ECCE with Montessori Teaching

Children work for the joy of the process rather than for the end result. They have a need to repeat activities over and over until an inner need is fulfilled. You will learn and come to understand the history of Maria Montessori and her philosophy and reasoning behind “Learning By Doing”. This module includes practical life skills and sensorial education. The module teaches you how to use the Montessori materials in life skills and sensorial education to encourage children to learn how to care for themselves, others and their environment. These skills help the child to gain the greatest confidence and independence through the early learning process. The sensorial equipment designed by Maria Montessori lays the foundations for academic learning by developing and refining a child’s senses. This in turn enhances their perceptions and increases their concentration.

I feel that the module explores the Montessori pedagogy and how it elevates and empowers the child. The module introduces the student to the Montessori method & demonstrates how children develop skills.

Maria Montessori believed children have naturally mathematical minds and she revolutionised the manner in which maths were taught and this module is dedicated to Montessori Maths and Montessori Language acquisition. These areas will teach you how to guide a child through the complexities of reading and writing using the Montessori didactic materials designed over a hundred years ago. The Montessori materials were designed to develop children’s language grammar skills both written and spoken using the Montessori approach. The maths didactic materials revolutionised the manner in which maths is taught to children. Problem solving becomes a challenge that is enjoyed without stress or strain at a young age. You will learn through using a variety of Montessori materials how to not only teach a child to calculate but also to give them a lifelong understanding of how numbers function. Montessori materials also contain an inbuilt control of error that allows the child to discover and correct his or her own mistakes and work independently from his class mates and teachers alike.

This module explores how valuable early literacy & numeracy is for children to make sense of their world. It gives students the techniques to introduce literacy & numeracy at a young age.

Children have an inborn curiosity about the trees and the plants, animals and insects, their bodies, the planets etc. and this module focuses on two key areas of the Montessori pedagogy, Arts and Culture.  Montessori children frequently astonish adults with their in-depth knowledge of subjects such as biology, geography, simple science and history. During this module, you will be introduced to the Montessori didactic materials and activities that will allow you to guide children to an appreciation of the world they live in.

This module explores Montessori’s pedagogy & how she believed the arts to be a communicative tool. It opens the discussion of how arts and culture offers diverse cultural experiences for young children.

As the philosophy of Montessori was “Learning by Doing” then it is only natural that work experience in an approved Montessori school, under the guidance of a qualified and experienced Montessori directress, be an integral part of your learning journey. During the placement programme of 50 hours, you will have the opportunity to put into practice the exercises and skills you will have learned during the programme. You will have the opportunity by using these skills to stimulate, develop and guide the children under your direction to develop to their full potential. Our tutors and programme management team are available to help you secure a suitable work placement during your studies. Reflective learning nature of this the programme makes up 20% of every module. The assessment strategy for the programme allows the learner to reflect on all aspects of their academic and practical learning journey.

This module explores the child’s social, educational and physical development and how to provide a nurturing environment for the child to develop in. You will develop the skills required to influence and promote the use of observations in an early childhood care and education setting.

Students gain knowledge and understanding of child development theories and learn to apply them in a practical way. Skills of observation, evaluation and reflection are explored and the importance of using information as a basis for planning curricular activities suitable to the child’s interests, needs and level of development.

This module aims to provide you with knowledge to understand the pedagogical approaches and national guidelines that guide an early childhood care and education setting. You will learn about facilitating the provision of quality experiences for children in an early childhood care and education setting. You will develop an awareness of the importance of the physical surroundings, the curricula, materials and significant people within an early childhood care and education setting and their impact on how comfortable the child is and how the child relates to others and achieves their goals.

Students gets the opportunity apply theoretical knowledge to a practical situations as they learn to plan suitable, interesting, fun and stimulating curriculum. They gain an understanding that curriculum is more than just planning. Knowledge of Aistear the early years curriculum framework and Síolta, the quality framework for early childhood, alongside current theories of curriculum is gained

This module aims to provide you with knowledge to evaluate a range of factors influencing and impacting on children’s health and wellbeing to include family structure, community, culture, education, health, social services and social status. You will study child protection guidelines in relation to the protection of children and staff. You will assess statutory regulations and national practice guidelines, which relate directly to and impact on early childhood care and education settings.

This module also examines national and international social policy and how it impacts on the wellbeing of children and families as well as a range of policies and procedures relevant to ECCE settings, ensuring adherence to legislation and national practice guidelines.

The students will study the historical timeline and social policy which has led to early years education what it is today.
Children First 2015 put child protection on a legislative footing therefore all practitioners must have a knowledge of how to protect and safeguard children in their setting, through policy, practice and reporting.
Equality is vital within our diverse society, however it does not mean treating everyone the same! The student will gain knowledge of the law, guidance, policies, provision and practice which address equality and diversity in settings.

This module explores the principles and practice of personal development and the role reflection plays in the ongoing development of the individual and the contribution of the individual to the workplace.

You will examine the role planning plays in the development and success of an organisations short, medium and long term objectives and the interrelationships of staff and the role staff play within an organisation.

This module allows the student to assess their personal and professional strengths and areas for development and plan accordingly. This allows the student to become self-aware, to be more motivated, with the ability to manage their time and procrastinate less. This in turn relieves stress.
Students also learn how to arrange, lead and manage meetings e.g. writing an agenda, meeting etiquette, recording minutes and supporting and following through on decision-making.
The students gain the skills and knowledge to complete a presentation, from topic choice to rationale to presentation with visual aids to self-evaluation.

This module provides the student will a tool for planning and improvement personally and professionally.