An t-ionnsachadh òg; an t-ionnsachadh bòidheach
Young learning is beautiful learning
Fundamental to our philosophy is the understanding that each child is an autonomous person. The school will also endeavour to minimize its environmental impact. Learning about other cultures, being a part of a sustainable and meaningful community, and incorporating diverse worldviews will be important components of the school’s ethos. Small class sizes, exceptional teaching, catering to diverse learners, and multi-age groupings are important facets of the school.
Our Learning Method
At Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide we focus on both language and culture in a broad holistic sense, while meeting or exceeding academic standards in important subjects like math, sciences, language arts, social studies and visual arts. This approach aims to foster a strong sense of identity rooted in Gaelic as well as a high quality of academic achievement. As most students coming into the school will have little or no experience with the language, the emphasis early in the school year will be on bringing students to fluency in the language.
The educational model used in the classroom is based on the Montessori Method, where the child’s desire and ability to learn are valued, and balanced attention is given to intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual development.
“For more than a century, Montessori has been thriving around the globe, and contemporary research validates the effectiveness of the Montessori Method. Several key elements of the approach meet the educational goals today’s parents have for their children, including growing into capable people who will have a strong sense of self, the ability to connect with others, and the potential to be productive throughout their lives.” (amshq.org)
Students are taught in multi-age groupings where older students are encouraged to assist in teaching younger students. The classroom is a comfortable environment conducive to learning, that allows children to work at their own pace and learn through repetition and self-correction.
The culture surrounding the language is critical to what Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide will impart to students. Important themes within the curriculum include:
Outdoor learning and holistic, seasonally themed lessons
Music and expressive arts
Traditional Gaelic seanchas ( knowledge and lore )
Growing and preparing food
Social skills development
We will achieve our goals and outcomes by using contemporary and traditional approaches to teaching and learning including:
Intergenerational learning
Hands-on, self-directed and problem-based learning through doing
Connection to community
Tradition bearers’ participation in the classroom
Collaborative play
Bilingualism
Students at Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide will have the benefit of achieving bilingualism in Gaelic and English. Studies have shown that children who have learned a second language to fluency have an understanding of how language works and find it easier to learn other languages. Bilingualism actually changes the structure of the brain to make it able to switch back and forth between languages. It also has benefits that go beyond language to include arithmetic, problem solving and enabling children to think creatively. Studies in Scotland showed that children educated in Gaelic performed better in English language evaluations than their peers educated solely in English. Partly for that reason, parents in Scotland regularly choose to enrol their children in Gaelic Medium Education. Closer to home, Mi'kmaq Immersion is also growing in popularity in Eskasoni and other indigineous communities in Nova Scotia.
The Learning Environment
Our classroom is a cozy and familiar space that has all of the amenities a child would seek from home, including a child-accessible washroom, bright windows and accessible entrances. Furniture and learning materials are placed at child-height to make sure each child has access to the materials they are interested in learning with when they need them. We prioritize a safe, secure, considerate and comfortable learning environment where parents are excited to send their child.
The school sits on the edge of the Beinn Mhàbu campus of Colaisde na Gàidhlig / The Gaelic College. This location provides lots of opportunities for exploring different facets of our extended Gaelic community and having a busy community hub close by makes students feel like they are part of a bigger neighbourhood of friendly faces. The former convent site will play host to a number of community groups, athletic and social clubs, and language and academic opportunities. We anticipate a whole host of teachable moments as a result of being in contact with a variety of businesses and community organizations.
Our Location
Taigh Sgoile na Drochaide is located in a place that holds a great deal of significance in Gaelic Nova Scotia, the hills of Mabou, Inverness County. Mabou is blessed with a beautiful and dynamic geography that lends itself well to the kind of place-based education we’ve developed for our students. Located in traditional, unceded Mi’kmaw territory, on land that has been worked and lived on by Gaels for hundreds of years, this part of Cape Breton is steeped in multi-cultural tradition, arts and ways of seeing and knowing the world. We tap into that heritage and knowledge of the land to teach our children about biology, diversity, and geography. Here, the hills, woods, streams, and shores become our children’s playground and one of the core ways we guide them in experiencing the world. Gaelic remains a living language in Mabou, where many residents grew up with the language, music, and arts all around them. Dances, performances, and visits are common here and will play a big role in the way we teach our students about culture and community.