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Curriculum

​“The things the child sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul.”Maria Montessori
Our Themes

 

Our curriculum includes a variety of themes involving learning through play activities, arts and crafts, songs and games. On average, each theme lasts for two weeks and where possible, all our learning in those two weeks stems from the active theme. There is information on the school noticeboard explaining the current theme and displaying samples of our planned activities for parents to view. Some of the themes we cover are:

 

Who Am I? Autumn  Squirrel  Halloween  Hibernation Winter  Christmas  Healthy Food  Dinosaurs     Valentine's Day  St. Patrick's Day   Mothers' Day Spring  Trees  Fathers' Day  Under The Sea  Summer

 

​Síolta & Aistear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is Aistear?

Aistear is the curriculum framework for children from birth to six years in Ireland;  it was published towards the end of 2009. It provides information for adults to help them plan for, and provide enjoyable and challenging learning experiences, so that all children can grow and develop as competent and confident learners, within loving relationships with others. Aistear describes the types of learning that are important for children in their early years, and offers ideas and suggestions as to how this learning may be nurtured. For more information on Aistear click here

 

Principles of Síolta

The principles of Síolta are the core values that guide the way we work in early childhood care and education services. They guide how we organise our services, how we relate to children and families, to each other, the content of what we teach and the way in which it is taught.

 

Síolta has 12 principles which have been agreed in consultation with the early childhood sector. Below we have provided you with an outline of these principles. You can also find the full list, with a description of each on the Siolta website, click here

 

  • Early childhood is a significant and distinct time in life that must be nurtured, respected, valued and supported in its own right.

  • The child’s individuality, strengths, rights and needs are central in the provision of quality early childhood experiences.

  • Parents are the primary educators of the child and have a pre-eminent role in promoting her/his well-being, learning and development.

  • Responsive, sensitive and reciprocal relationships, which are consistent over time, are essential to the wellbeing, learning and development of the young child.

  • Equality is an essential characteristic of quality early childhood care and education.

  • Quality early childhood settings acknowledge and respect diversity and ensure that all children and families have their individual, personal, cultural and linguistic identity validated.

  • The physical environment of the young child has a direct impact on her/his well-being, learning and development.

  • The safety, welfare and well-being of all children must be protected and promoted in all early childhood environments.

  •  The role of the adult in providing quality early childhood experiences is fundamental.

  • The provision of quality early childhood experiences requires cooperation, communication and mutual respect.

  • Pedagogy in early childhood is expressed by curricula or programmes of activities which take a holistic approach to the development and  learning of the child and reflect the inseparable nature of care and education.

  • Play is central to the well-being, development and learning of the young child

 

 

    
Montessori Program


Montessori education is an approach developed by Italian physician and educator Maria Montessori and characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits, and respect for a child’s natural psychological, physical, and social development.

 

At Bambini Kids Montessori Preschool we are guided by these principles and as such we have a mixed age classroom, generally our students will be between 3 and 6 years old. During Montessori time, the children have free access to a range of Montessori educational materials and are encouraged to discover these with their own individual approach. 

 

Under the Montessori method, a range of curriculum areas are covered these are:

 

Practical Life

Practical Life (everyday living skills) activities are important to teach children to function in their own environment and find their place in their world and culture. This element paves the foundation for all Montessori teaching.

Sensorial

The Montessori sensorial curriculum promotes the development and refinement of the five senses. Children learn through their senses and all materials in a Montessori environment provide learning through touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing or hands-on manipulation

Language

The Montessori preschool language program is a complete literacy program for children ages two and half to six years of age. The program begins with story-telling, sound games with objects, and eventually children are introduced to spelling and grammar.

Mathematics

The Montessori preschool mathematics curriculum is a powerful learning tool for developing a strong foundation in maths. Maria Montessori realized that all children have a "mathematical mind" and that when they are given the opportunity to explore maths in a concrete way, through hands-on materials, abstract maths concepts become easier to comprehend. 

Culture

The Montessori culture curriculum is focused mostly on Science, Geography, Music, and Art. The culture curriculum provides a wide array of activities including learning about the continents of the world and their uniquity such as their animals and habitats. Montessori culture activities include pictures of the places and people of the continents, books and flags of the world. Children learn the names of the continents, oceans and countries of the world. They learn through hands-on materials such as puzzle maps of the world. Similar to maths, science can be a challenging subject for children but when introduced during the “absorbent mind” period of learning, children become familiar with concepts of observation, science, hypothesis etc. Montessori culture activities help to inspire a love of learning and offer children a new perspective of the world.

 

 

 

 

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