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This module is designed to prepare and equip students for classroom-based School Placement (SP) in Year 2 of the PMEd. It consists of three elements: School Placement -which is an extended placement in one school developing on the skills and knowledge acquired by the students in year one; lectures - which provide the theoretical foundations and practical support for SP; and seminars (known as Learning Circles) - within which students engage in structured professional dialogue making connections between their placement experiences and educational theories.
A key focus of the module is the creation of a Froebelian environment through integrated learning, differentiation, assessment for learning and behaviour management. The module also examines the role of parents as partners in the education system and educational legislation pertinent to primary schools. Issues which practicing teachers often find personally challenging during their careers will be interrogated, along with the role of external agencies in school communities.
With regard to Inclusive Education, key concepts underpinning educational provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs are examined in greater depth and at a more sophisticated level than year one. Guidelines and supports provided by the DES and other government agencies are discussed and students are required to develop knowledge of the characteristics associated with particular disabilities in addition to the range of specific methodologies and specialist resources/equipment available to support learning.
Students will explore some of the challenges in the care of pupils in primary schools. Particular attention will be paid to children who are bereaved or struggling with parental separation, children coming through the asylum process, children whose family members have difficulties with substance misuse or who witness domestic violence. Students will learn about child abuse and how to make referrals to Tusla. Students will learn about a three tired approach to combating bullying.
In Year 2, students undertake an extended school placement. This refers to a 10 week placement that Year 2 students undertake in one school setting. The placement has a number of elements: Learning Support, Mainstream teaching and School Experience. For this extended placement, each student teacher will be placed in the same school with a learning support teacher/team (before Christmas) and one mainstream class teacher (after Christmas).
During this year of the PMEd, the student teacher takes responsibility for teaching the class for the entire school day. For this purpose, they are required to plan a scheme of work, teach the planned content, differentiate and assess student learning. While on the extended SP, students will become familiar with general school procedures and policies such as staff meetings, parent-teacher meetings, preparing pupil reports, communicating with parents and engaging with extra-curricular activities. In this way, students are experiencing the school as a living and learning community through observing the interactions between staff, pupils, parents and external agencies.
On all placements, students are expected to work closely with their co-operating teachers and engage in professional dialogue and learning with their peers during the Learning Circles in an effort to make connections between placement experience and educational theories.
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PLACEMENT LEARNING
Semester 1
