|
With a clear focus on early childhood education, behaviour management and lesson planning, this module is designed to prepare and equip the students for school placement in Semester 1 and Semester 2. Child Developmental Stages, the Learning Environment, play and other methodologies are critically examined in this module, along with the philosophical influences on teaching and learning in early childhood education.
The module will explore the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework Aistear and the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education Síolta, while maintaining a focus on teaching and learning in the early childhood classroom. School Placement consists of two elements: Observation in Semester 1 and School Placement Teaching Block in Semester 2.
School placement on one day per week in Semester 1 allows students to become familiar with the culture and practices of schools through observation in an infant classroom .
In Semester 2, students undertake a three week block placement in the same classroom which will enable them to develop their repertoire of teaching and classroom management skills. On this placement, students are expected to teach approximately three short lessons per day along with setting up and facilitating play activity centres. On all placements, students are expected to work closely with their co-operating teachers and engage in Learning Circles with their peers to promote professional dialogue and learning.
It is a requirement of the module that Year 1 students source their own placements.
|