Curriculum
Your children will benefit from a content-rich education at a joyful relaxing pace. By 6th class, the children will be well-rounded individuals who are ready to enter the Logic stage of formation. Visit our Facebook page to get a flavour of what the children are learning on a daily basis.
Religion
Mater Dei Education’s religion curriculum is unique in the world of education and homeschooling. It is based on three aspects which are reviewed weekly: the catechism, the Word of God, and the lives of the Saints with an emphasis on the lives of the Irish Saints. It is a daily family curriculum that is shared by all the primary school members of the family.
Catechism
The truths of our faith are learned by heart to increase the child’s knowledge on his or her faith and to prepare them to answer the questions of non-believers.
The Word of God
Reading the Word of God is more than just reading an interesting story with a worthy moral. Reading the Word of God means having an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. (Jn 1: 14). The Word of God guides our steps towards heaven. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Ps 119). Scriptures talks of the Word of God as a two-edged sword. This means that on one side, it helps us understand our sinful nature and the need for God’s love and mercy, but the other side of the sword comes to heal us so that we may not despair in this journey towards heaven. The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (He 4:12).
The lives of the Saints
Living liturgically is important for the growth of our faith. The lives of the Saints are read throughout the year and encourage us in the virtue of fortitude on our pilgrimage on Earth. Geography and history of the Church are mostly easily taught through the lives of the Saints.
Irish
By the end of the sixth class, the child will be able to read well, speak well, and write well in Irish. Learning Irish has many advantages including capturing the essence of the Catholic Faith and defining our identity. Help is available to students whose parents may need additional support through our Mater Dei Irish Classes.
The recordings of all the readers, songs and vocabulary is available through our parent portal/App.
Writing well and speaking well Irish is only possible with good building blocks as explained in the diagram below:
English
Speaking and writing well English is an essential skill whether the child is called to be an engineer, a scientist, a nurse, a priest, or a writer. The building blocks of grammar and sentence diagramming, comprehension, vocabulary, spelling, and recitation prepare the child to write well and speak well. They are all essential. The result is only assured if all the building blocks have been carried out during the grammar stage. The teaching of English sentence diagramming informs Irish syntax and later, during the Logic stage, the syntax of Latin and modern European languages.
Mathematics
Mathematics is the language of God. It teaches logic which is the basis of the Logic stage of formation. Mathematics is also the basis of Sciences started in first year of the second-level programme. The Mater Dei Education mathematics programme follows a spiral method, which emphasises mental maths, the memorisation of maths facts, and encourages autonomous problem-solving.
History and Culture
From second class, the children are exposed to Irish culture by studying the Irish legends. Mater Dei Education teaches Irish history chronologically starting in third class. The texts show how our forefathers fought for their Faith and encourages our children in the virtue of fortitude.
History and the culture of other countries are taught through English comprehension starting in second class.
Geography
Mater Dei Education geography’s curriculum starts in third class by introducing simple ideas such as the water cycle and physical geography such as mountains, rivers etc. In fourth class, the children learn about the solar system, our planet, and time (days, seasons and years) . In fifth class, the children learn the names of the counties, cities, rivers and islands around our beautiful country. In sixth class, the children extend their understanding of geography to Europe and the rest of the world.
Geography and traditions of other countries are taught through English comprehension starting in second class.
Music
Tin whistle and traditional Irish songs are part of the Mater Dei Education curriculum as music is an integral part of the Irish culture.
Art
The Mater Dei Education art curriculum follows the history programme. It covers art appreciation as well as the practice of art. Students learn to use watercolour paint, and clay.