Curriculum & Activities at Scoil na n-Óg
Aistear Curriculum.
Scoil na n-Óg incorporates the Aistear curriculum framework which focuses on children from birth to six years in Ireland.
Aistear, which is the Irish word for a Journey, describes learning and development through four interconnected themes of Well-Being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking.
Children learn through experiences rather than ‘rote’ learning and the Montessori curriculum reflects and compliments these types of learning opportunities that children experience in a Montessori environment.
Scoil na n-Óg incorporates the Aistear curriculum framework which focuses on children from birth to six years in Ireland.
Aistear, which is the Irish word for a Journey, describes learning and development through four interconnected themes of Well-Being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating and Exploring and Thinking.
Children learn through experiences rather than ‘rote’ learning and the Montessori curriculum reflects and compliments these types of learning opportunities that children experience in a Montessori environment.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES - INDOORS AND OUTDOORS. (PSST.. OPEN ME >)
THE CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES FALLS INTO FIVE MAIN AREAS:
THE CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES FALLS INTO FIVE MAIN AREAS:
PRACTICAL LIFE: Activities such as pouring, polishing, spooning, buttoning, zipping, lacing, threading, cutting and arranging, help the child to become more independent and lengthen his/her attention span, preparing him/her for later academic work. Lessons in grace and courtesy develop self-confidence and good social behaviour.
SENSORIAL: These activities are designed to sharpen the child’s senses - Visual, Auditory, Tactile and Muscular memory. The activities include building, sorting,, stacking, finding, following patterns and discovering (to name but a few!). These materials provide a foundation for language and maths.
LANGUAGE: Activities including talking, singing, tracing, writing, reading and spelling. These activities encourage the child to be verbally expressive as well as proficient in the written word.
Tiny Talk: Tiny Talk Scheme (Early language builders-by ELKLAN). Scoil na n-Óg was chosen as one of the schools to participate in the scheme which aims to improve the language and learning skills of children in the 3-6 age group. All our staff attended the training involved in this project. The project involves the teachers and parents, working alongside a speech and language therapist in helping and identifying language and communication needs at an early age and aims to develop and promote a curriculum of enriched speech, language and communication within both the home and school setting. Additional language enrichment activities can be used within a school setting and are devised between the tiny talk group and the teachers.
MATHS: Activities which explain the meaning and function of numbers in a very concrete, fun and simple way!
COMPUTER AREA’S- Each class has a computer (web free!) and children can use word documents and interactive games where there’s lots of use of pincer movements, grip control and logic which is used in these tasks and of course plenty of laughs and giggles!!!! Children are closely monitored while on the computer and we have a timer which allows children no more than 10 minutes at the computer.
CULTURE: This includes:
IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE: Simply Signing’s mission is to promote the education of Irish Sign Language (ISL) to all children, to provide a colourful access through their publications, devoted to early intervention and educational work with infants, children, educators and their caregivers.At Scoil na n-Óg we talk about what sign language is/why it’s used/how we sign. Children are taught how to sign, have access to our signing puppets, Lisa and Gerry and we learn how to use them. Children have access to specialized books and posters, learning and interactive worksheets.
ADDITIONAL PLAY ACTIVITIES include Sand, Water, Gardening, Nature issues, spider watching, Recycling, Bird feeding and caring for pets, construction play, messy play and lots more fun!!
We also have regular P.E. days (with warm ups, exercises, cool down and stretches) with various themes/games to the exercises.
Additional activities throughout the year include parties, national Beep Beep week, Santa fun, Christmas concerts, Pyjama day, St. Patrick’s day activities, Easter fun, and various charity events such as HB day for down syndrome Ireland, Child-line Cheerio breakfast club and Toddle walks. We also take a visit to New-grange farm in June and parents are welcome to come along if they so wish.
SPECIAL BOOKS: Children’s learning experiences and activities are documented through observations and also include video footage and photographs which are shared with parents and children through a personalised DVD and ‘Special Book’.
These books document what each child is interested in and enjoys. Children draw/paint/glue/paste various pictures/ items/photographs into their special book and they are brought home at the end of each month for children and parents to add to it!! This facilitates a positive link between home and school.
OUTDOOR PLAY: There are several reasons why outdoor play is critical for young children in preschools but the most important one is that it’s fun!!!!!! Children need opportunities to explore, experiment, manipulate, reconfigure, expand, influence, change, marvel, discover, practice, dam up, push their limits, yell, sing, and create !!! Many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve such as exploring, risk-taking, fine and gross motor development and the absorption of vast amounts of basic knowledge—can be most effectively learned through outdoor play. Children learn about the world from ‘real experiences’ such as : How does ice feel and sound? Can sticks stand up in sand? How do plants grow? How does mud feel? Why do we slide down instead of up? How do I make my tricycle go faster?
At Scoil na n-Óg, Outdoor play is part of our everyday curriculum. Waterproof dungarees are provided and we ask that each child bring in a pair of wellies.
Our Garden is mostly grass with a concrete surround for the use of trikes and bikes. We also have a sandpit, mucky digging area, water table, trikes, bikes, cars, scooters, tents, slides, wendy houses and basket ball hoops. We have area’s that we plant flowers and seeds. ‘Paddy’ the tree is situated in the corner of the garden with a wooden seat all the way around it and we can sit and read stories on it, relax or use it as a stage to make up our own concerts!! We also have a ‘secret garden’ called ‘Cellie’s’ garden where we can go and hide in between the Laurel and Jasmine plants !
SENSORIAL: These activities are designed to sharpen the child’s senses - Visual, Auditory, Tactile and Muscular memory. The activities include building, sorting,, stacking, finding, following patterns and discovering (to name but a few!). These materials provide a foundation for language and maths.
LANGUAGE: Activities including talking, singing, tracing, writing, reading and spelling. These activities encourage the child to be verbally expressive as well as proficient in the written word.
Tiny Talk: Tiny Talk Scheme (Early language builders-by ELKLAN). Scoil na n-Óg was chosen as one of the schools to participate in the scheme which aims to improve the language and learning skills of children in the 3-6 age group. All our staff attended the training involved in this project. The project involves the teachers and parents, working alongside a speech and language therapist in helping and identifying language and communication needs at an early age and aims to develop and promote a curriculum of enriched speech, language and communication within both the home and school setting. Additional language enrichment activities can be used within a school setting and are devised between the tiny talk group and the teachers.
MATHS: Activities which explain the meaning and function of numbers in a very concrete, fun and simple way!
COMPUTER AREA’S- Each class has a computer (web free!) and children can use word documents and interactive games where there’s lots of use of pincer movements, grip control and logic which is used in these tasks and of course plenty of laughs and giggles!!!! Children are closely monitored while on the computer and we have a timer which allows children no more than 10 minutes at the computer.
CULTURE: This includes:
- Science - Living Things, Earth, Space, Magnetism, Light, Air, Water, Gravity, Sound, Motion, Sink Float…
- Geography-Land, Water, Weather, Globe, Map Work, Flags, People, Children, Animals, Cultures Of The World…
- History -Time, Prehistoric Time (Dinosaurs..), Time Lines (Child’s), Story Of Earth…..
- Music and Drama- Acting, Miming, Dressing Up, Songs, Rhymes, Instruments..
- Zoology, Botany, Nature-Cookery, Arts and crafts, Visit to the farm, fancy dress parties, Santa visit, Sports days and Picnic days.
IRISH SIGN LANGUAGE: Simply Signing’s mission is to promote the education of Irish Sign Language (ISL) to all children, to provide a colourful access through their publications, devoted to early intervention and educational work with infants, children, educators and their caregivers.At Scoil na n-Óg we talk about what sign language is/why it’s used/how we sign. Children are taught how to sign, have access to our signing puppets, Lisa and Gerry and we learn how to use them. Children have access to specialized books and posters, learning and interactive worksheets.
ADDITIONAL PLAY ACTIVITIES include Sand, Water, Gardening, Nature issues, spider watching, Recycling, Bird feeding and caring for pets, construction play, messy play and lots more fun!!
We also have regular P.E. days (with warm ups, exercises, cool down and stretches) with various themes/games to the exercises.
Additional activities throughout the year include parties, national Beep Beep week, Santa fun, Christmas concerts, Pyjama day, St. Patrick’s day activities, Easter fun, and various charity events such as HB day for down syndrome Ireland, Child-line Cheerio breakfast club and Toddle walks. We also take a visit to New-grange farm in June and parents are welcome to come along if they so wish.
SPECIAL BOOKS: Children’s learning experiences and activities are documented through observations and also include video footage and photographs which are shared with parents and children through a personalised DVD and ‘Special Book’.
These books document what each child is interested in and enjoys. Children draw/paint/glue/paste various pictures/ items/photographs into their special book and they are brought home at the end of each month for children and parents to add to it!! This facilitates a positive link between home and school.
OUTDOOR PLAY: There are several reasons why outdoor play is critical for young children in preschools but the most important one is that it’s fun!!!!!! Children need opportunities to explore, experiment, manipulate, reconfigure, expand, influence, change, marvel, discover, practice, dam up, push their limits, yell, sing, and create !!! Many of the developmental tasks that children must achieve such as exploring, risk-taking, fine and gross motor development and the absorption of vast amounts of basic knowledge—can be most effectively learned through outdoor play. Children learn about the world from ‘real experiences’ such as : How does ice feel and sound? Can sticks stand up in sand? How do plants grow? How does mud feel? Why do we slide down instead of up? How do I make my tricycle go faster?
At Scoil na n-Óg, Outdoor play is part of our everyday curriculum. Waterproof dungarees are provided and we ask that each child bring in a pair of wellies.
Our Garden is mostly grass with a concrete surround for the use of trikes and bikes. We also have a sandpit, mucky digging area, water table, trikes, bikes, cars, scooters, tents, slides, wendy houses and basket ball hoops. We have area’s that we plant flowers and seeds. ‘Paddy’ the tree is situated in the corner of the garden with a wooden seat all the way around it and we can sit and read stories on it, relax or use it as a stage to make up our own concerts!! We also have a ‘secret garden’ called ‘Cellie’s’ garden where we can go and hide in between the Laurel and Jasmine plants !
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A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF SCOIL NA N-ÓG!
(Morning and Afternoon Montessori Sessions)
Circle time activities may include Music and Movement/ Role /Imaginative play/Shop/Garage, House/ Dancers/Firemen/Messy day/Obstacle course/Ball games/Stilts/Balance beams….
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ECCE Scheme. Scoil na n-Óg is in contract with the DCYA (Department of Children and Youth affairs) and offers the free pre-school ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme) to children who are eligible for it for one year. This scheme is usually available the year before the child goes into primary school. (A pro-rata system is available in ECCE for children with additional needs where children can avail of the scheme over two years i.e. Two days the first year and Three days the following year.) |
The above is only a generalised routine, which may change from term to term, depending on time and events of the year, birthdays, celebrations, festivals or other seasonal topics, which may arise from time to time. Also the children are very much part of our curriculum planning and their interests are included…!!!
Included in our standard routine are Arts and Crafts Materials, Worksheets, Report Cards per term and our Monthly Newsletter called “Discoveries” describing our monthly curriculum and activities. To keep you up to date and informed of what the children are doing, a monthly newsletter will be put up on the schools information board and at the end of each month, each child brings home their creations/work/pictures.
Included in our standard routine are Arts and Crafts Materials, Worksheets, Report Cards per term and our Monthly Newsletter called “Discoveries” describing our monthly curriculum and activities. To keep you up to date and informed of what the children are doing, a monthly newsletter will be put up on the schools information board and at the end of each month, each child brings home their creations/work/pictures.
