I have always been interested in these organizations and to take part in their mission and vision as well. The first organization that has been of interest to me is the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education. http://www.iaswece.org/index.aspx
The Waldorf organization is an early childhood organization and has a curriculum of its own. The origins of the International Waldorf Early Childhood Education was founded by Dr. Helmut von Kuegelgen and a circle of Waldorf kindergarten educators in 1969 in Stuttgart, Germany as the International Association of Waldorf Kindergartens. Now, 35 years later the Waldorf kindergarten movement is in Europe, North and South America, Australia, Africa, and Asia. In 2006, it became a non-profit organization in Chatou, France. This massive movement was renamed the International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education because it included many different educational settings which are family childcares, child care, birth-to-three and parent-child work, in addition to kindergartens and pre-schools.
I like the Waldorf curriculum because it is very in touch with learning through play. It reminds me a lot of Montessori. When children play they play with natural material such as wood, cotton, yarn, and other natural textiles. The Waldorf curriculum It is based upon Anthroposophy which is a human oriented spiritual philosophy that reflects and speaks to the basic deep spiritual questions of humanity, to our basic artistic needs, to the need to relate to the world out of a scientific attitude of mind, and to the need to develop a relation to the world in complete freedom and based on completely individual judgments and decisions (Waldorf Answers.com).
“The Waldorf kindergarten teacher nurtures the children’s power of imagination by telling carefully selected stories and by encouraging free play. This free or fantasy play, in which children act out scenarios of their own creation, helps them to experience many aspects of life more deeply” (International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education, n.d.). This is very good for children sensory and it is very in tune with the earth and it is eco-friendly. Children engage in domestic, practical, and artistic activities the children can readily imitate (for example, baking, painting, gardening, and handicrafts), adapting the work to the changing seasons and festivals of the year (International Association for Steiner/Waldorf Early Childhood Education, n.d.).
I would be interested in going through their training program. They do have jobs posted and they offer opportunities for training and enrolling your school in their program. A representative would come out and do a site visit, but you have to pay for the cost of the visit. I would be more interested in the training, but the job is in Brussels, Belgium and I do want to travel internationally. Yet, the job is an office assistant and I am not that interested in the job. Therefore, the training would suit me best.
The next organization is Association of Montessori International http://amiusa.org/who-we-are/. I have always been fond of the Montessori organization and its curriculum. I have a good colleague who is a guide for the Montessori organization. The children are so engaged in learning and I love the way go about their daily tasks. They are very independent children. The founder of the Montessori schools was Dr. Maria Montessori. She was an awesome woman in her day. She was the first female doctor in Italy. Alongside, she begin the Montessori movement to help disadvantage and poor working class families. She took care of the children while the parents were at work. Some of the children were special needs, poor, and struggling because their parents were in poor economic situations. “The concepts of the Montessori approach to education are elegant in their simplicity, yet based on sophisticated understandings of the relationship between human development, learning, and environment” (Association of Montessori International, n.d.). Montessori believed that children learned and organized information from the environment in which they are taught (Association of Montessori International). I believe that Maria Montessori had a heart for children and change.
She has contribute greatly to the start of early childhood and much of her philosophy today I visible in every classroom in this country and in many others. When you visit or work in a classroom with “little people” chairs we and other furniture we can thank Dr. Montessori for her contribution in helping us view the world as children and to accommodate their needs. Like the Waldorf, natural toys, utensils, plates, and other material is very earthy and natural. It is a very eco-friendly environment. Dr. Montessori was a pioneer of change and this is a major reason why I like the Montessori schools. As educators, we all fall in the likeness of Dr. Montessori and create change within our communities and environments of learning! As I researched job opportunities, I found that there are many jobs available throughout the U.S. and in different countries. There are job here in Atlanta, Georgia, but you have to be a certified American Montessori Instructor. I would like to become an instructor for Montessori one day and this could be a future job for me.
The last organization is UNICEF is a global organization that works for the rights of children all over the globe. “Child rights begin with safe shelter, nutrition, protection from disaster and conflict and traverse the life cycle: pre-natal care for healthy births, clean water and sanitation, health care and education” (UNICEF, n.d.). This organization has been in existence for 70 years and has done great work in their mission and effort for human rights. The UNICEF has job opportunities throughout the world and I would love to work for them it would be an honor. I saw a job that was geared in helping adolescences you have to have experience in social sciences. I am a sociology major and will have a master’s in early childhood. This would be a qualification they are looking at, but you have to have experience in a national or international level working in these areas of expertise. Well, perhaps one day I will work for and manage something internationally! This is a great goal to look forward to .
Job opportunities
Waldorf Training To become a Waldorf Teacher
http://www.ecswe.net/job-offer-office-assistant/
By becoming a Waldorf early childhood educator, you are joining a global network of colleagues. There are nearly 2000 Waldorf kindergartens, home programs, child care centers and pre-schools in more than 60 countries around the world.
Waldorf early childhood training courses cultivate essential qualities for working with young children, such as
love and respect for each child as a unique individual
the ability to create warm, nurturing environments that serve the needs of the young child
skills in building collaborative relationships with parents and colleagues
a commitment to life-long self-development.
Training courses include the study of child development, artistic work, development of relevant skills, and opportunities to observe and practice in Waldorf early childhood classrooms. Waldorf early childhood training programs are based on Rudolf Steiner’s insights into the nature of the human being and his world view, known as anthroposophy.
European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education AISBL (ECSWE)
Office Assistant
Job Location: Rue Du Trône 194, 1050 Brussels (Ixelles), Belgium
ECSWE (AISBL) is searching for an Office Assistant (part time, 10h / week)
The European Council for Steiner Waldorf Education (ECSWE) is an international non-profit Association under Belgian law. ECSWE comprises 25 national Waldorf Associations, representing over 700 schools in Europe. Our purpose is to strengthen and develop Steiner education in our member countries by active interest and mutual sharing of experience. ECSWE also actively advocates Steiner-Waldorf education in Brussels and is a member of the European Commission Working Group on schools.
KEY TASKS
General correspondence and managing the general office inbox.
Assist with arranging and preparing internal and external meetings
Assist with website updates and newsletter dissemination
Ordering office supplies
Making travel arrangements.
Follow-up expenses & invoices and make payments.
PROFILE
Excellent English (written & spoken) – French or Dutch knowledge is a strong asset to communicate with Belgian suppliers.
Strong MS Word, Excel & Outlook knowledge
Knowledge of WordPress and Mailchimp are an asset
Highly organised, hands on, proactive working style & attention to detail
Positive attitude, welcoming manner, diplomatic & service-minded
OFFER
A total of 10 h weekly on 2-3 working days per week
Montessori Teaching opportunities
Huntley Hills Elementary and Montessori School Chamblee, GA
Great job opportunity to teach in a well-established (16 years!) public Montessori program.
Positions are open now for the 2016-2017 school year – apply soon!
Atlanta, GA. Primary, Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary.
Benefits:
Teach in a well-established Montessori program with strong school administration and community support for Montessori. Receive all benefits of being a teacher in the DeKalb County School System (e.g. health insurance, retirement system).
Teach in a Montessori program with a strong Montessori teaching community, and full range of Primary – Upper Elementary.
Work in a highly diverse school with strong community support.
Requirements:
Appropriate Montessori training. Teaching certificate or teaching degree (required for all public school teachers in GA.) Prior teaching experience.
Huntley Hills Elementary & Montessori School, 2112 Seaman Circle, Chamblee, GA 30341. Find us on the web: http://huntleyhillses.dekalb.k12.ga.us
Contact: Dr. Mia Ford, Principal, MIA_D_FORD@dekalbschoolsga.org (770) 676-7402.
UNICEF
Adolescent Development Specialist,
Purpose of the Position
This Adolescent Development Specialist in Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) is the section’s focal point on field engagement and focuses on technical assistance and other support to Regional Offices (RO) and Country Offices (CO). This support includes resource mobilization, capacity building and knowledge management.
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
An advanced degree in social sciences with a technical focus in the areas of education, human rights, and/or international development.
At least eight years of solid relevant work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation in a related field (adolescent or youth development, gender and development, child protection, education), with emphasis on working for and with young people, programme guidance, technical support, networking and partnerships.
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a second UN language (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) is considered an asset.
Competencies of Successful Candidate
Core Values
Commitment
Diversity and Inclusion
Integrity
Core Competencies
Communication – Level III
Working with people – Level III
Drive for results – Level IIIFunctional Competencies
Relating and networking – Level III
Deciding and initiating action – Level III
Applying Technical Expertise – Level III
Creating and Innovating – Level II
Planning and Organizing –Level III
