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Great Lakes Waldorf Institute’s Grades 1-8 Teacher Education program provides a philosophical, artistic, and practical foundation for Waldorf Grades 1-8  teaching. This three-year, part-time program is offered in a rotating cycle, allowing participants to enter in any year, and includes summer, fall, and spring coursework, along with guided independent study.

The program culminates in a Waldorf Teaching Certificate for Grades 1-8, recognized by º£½ÇÉçÇø.

A distinctive feature of GLWI’s summer format is one week of virtual study followed by ten days in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the in-person portion held on the beautiful campus of Mount Mary University. 

The curriculum includes child development, Waldorf education, human development, Grades 1-8 curriculum, grades teaching essentials, contemplative work, artistic activities for the classroom and educators, and the professional and social aspects of Waldorf education. GLWI’s program also offers a rich immersion in the arts, including eurythmy, singing, speech, and visual arts. 

Participants may complete the certificate on its own or choose the optional track that combines the certificate with . In the master’s degree track, participants complete all certificate coursework, fulfill graduate-level requirements within those courses, and take three additional Mount Mary University courses.

Applications are now being accepted for June 2026 entry. A completion track is also available for qualified applicants. The application deadline is June 1, and the application process can be found .

Financial aid is available, including general scholarships and diversity fund scholarships. 

On-campus dorm lodging is available at a reasonable cost. 

Graduates are welcome to return, at no cost, to audit any future Grades 1-8 teacher education courses.

For more information, visit our or contact us at admin@greatlakeswaldorf.org or 414-299-3820.