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.