing to teach second grade within a Waldorf-inspired framework. Whether you are new to Waldorf education or deepening your practice, this course offers meaningful guidance and support for the journey ahead.

Additional Course Offerings
This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, offering practical and developmentally appropriate approaches to cultivating musical life, rhythm, and song in the classroom, as well as Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, providing rich artistic experiences that deepen teaching practice, creative confidence, and inner renewal.

Join us to explore the heart of second grade—a year of contrasts, growth, and wonder—and leave prepared to meet this transformative year with creativity, confidence, and inspiration.

Jen Persinotti

Read Jen's bio

Preparing for Third Grade Online
Online with Kris Ritz

Third grade is a pivotal year in a child’s development, marked by the profound transition often called the nine-year change. During this time, children awaken to a new sense of individuality and experience themselves as separate from the world around them. This realization can feel unsettling, yet with thoughtful guidance and the grounding structure of the Waldorf curriculum, students find reassurance, purpose, and renewed connection as they step into this next stage of growth.

The third-grade curriculum meets this developmental moment with depth, practicality, and meaning. Through stories, hands-on work, and engagement with the natural and human-made world, children are supported in building trust, responsibility, and a sense of belonging within their community.

Why Third Grade Is So Significant
At this age, children begin to relate more consciously to their surroundings and to the people who shape their daily lives. They develop a growing sense of stewardship for the land and for one another. The curriculum responds through practical, embodied experiences—gardening, cooking, building, farming studies, and local crafts—that anchor learning in real work and lived experience.

These activities are not simply “projects,” but essential support for the child’s emotional life, helping them feel grounded, capable, and connected during this important transition.

What This Course Covers
This course invites teachers to explore the deeper purpose behind each third-grade curriculum block by continually asking: Why is this study essential at this moment in the child’s development?

Curricular Blocks
Study of stories from the Hebrew Bible, Native American traditions, and other foundational narratives that speak to humanity’s relationship with the world.

Daily Lesson Rhythm
Movement, practice work, bookwork, storytelling, and review that create stability and support for children experiencing inner change.

Practical Work and Projects
Ideas for gardening, building, cooking, farming studies, and other hands-on activities that foster connection to the earth and community life.

Artistic Exploration
Form drawing, color blending, and artistic processes that support emotional balance, imagination, and cognitive growth.

Developmental Understanding
Deeper study of the nine-year change, humanity’s archetypal stories, farming, and the child’s evolving relationship to the natural world.

What You’ll Take Away

A rich collection of stories, songs, verses, and practical activities to bring third grade alive
Electronic resource to support teaching throughout the year
Insightful conversations and shared reflection with fellow educators for inspiration and encouragement

Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, online educators, and anyone preparing to teach third grade within a Waldorf-inspired framework. Whether you are new to Waldorf education or deepening your pedagogical practice, this course offers meaningful guidance, practical tools, and community support.

Third grade is often called the “verb year,” as children become active participants in their learning and in the life of their community. This course will prepare you to meet the developmental needs of your students with confidence, clarity, and compassion.

Additional Course Offerings
This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, offering developmentally appropriate ways to cultivate rhythm, song, and musical life that support the child’s emotional and physical grounding, as well as Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, providing rich artistic experiences that strengthen teaching practice, creative confidence, and inner renewal.
Join us as we explore the heart of third grade—building not only lessons, but a meaningful, steady, and inspiring year for your students.

Read Chris's bio

Preparing for Fourth Grade Online
with Irene Richardson

Fourth grade is an exciting and dynamic time in a child’s development. Students are increasingly grounded and capable, ready to meet new academic challenges, while also awakening to differences—between themselves and others, between inner experience and the outer world. As the dreamy qualities of early childhood continue to recede, fourth graders develop a sharper sense of self, often questioning authority, testing social boundaries, and exploring what it means to belong.

This year offers rich opportunities for self-reflection, resilience, and connection. With thoughtful guidance and a curriculum that speaks directly to this developmental stage, teachers can help students navigate growing independence while fostering empathy, responsibility, and community awareness.

Why Fourth Grade Is Unique
The fourth-grade curriculum meets children where they are—curious, questioning, and eager to explore the world with greater clarity. Through myth, geography, history, and natural science, students are invited to engage deeply with themes of individuality, courage, moral choice, and relationship within community.

Mythological stories provide powerful mirrors for the child’s inner life, while studies of local geography and history ground students in their place on the earth. Animal studies allow children to explore human qualities reflected in the natural world, supporting both intellectual understanding and emotional insight.

What This Course Covers
This Renewal Course supports teachers in meeting the developmental needs of fourth graders with clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Curriculum Highlights
Story, myth, and cultural imagination; animal studies; local history and geography; fractions; literature and grammar; form drawing and artistic work.

Lesson Design and Classroom Life
Ideas for plays, projects, class trips, and engaging lessons that foster curiosity, collaboration, and meaningful learning.

Inclusive and Responsive Teaching
Approaches for integrating diversity, justice, and belonging into curriculum content and classroom culture.

Practical Pedagogy
Guidance on lesson planning, classroom management, assessment, and parent communication through a Waldorf lens.

Teacher Well-Being
Strategies for sustaining balance, reflection, and personal well-being while meeting the demands of teaching this lively and complex year.

What You’ll Take Away

A deeper understanding of fourth-grade development and curriculum purpose
Practical lesson ideas, projects, and artistic activities
Tools for fostering inclusion, community, and thoughtful classroom leadership
Renewed confidence and inspiration for guiding students through this pivotal year

Who Should Attend
This course is designed for classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, online educators, and anyone preparing to teach fourth grade within a Waldorf-inspired framework. Both new and experienced teachers will find valuable insights, practical resources, and supportive collegial exchange.

Fourth grade is a time of discovery—inner and outer. As students explore who they are and how they belong, teachers play a vital role in helping them recognize themselves as individuals within a greater whole. This course equips you to create a dynamic, inclusive, and developmentally responsive classroom while inspiring students to embrace the adventure of learning.

Additional Course Offerings
This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, offering practical and developmentally aligned ways to bring rhythm, song, and musical life into the classroom, and Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, providing rich artistic experiences that deepen teaching practice, creative confidence, and inner renewal.

Join us for a week of collaboration, creativity, and exploration as we prepare to lead fourth graders through this transformative year with clarity, joy, and purpose.

Irene Richardson

Read Irene's bio

Preparing for Fifth Grade
Online with Jen Kershaw

Fifth grade is a time of harmony, confidence, and expanding curiosity. Students stand solidly in themselves—often described as having “feet on the ground and eyes to the heavens”—ready to meet the world with openness and enthusiasm. They are increasingly aware of the beauty, order, and diversity of the world around them and eager to explore it with fresh eyes and growing independence.

This pivotal year offers a sense of balance between imagination and emerging intellect. The fifth-grade curriculum meets students at this moment with breadth, beauty, and depth—supporting intellectual awakening, artistic expression, and healthy social development.

Why Fifth Grade Is Special

Fifth graders are transitioning from primarily imaginative learning toward a more conscious, observational understanding of the world. They delight in discovery and begin to connect their inner lives to the broader human story. This developmental moment is often experienced as a golden year—one of grace, curiosity, and increased capacity for meaningful academic and social engagement.

Through history, science, mathematics, geography, and the arts, the curriculum offers students a sense of wholeness and harmony while gently preparing them for the more complex challenges of the upper grades.

What This Course Covers

This Renewal Course prepares educators to meet the unique developmental needs of fifth graders with clarity, creativity, and confidence.

Curriculum Highlights

History: Ancient cultures and civilizations, explored through themes of diversity, balance, and human striving, helping students see themselves reflected in humanity’s shared story.
Geography: An expansion from local studies to the landscapes, biomes, and Indigenous cultures of North America, deepening students’ connection to place and land.
Science: Botany studies that explore the living gestures of the plant world and its relationship to the animal and human realms.
Mathematics: A transition from form drawing to freehand geometry, alongside decimals and practical math presented with clarity and wonder.
The Arts: Painting, modeling, drawing, and handcrafts woven throughout the curriculum to support creativity, balance, and healthy social dynamics.

Beyond the Curriculum

How the fifth-grade curriculum reflects child development and anthroposophical foundations
Practical approaches to classroom management, parent collaboration, and community building
Strategies for meeting diverse learning needs while maintaining joy, inclusion, and rhythm in the classroom

What You’ll Take Away

A deeper understanding of fifth-grade development and curriculum purpose
Practical lesson ideas, artistic activities, and block-planning insights including materials and resources to inspire your planning throughout the year
Tools for cultivating a harmonious and inclusive classroom culture
Renewed inspiration and confidence for teaching this expansive year

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for classroom teachers, homeschooling parents, online educators, and anyone preparing to teach fifth grade within a Waldorf-inspired framework. Both new and experienced teachers will find valuable resources, collegial exchange, and practical guidance.

Fifth grade is a year of balance, beauty, and exploration. As students grow more grounded in themselves and their world, teachers have the opportunity to guide them with a curriculum that inspires curiosity, nurtures connection, and invites wonder. This course equips you with the resources, strategies, and inspiration to create an engaging and meaningful fifth-grade experience.

Additional Course Offerings

This course also includes Teaching Music and Singing with Meg O’Dell, offering practical and developmentally appropriate ways to bring rhythm, song, and musical life into the classroom, and Artistic Engagement with Narsingh Khalsa, providing rich artistic experiences that deepen creative practice, pedagogical insight, and inner renewal.

Join us for a week of collaboration, creativity, and practical preparation as you prepare to lead your fifth graders with confidence, enthusiasm, and joy.

View Instructor’s Bio (drop down menu)

Read Jen's bio

Preparing for Seventh Grade: Meeting Students at the Threshold of Adolescence
In-Person with Sarah Azzinaro

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet this pivotal year with confidence, clarity, and creativity.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of seventh-grade teaching, including:

Arts and Rhythm
Incorporating artistic activities, movement, and rhythm into the classroom to foster focus, creativity, and embodied learning.

Read Julia's bio

Teaching Eighth Grade: Cultivating Independence, Insight, and Community
In-Person with Sonya Schewe

This Renewal Course offers inspiration, practical guidance, and artistic renewal for teachers preparing to meet this transformative year with confidence, creativity, and insight.

Participants will engage deeply with the essential elements of eighth-grade teaching, including:

Science and Exploration
Hands-on experiences in Meteorology, Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics bring scientific principles to life and connect students to the natural world.

Language Arts and Artistic Practice
Short stories, creative writing, and artistic projects—drawing, painting, and visual arts—support both intellectual and imaginative development.

Story, Myth, and Cultural Imagination
Working with myths, legends, and diverse cultural stories to explore individuality, moral choice, and relationships within community.

Movement, Rhythm, and Social-Emotional Learning
Incorporating movement, class plays, and rhythms to foster focus, self-awareness, and a sense of shared responsibility.

Read Sonya's bio

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

Eurythmy
with Alexandra Spadea

offering developmentally appropriate movement experiences that support embodiment, balance, and learning readiness across the grades.

Read Alexandra's bio

Teaching Music and Singing
with Meg O’Dell

Practical approaches to cultivate musical life, rhythm, and singing in the classroom.

Read Alexandra's bio

Artistic Engagement
with Narsingh Khalsa

Guided artistic practice in drawing, painting, form work, and creative exercises to inspire teaching and inner life development.

Read Narsingh's bio

Teaching Science in Grades 6–8
with Will Minehart

Hands-on, inquiry-based scientific exploration tailored to middle school students’ developmental needs.

Read Will's bio

Teaching Special Subjects Classes in Waldorf Education
In-Person with Jason Child

Read Jason's bio

Movement Education and Renewal Through the Grades
In-Person with Jan Lyndes, Kim John Payne, Will Crane, Marie Douce Dorion & Jane Swain

What this Course Offers:

Foundations of Waldorf Movement Pedagogy
Movement Education in the School Community
Applied Movement Modalities
Therapeutic and Supportive Movement Perspectives
Learning Focus & Outcomes

Throughout the course, participants will:

Deepen their understanding of child development through movement from early childhood through adolescence
Strengthen pedagogical clarity around why and how movement supports learning, regulation, and social health
Gain practical tools and adaptable movement practices for classroom, gym, playground, and therapeutic contexts
Explore inclusive, relationship-centered approaches that support belonging and differentiated learning needs
Renew their own connection to movement as a source of vitality, insight, and professional growth
This course offers both renewal and rigor-supporting teachers in bringing movement education forward with greater confidence, coherence, and purpose.

Participants will leave with a renewed sense of their role, expanded pedagogical understanding, and a rich repertoire of practices to support healthy development throughout the grades.

Read Jan's bio

Read Will's bio

Read Kim's bio

Read Marie's bio

Read Jane's bio

Community Gatherings In-Person, June 28 - July 3, 2026

Community Gatherings bring together participants attending Renewal Courses and the Mentor Training Program, twice daily, at 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Daily Keynote with Carol Ann Bärtges Spiritual Cognition: How Wonder, Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition Inform our Work

Eurythmy with Alexandra Spadea

Midday Community Singing with Meg O’Dell

Evening Events In-Person

Monday, June 29, 2026
Evening Lecture : The Five Circles of Love and Friendship with Kim John Payne

“Helping students navigate their class social dynamics and adults to calibrate the complexities of collegial relationships”

Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Affinity Group Connections with Renewal Faculty

Thursday, July 2, 2026
Live Music and Contra Dancing with Carey Bluhm, Gordon Peery, and Diane Goodman

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Wellness sign-up options will be available in the spring—stay tuned to secure your moments of personal renewal!

Holistic Custom Facial with Kira Atkinson
Healing Massage with Lilliana Rivera
Restorative Yoga and Meditation with Allison Kibler
Forest Bathing Explorations with Will Minehart
Guided Bird Walk with Will Minehart

Artistic Engagement for the Soul with Chenoa Pelligra

Already Looking Ahead? Save the Dates for Summer 2026!

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Wilton, NH

A week of personal and professional renewal on the beautiful High Mowing School campus. Replenish body and soul through the arts, self-care, and community connection. Offerings include preparing to teach Grades 1-8 and Teaching Special Subject Classes. Each course supports the inner life of educators and school leaders, while providing fresh approaches, resources, and inspiration for the year ahead.

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

From Your Own Chosen Location

A week-long virtual retreat focused on preparation for teaching Grades 1–8. Learn from our seasoned Renewal faculty, collaborate with colleagues, and gather essential resources—all from the comfort of your summertime setting.

Each Week Includes:

Inspiration. Fresh insights and renewed enthusiasm for your teaching.
Essential Resources. Foundational inspiration grounded in the developmental stages of the child’s changing consciousness; curriculum resources including block plans and guided lesson overviews (the what, why, and how of each topic throughout the year); music and singing resources; guided artistic and movement activities and resources; and even a deep dive into teaching science in the middle school—plus much more to support your year ahead.
Meaningful Connections. Join a supportive network of passionate educators and leaders.

Testimonies from our In-Person Participants

"This Waldorf training was absolutely incredible—truly inspiring, deeply educational, and beautifully delivered. It was rich with wisdom and practical knowledge, and I felt fully supported throughout the experience. Every question I had was answered with care and depth, and I left with even more insight than I could have hoped for. I now feel renewed, inspired, and fully prepared to step into the fourth-grade year with confidence and clarity. With all the resources and guidance shared, this training has been a transformative and empowering experience. I’m so grateful for the opportunity."

"Renewal delivers every time! I come in hoping for inspiration, new materials, revisions of old material, community, new perspectives, and collective spirit - but no expectation! My inner mood is one of a mostly empty cup that’s seeking to be refilled while sharing my remaining drops with others seeking the same - and collectively that seems to happen every year. I have been in person and online and always walk away with a cup that’s overflowing! Thank you to everyone who makes these weeks possible - if only we could engage the entire world in this way it’s the salve we all need!"

"Center for Anthroposophy has been an oasis in the midst of summer planning. It has provided fuel to the flame that fosters my work as a Waldorf Teacher. From art, to singing to all of the details of content and curriculum-they have delivered it all masterfully. Bravo! I will be coming back again and again!" ~ Anna Masters

"I couldn’t have dreamt of a more potent week. (Participant from The Waldorf Journey Grades 1-12)."

"The Renewal course at the Centre for Anthroposophy is always deep and rich. Anthroposophy is reflected in the Leadership and Teachers in a living, flexible, inspiring way. I return to the Centre for Anthroposophy again and again as I prepare to meet the upcoming year of teaching, as the learning offered helps me remember what I am doing and why, and what it means to be a Waldorf Teacher." ~ Torrey MacGrego

"This program was inspiring and truly offered space for renewal. The campus is calm and beautiful, the meals were delicious and healthy, and I left feeling prepared to create for my students. Thank you!" ~ Khadeeja Abdul-Jabbar

"I am absolutely humbled and grateful for having had the chance to join a renewal course. The conversations during the meals with so many people that carry the impulse, the work out of Anthroposophy, the enthusiasm and the willingness to engage and strive to be better human beings. The course for High school and Adolescents was nothing but inspiring and helpful for my work. We had great conversations, shared, gained insights and gathered many tools for my time in the classroom. Thank You! " ~Sarah Schreck

"Gathering among fellow teachers and making new connections atop a hill surrounded by mystical mountains and deep wise forests, opens a healing space for healing education. A beautiful place with beautiful human beings where renewal takes place." ~ Alicia Chang

"Renewal offered an enlivening chance to go deep and unpack a great deal all while keeping spirits joyful. I am truly grateful for all the singing and course nourishment. Thank you." ~Bronwen Prosper

"Renewal was a wonderful course! The quality of instruction was outstanding. It felt fulfilling, meaningful, and focused. The engagement of all of the participants in our grades was wonderful and collegiate, and our cohort intends to stay in touch throughout the year."

"This year’s Renewal was truly a renewal of myself, of my teaching, of my thinking, of my ability to relate to my colleagues, my school, my students and Waldorf Education. Thank you for providing a fertile ground where good seeds for learning and teaching can take root."

I'm so excited and grateful to be in this wonderful and amazing program interacting and connecting with amazing people, I can't plan to miss the next." ~Magesa George

"A breath of fresh air that has been so inspiring!"

Testimonies from our Online Participants

"I loved how open the instructor was to hearing other people's experiences while at the same time sharing her very experienced perspective. She gave ample time for varying perspectives but always gently yet firmly brought things back to the theme of the discussion." ~ (Preparing for Grade 6 Participant)

"The Instructor was energetic, confident, sure of her materials and ready for all of our questions and concerns. She was upbeat, positive, and honest - it was like having a real conversation in real time…I am so hopeful to return to meeting her and all the amazing instructors in person." ~ (Preparing for Grade Two Participant)

"This online renewal course is incredible. The instructors are so talented and inspiring, they bring joy and community as if we were all sitting in one room. All instructors contribute a wealth of support material, so I feel very well equipped to tackle my next grade! Thank you!" ~ Susanne Hoover

"While I greatly miss the chance to travel to the beautiful place in the world, CfA Renewal calls home in Wilton, NH, I feel that the faculty has done an amazing job of bringing the enriching experiences of renewal as fully as possible to this online format. In this way, renewal is now accessible to so many more of us bringing diversity and great conversation to our renewal classrooms. This week is invaluable to me, my teaching and my students. Thank you so much to everyone for all their work to make this amazing week possible!"

"This course provided a wonderful shift in perspective in how to approach challenging topics with a truthful, broad perspective, while staying in line with the intention of Waldorf education. I am really looking forward to the coming year."

"Great experience, even for seasoned teachers. It is always refreshing to connect with others who are doing this work."

"Renewal Course is such a wonderful opportunity to deepen my work in Waldorf Education. I greatly appreciate the amazing faculty that make it possible. This year I am incredibly grateful for the experiences with Robyn Brown who brought a depth and richness that healed a part of my heart and moved my work in the world to another level. Thank you for all of your efforts and pray for many more to come! "~ Amber Melody

"I am walking out of this week with a deeper sense of where I am going and where I need to be."

"Highly inspiring! Enough enthusiasm to go back to the world."

Housing options on campus are now full.
Lodging is available at Franklin Peirce University nearby.

Other Notes

Financial Aid – Limited scholarships available, please contact program director using the contact form below.
Cancellations – Requests received at least 30 days before the registration deadline will result in a full refund, less $75 cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted if cancellation is received within 30 days of the program start date or while in session.

Financial Aid – Limited scholarships available, please contact program director using the contact form above.
Cancellations – Requests received at least 30 days before the registration deadline will result in a full refund, less $75 cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted if cancellation is received within 30 days of the program start date or while in session.

Renewal Courses

Week-long, certificate earning professional development courses designed to nourish and inspire your body, soul, and spirit.

Deepen your relationship with Waldorf education and anthroposophy, through community connections and engagement with the arts.

Welcome to Renewal

What are Renewal Courses?

Registration Opens February 1, 2026

Contact Karen directly with questions about the program.

Two Ways to Participate

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Week 1: Renewal and Inspiration In-Person

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

What this Course Offers:

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

Week 2: Renewal and Inspiration Online

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

What this Course Offers:

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Already Looking Ahead? Save the Dates for Summer 2026!

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

Each Week Includes:

Testimonies from our In-Person Participants

Testimonies from our Online Participants

Housing options on campus are now full.
Lodging is available at Franklin Peirce University nearby.

Other Notes

We are affiliated with...

We are affiliated with...

Renewal Courses

Week-long, certificate earning professional development courses designed to nourish and inspire your body, soul, and spirit.

Deepen your relationship with Waldorf education and anthroposophy, through community connections and engagement with the arts.

Welcome to Renewal

What are Renewal Courses?

Registration Opens February 1, 2026

Contact Karen directly with questions about the program.

Two Ways to Participate

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Week 1: Renewal and Inspiration In-Person

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

What this Course Offers:

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

Week 2: Renewal and Inspiration Online

Choose Your Renewal Course Path:

Universal Learning Outcomes for In-Person Renewal Courses

Teaching Grades 1–8 : Grade – Specific Waldorf Courses

Each Renewal Course, Grades 1–8, Includes:

What this Course Offers:

Care for the Body, Soul, and Spirit

Already Looking Ahead? Save the Dates for Summer 2026!

In-Person

June 28 - Friday, July 3, 2026

Online

July 6 - Friday, July 10, 2026

Each Week Includes:

Testimonies from our In-Person Participants

Testimonies from our Online Participants

Housing options on campus are now full.Lodging is available at Franklin Peirce University nearby.

Other Notes

We are affiliated with...

We are affiliated with...

Housing options on campus are now full.
Lodging is available at Franklin Peirce University nearby.