Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
Principles and Themes
Overview of presentation Purpose • To introduce Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
• To look in detail at the Framework’s Principles Themes 2
Aistear, a journey ....
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For whom? Why? Aistear • is for all children from birth to six years. • can be used in the range of settings: childminding settings sessional services full and part-time daycare settings infant classes in primary schools children’s own homes. • helps children to grow and develop as confident and competent learners.
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Aistear - What’s in it? Principles and Themes – WHAT?
Well-being Identity and Belonging Communicating Exploring and Thinking
Guidelines for Good Practice – HOW?
Partnerships Interactions Play Assessment
User Guide
Using Aistear alongside Síolta, the Infant Curriculum and the Child Care (Pre-School) Regulations Key Messages from the Research Papers Summarising key points from research which underpin Aistear
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Principles and Themes
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Aistear’s 12 principles Early childhood Uniqueness Equality and diversity Citizenship
Connections with others Relationships The role of the adult Parents and families
Learning and developing Holistic Active Play; hands-on experiences Relevant and meaningful Communication and language Learning environment 7
Principle: Play and hands-on experiences Much of children’s early learning and development takes place through play and hands-on experiences. Through these, children explore social, physical and imaginary worlds. These experiences help them to manage their feelings, develop as thinkers and language users, develop socially, be creative and imaginative, and lay the foundations for becoming effective communicators and learners.
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Principle: From the child’s perspective Play is important to me, and it is important for my learning and development. … Watch how I play, and see how you can support me. Give me time and space to play with other children. When I play with them I learn about co-operation, about how to deal with conflict, about how others think and feel, and what different actions and things mean. … You can help me to learn … when we play together. Provide me with objects, toys and equipment that reflect my own and others’ cultures. … Let me experience the different types of play … Involve me in lots of meaningful, hands-on experiences in order to learn, to develop, and to become independent. ...
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Aistear’s themes Identity and Belonging
Well-being 10
Aistear’s themes Exploring and Thinking
Communicating 11
Presenting children’s learning and development through themes: a) dispositions b) skills c) attitudes and values d) knowledge and understandings
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Theme: Well-being Children will
be strong psychologically and socially be as healthy and fit as can be be creative and spiritual develop positive outlooks on
learning and on life 13
Theme: Identity and Belonging Children will • develop strong self-identities and feel respected and affirmed as individuals • have a sense of group identity where links with their family and community are acknowledged and extended • express their rights and respect the identity, rights and views of others • see themselves as capable learners
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Theme: Communicating Children will • develop non-verbal communication skills
• use language with growing confidence and competence • make sense of their experiences through language • express themselves creatively and imaginatively 15
Theme: Exploring and Thinking Children will • develop increasingly complex strategies for observing, thinking, exploring, understanding, and problem-solving • use symbolic representation • learn about and make sense of the world • develop a positive image of themselves as learners, and come to see themselves as explorers and thinkers
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Sample learning opportunities Each theme • has ideas and suggestions for experiences and activities • presents sample learning opportunities for 3 overlapping age groups
Toddlers: 12 months to 3 years Babies: birth to 18 months
Young children: 2½ to 6 years
Find out more National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) 24 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 W: www.ncca.ie/earlylearning and www.ncca.ie/aisteartoolkit E:
[email protected]
