Learning the best methods and practices for Preschool Education

​Scientific research has taught us that the most important period of human development is from birth to age 8.  As the early years are the most important for the child development,  preschool teachers have a big responsibility in building the groundwork for success in school and in adult years. During this course we had the chance of getting new ideas on how to create the best environment for future adults in Europe, by enhancing the quality of Preschool Education in the schools in Europe. 

The new edition of the course “The best for preschool teachers​” took place in Palermo from 27/11/2022 to 03/12/2022. The participants came from all across Europe, with Anneli, Piret, Mari and Leila from Tabasalu Teelahkme Lasteaed in Estonia, Agnieszka, Magdalena and Sylwia from Zespół Szkolno-Przedszkolny w Hażlachu  in Poland, Irena and Špela from Osnovna šola dr.Jožeta Toporišiča Dobova in Slovenia and participants coming from two different Spanish schools: Maria and Elena from Cra Celumbres, and Miguel Ángel from Colegio Diocesano Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
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​During the first day, after some ice braking and team building activities, all the teachers had the chance to present their schools to the others in order to get a wider understanding of preschool education in Europe and to exchange best practices in the early educational field.

​Then it was time for discovering the Italian preschool experience in two local nursery schools in Palermo. Firstly, we visited the “Istituto Jean Piaget”, where the participants had the chance to know the history of this thirtieth-year school and to delve into the welcoming and colourful classes in which children every day spend their school days with experienced teachers and innovative educational methods. 

​Secondly, we had the pleasure to visit the Montessori school “Ecoscuola Montessori”  and look closely at how the Montessori rituals develop in an actual school and how the typical materials of this method are used and integrated in early child education. After a first taste at the Ecoscuola Montessori, which showed us a clear example of Outdoor Education with equipped green areas aimed at providing a natural and practical life experience to children, it was time to deepening this topic. 

​With the help of the association “​Palma Nana”, we experienced a practical education session to brainstorm together on the meanings and the key elements that characterize Outdoor Education, reflecting on the power of the “Maieutic” Approach, and we participated to an outdoor activity in the Palermo square “Piazza Magione”. 

During the week we also discovered the principles of Non Formal Education and the difference between being teachers and being facilitator, analyzing the value that the debriefing has in learning by starting from the students products. 
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Palermo, with its art and culture, was the colourful background of this enriching week. Quoting a comment from one of the participants:

Seven days of pure joy!
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Thank you all for making that happen. 

​We are really grateful to Istituto Jean Piaget, Ecoscuola Montessori and Palma Nana for sharing their knowledge and experience with us, giving a taste of the Italian Preschool and Educational Experience.

Discover more about this course in: https://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/preschool-teacher-training.html