Overview

This comprehensive two-year program prepares participants to become Waldorf handwork teachers for primary and middle school levels (Class 1–8). It is also ideal for homeschooling parents, classroom teachers seeking innovative craft ideas, and educators offering after-school enrichment who wish to establish realistic, developmentally appropriate goals. The program welcomes anyone with an interest in handwork and Waldorf education.

Course Structure

Lectures and activities are held one Saturday per month (except in summer) spanning 4 semesters over 2 years:

January 2026 – June 2026
September 2026 – January 2027
February 2027 – June 2027
September 2027 – December 2027

The course accommodates different levels of engagement. Those seeking personal growth may join any number of blocks, while participants pursuing a Certificate in Waldorf Handwork Teaching must complete all blocks, deliver a formal project presentation, submit essays and a portfolio of work and reflections from each session, and complete a three-week placement.

Semester 1 Timetable

Timetable

Modules (2026 Semester 1)

Introduction to Anthroposophy (3 sessions)

Lecturer: Martin Schmandt
Dates: Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 7 2026
Time: 09:35–10:50
Price: $1,680

What makes a human being more than just a body? Where do our thoughts, feelings, and actions come from? What happens when we dream—or when we die? In this introductory course, we explore Rudolf Steiner’s picture of the human being as body, soul, and spirit, and how this understanding can deepen our work as educators and craftspeople.

Eurythmy (3 sessions)

Lecturer: Thabang Mthimkhulu
Dates: Apr 18, May 16, Jun 13 (2026)
Time: 09:35–10:50 am
Price: $1,410

Eurythmy—meaning “harmonious movement” in Greek—is a unique art of movement that brings sound and gesture into visible form. Just as a flower blossom from healthy soil, Eurythmy arises from the living soil of the human spirit. In these 3 sessions, participants will explore gentle, mindful movements that connect inner life and outer expression. Through shared practice, we cultivate presence, balance, and a sense of community—learning, quite literally, to move in harmony with ourselves and with others.

Wet-on-Wet Painting & Beeswax Crayon Drawing (3 sessions)

Lecturer: Martin Schmandt
Dates: Jan 10, Feb 7 (Painting); Mar 7 (Drawing) (2026)
Time: 11:00 am –12:30 pm
Price: $1,890

Watercolour painting is an essential part of a child’s experience in a Waldorf School. In this course you will not only learn the techniques how to do it, but you will learn why it is so important to the developing child.

Wax crayons are used in Waldorf schools since kindergarten and up to primary school for a warm, authentic, readily available experience with colours. With crayons we bring both form and rich, layered colour to the pictures of our imagination, drawing inspiration from stories and the natural world.

Child Development & Curriculum — Class 1–3 (6 sessions)

Lecturer: Anna Chaves
Dates: Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 7, Apr 18, May 16, Jun 13 (2026)
Time: 14:00–15:00
Price: $2,160

A strong foundation in child development is essential for those who work with children. In these sessions, a class teacher will guide participants through the unfolding of the child from ages 6 to 9—the stage of imitation, imagination, and growing will. We will explore how the Waldorf curriculum for Classes 1–3 supports healthy development through story, rhythm, movement, and practical activity. This understanding helps handwork teachers meet children with the right expectations and create a classroom atmosphere that truly supports their growth and learning.

Child Development & Curriculum — Class 4–8 (10 sessions)

Lecturer: Cindy Cornish
Dates: Semester 2 & 3 (detailed dates announced by Apr 2026)
Time: 14:00–15:00
Price: $3,600

As children grow from the dreamlike early years into the self-awareness of adolescence, their needs change profoundly. These sessions offer a clear picture of child development from Class 4 to Class 8 (ages 9–14), focusing on how teaching can meet each stage in a living way. We will explore how to design lessons that are both age-appropriate and effective.

Handwork Core

Lecturer: Yumi Lindsay
Time: 3:10 pm – 5:10 pm
Price:
— Semester 1: 6 sessions — $5,760
— Semester 2: 5 sessions — $4,800
— Semester 3: 5 sessions — $4,800
— Semester 4: 4 sessions — $3,840

Handwork is at the heart of Waldorf education—an artistic and practical way to strengthen the will, nurture focus, and bring thinking into action. This course offers both a broad overview and hands-on experience of handwork from Classes 1 through 8, beginning with its roots in the kindergarten years and extending into the crafts of adolescence.

Together, we will engage in a wide range of handwork projects—some completed during class, others continued at home—to deepen understanding through practice. Along the way, participants will explore essential questions:

What is the purpose of handwork in the child’s development?
How do we choose age-appropriate activities and projects?
What materials best support sensory and motor development? Where to source them?
How do teachers plan, organise, and manage engaging lessons?

By understanding both the “why” and the “how,” participants will gain confidence in creating meaningful, developmentally aligned handwork experiences that help children grow in skill, perseverance, and joy.

Participants who need extra help after class may stay for the tutorial session from 5:10-5:30 pm, included in the blocks’ cost. These sessions may be requested by either the participants or the tutor.

Extra Handwork Ideas (3 sessions)

Lecturer: Yumi Lindsay
Dates: Apr 18, May 16, Jun 13 (2026)
Time: 11:00–12:30
Price: $1,890

Discover simple, creative projects that give students a refreshing break from longer handwork work. Seasonal and cross-curricular activities connect handwork with subjects like maths, languages, and movement—helping children bring their learning to life through their hands. In Waldorf education, each stitch and gesture helps weave knowledge into real understanding.

“Practising the arts is essentially transformative; the arts form a path of constant inquiry towards refined sensibility & insight, of the self, the other and the world.”
— Towards Pedagogical Creativity, Pedagogical Section at the Goetheanum

Handwork Curriculum by Grade

Please note that the projects listed are provided to illustrate the course concept.
The final curriculum and activities will be professionally tailored by our tutor.

1st Grade

Primary skills: Simple knitting and sewing, including casting on and off
Seasonal and extra handwork projects to span the school year

2nd Grade

Reinforcement of Class 1 skills
Expansion of knitting and sewing techniques

3rd Grade

Introduction to crochet
Development of crochet techniques
Additional projects: plant dyeing, simple weaving, basket weaving

4th Grade

Main project: cross-stitch and hand sewing
Colour & design activities to foster creativity

5th Grade

Making a 3D animal from a 2D drawing
Exploration of Indian, Greek, and Egyptian crafts from ancient civilisations
Additional suitable projects

6th Grade

Knitting with four needles
Experiencing continental and left-handed knitting
Reading patterns
Additional suitable projects
Writing a lesson plan
Continued exploration of ancient crafts

7th Grade

Hand sewing a garment
Pattern making
Essential hand sewing techniques
Additional projects: simple shoemaking

8th Grade

Expanding textile skills (e.g., fabric dyeing, applique)
Upcycling projects
Use a sewing machine

Course Tutors

Yumi Lindsay

Yumi holds an MA in Tapestry from the Royal College of Art and completed Waldorf Teacher Training at Emerson College in 2007. After teaching at Michael Hall School (2005–2021), she became IWS’s Handwork Teacher in 2024.

Cindy Cornish

With over 30 years of experience and 3 full class cycles, Cindy founded and led a Waldorf school near Cape Town (1998–2013) before moving to Hong Kong. She joined IWS in 2021 and is currently the school’s Education Administrator.

Martin Schmandt

Originally from Chicago, Martin has over 20 years of Waldorf class teaching experience in the USA and UK. A professional artist and writer, he brings deep experience in both art and adult education. Martin joined IWS in 2022 as Education Coordinator.

Anna Chaves

Anna is an experienced Waldorf educator who has taught in both mainstream and Waldorf settings, across kindergarten and grade school. She trained in London and has taught in schools in the UK, Thailand, and Hong Kong, completing a full Class 1–7 cycle before joining IWS in 2022.

Thabang Mthimkhulu

Thabang is a passionate Eurythmy educator who sees this art as a gentle medicine for the soul—helping children experience harmony, calm, and inner balance through movement. He earned his BA in Eurythmy from the Centre for Creative Education in Cape Town and joined IWS in 2023.

Costs

Per block costs are listed above – Modules (2026 Semester 1).
Costs per semesters:
Semester 1: $12,000
Semester 2: $10,000
Semester 3: $10,000
Semester 4: $8,000

An additional 5% discount applies to full payment made in the beginning of the semester.
Students are expected to finance their own course books and material, which we may offer to help source.

Discounts are offered to IWS parents and in-service teachers in Hong Kong Waldorf schools or initiatives. Please enquire with your school’s administrators.

Attendance Requirement

To be eligible for a course certificate, participants are required to attend at least 80% of all program blocks.

The schedule of the next academic year will be published by April 2026.

Venue & Contact

Island Waldorf School
1/F, 455 Queen’s Road West, Sai Wan
+852 6020 3593

Apply Now

Thank you for your support! Applications for the Certificate Course and Handwork Class are now closed. Other classes are still open for application.

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Island Waldorf Handwork Teacher Training