Irish-medium Early Years Education in the north of Ireland Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh St Mary’s University College Belfast [email protected].
Download ReportTranscript Irish-medium Early Years Education in the north of Ireland Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh St Mary’s University College Belfast [email protected].
Slide 1
Irish-medium Early Years Education in
the north of Ireland
Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh
St Mary’s University College Belfast
[email protected]
Slide 2
Slide 3
During today’s presentation I hope to
• outline the development of the Irish-medium sector in
the north of Ireland;
• explore successful strategies used by early years
educators in promoting Irish language learning as part
of the holistic development of young children;
• highlight recent initiatives for the continuing
professional development of immersion early years
educators in the north of Ireland.
Slide 4
Slide 5
From humble beginnings
Slide 6
Slide 7
Irish-medium primary schools
in the north
Slide 8
Phases of Irish-medium Education
Phase
Number of Units
Number of Pupils
Early Years Care (0-3 years)
1
93
Nursery Education (3-4 years)
44
1114
Primary: Foundation Stage (4-6 years)
34
2818
4
732
Primary : Key Stage 1 (6-8 years)
Primary: Key Stage 2 (8-11 years)
Secondary: Key Stage 3 (11-14 years)
Secondary: Key Stage 4 (14-16 years)
Secondary: Post-compulsory Education
Slide 9
Staff in Irish-medium Education
Qualified Teachers
178
Nursery Workers
125
Classroom Assistants
95
Slide 10
Slide 11
Key Strategies
Meaningful, contextually rich activities
Focus on listening, understanding and speaking
A thematic approach to early learning
Positive teacher-pupil relarionship
Modelled, shared and guided language activities
Slide 12
A Challenge
Do strategies in use in monolingual settings
need to be adapted to the needs of
young language learners in bilingual settings?
Slide 13
Department of Education (2008)
Review of Irish-medium Education
The needs of Irish-medium Educators should be
taken into account in delivering common
leadership training and support services in a
sectorally-sensitive way.
http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/655/1/review_of_irishmedium_education_report__english_pdf_.pdf
Slide 14
One case in point
The role of the adult in early years Irish-medium
settings
Slide 15
Hickey (2003)
Activities which encouraged optimum use of Irish
language in early years settings
• Games with rules
• Singing together
• Home corner activities
• Stories
• Nursery rhymes
• Interest points
• Guided group activities
Slide 16
Emerging Issues
• the need for research to inform practice;
• the need for continuing professional
development sensitive to the context of Irishmedium classrooms;
• the need to support teachers’ continuing
efforts to improve their own Irish language
competences.
Slide 17
An Irish-medium Model of Continuing
Professional Development
• Addresses both pedagogical and linguistic needs
• Reflects immersion education learning and teaching
methodologies
• Encourages informed reflection and sharing of good
practice
• Action Research
Slide 18
Slide 19
Research Themes
Improving Writing in the target Language at Key Stage 2
Developing Phonological Awareness in the early years
Improving Spelling Strategies with Key Stage 1 Pupils
Independent Reading in Key Stage Two
An Evaluation of the Lift Off Programme in a P.3 Class
Composite Classes in an Irish-medium School
Supporting Special Educational Needs at Key Stage 3:
innovative strategies to improve sight vocabulary.
Slide 20
Slide 21
Slide 22
Go raibh maith agaibh
Tanke Wol
Thank you for listening
Bedankt voor uw aandacht
Slide 23
References
Baker, C. (2006) Foundations of Bilingualism and Bilingual
Education 4th Edition. Cleveland: Multilingual Matters.
CCEA (2005) Preschool Curricular Guidance
http://www.deni.gov.uk/preschool_curricular-2.pdf
CCEA (2009) Northern Ireland Curriculum Primary (Irishmedium)
http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/docs/irish_medium/found
ation/NIC_Primary_IrishMedium.pdf
Department of Education (DE) (2008) Review of Irishmedium Education
http://www.deni.gov.uk/review_of_irishmedium_education_report__english_pdf_.pdf
Slide 24
References
Hickey, T. (2003) ‘Cad a mheallann Gaeilge ó Phaistí sa LuathThumoideachas’ in Taighde agus Teagasc Iml. 3. Coláiste Ollscoile
Naomh Muire: Béal Feirste.
Knipe, D. Bunting, G. Ó Labhraí, J. Nig Uidhir, G. and Mhic Aoidh, E.
(2004) The Professional Development of Teachers in Irish-medium
Schools www.deni.gov.uk
Lundy, L. (2006) Mainstreaming Children’s Rights in, to and through
Education in a Society Emerging from Conflict in International Journal
of Children’s Rights 14:339-362.
Mac Corraidh (2006) Irish-medium Education in Belfast in De Brún,
F.(ed.) Belfast and the Irish Language. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
Maguire, G. (1991) Our Own Language: An Irish Initiative. Clevedon:
Multilingual Matters.
Slide 25
References
McKendry, E. (2005) Immersion Education. Belfast; Council for Irishmedium Education.
Ó Baoill, D. (2007) Origins of Irish-medium Education: the dynamic
core of language revitalization in Northern Ireland in The International
Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism Vol. 10, No. 4, 410-427.
Ó Duibhir, P. (2006) Education and Continuing Professional
Development for Teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Schools.
www.cogg.ie
Peover, S. (2002) The Current State of Irish-medium Education in
Northern Ireland in Kirk, J. and Ó Baoill, D. (eds.) Language Planning
and Education: linguistic issues in Northern Ireland, the Republic of
Ireland and Scotland. Belfast; Cló Ollscoil na Banríona.
Uí Dhoibhlin, S. (2011) Pedagogical Approaches Which Enhance Early
Years Irish Language Development: a case study. Masters Dissertation:
St Mary’s University College, Belfast.
Irish-medium Early Years Education in
the north of Ireland
Eibhlín Mhic Aoidh
St Mary’s University College Belfast
[email protected]
Slide 2
Slide 3
During today’s presentation I hope to
• outline the development of the Irish-medium sector in
the north of Ireland;
• explore successful strategies used by early years
educators in promoting Irish language learning as part
of the holistic development of young children;
• highlight recent initiatives for the continuing
professional development of immersion early years
educators in the north of Ireland.
Slide 4
Slide 5
From humble beginnings
Slide 6
Slide 7
Irish-medium primary schools
in the north
Slide 8
Phases of Irish-medium Education
Phase
Number of Units
Number of Pupils
Early Years Care (0-3 years)
1
93
Nursery Education (3-4 years)
44
1114
Primary: Foundation Stage (4-6 years)
34
2818
4
732
Primary : Key Stage 1 (6-8 years)
Primary: Key Stage 2 (8-11 years)
Secondary: Key Stage 3 (11-14 years)
Secondary: Key Stage 4 (14-16 years)
Secondary: Post-compulsory Education
Slide 9
Staff in Irish-medium Education
Qualified Teachers
178
Nursery Workers
125
Classroom Assistants
95
Slide 10
Slide 11
Key Strategies
Meaningful, contextually rich activities
Focus on listening, understanding and speaking
A thematic approach to early learning
Positive teacher-pupil relarionship
Modelled, shared and guided language activities
Slide 12
A Challenge
Do strategies in use in monolingual settings
need to be adapted to the needs of
young language learners in bilingual settings?
Slide 13
Department of Education (2008)
Review of Irish-medium Education
The needs of Irish-medium Educators should be
taken into account in delivering common
leadership training and support services in a
sectorally-sensitive way.
http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/655/1/review_of_irishmedium_education_report__english_pdf_.pdf
Slide 14
One case in point
The role of the adult in early years Irish-medium
settings
Slide 15
Hickey (2003)
Activities which encouraged optimum use of Irish
language in early years settings
• Games with rules
• Singing together
• Home corner activities
• Stories
• Nursery rhymes
• Interest points
• Guided group activities
Slide 16
Emerging Issues
• the need for research to inform practice;
• the need for continuing professional
development sensitive to the context of Irishmedium classrooms;
• the need to support teachers’ continuing
efforts to improve their own Irish language
competences.
Slide 17
An Irish-medium Model of Continuing
Professional Development
• Addresses both pedagogical and linguistic needs
• Reflects immersion education learning and teaching
methodologies
• Encourages informed reflection and sharing of good
practice
• Action Research
Slide 18
Slide 19
Research Themes
Improving Writing in the target Language at Key Stage 2
Developing Phonological Awareness in the early years
Improving Spelling Strategies with Key Stage 1 Pupils
Independent Reading in Key Stage Two
An Evaluation of the Lift Off Programme in a P.3 Class
Composite Classes in an Irish-medium School
Supporting Special Educational Needs at Key Stage 3:
innovative strategies to improve sight vocabulary.
Slide 20
Slide 21
Slide 22
Go raibh maith agaibh
Tanke Wol
Thank you for listening
Bedankt voor uw aandacht
Slide 23
References
Baker, C. (2006) Foundations of Bilingualism and Bilingual
Education 4th Edition. Cleveland: Multilingual Matters.
CCEA (2005) Preschool Curricular Guidance
http://www.deni.gov.uk/preschool_curricular-2.pdf
CCEA (2009) Northern Ireland Curriculum Primary (Irishmedium)
http://www.nicurriculum.org.uk/docs/irish_medium/found
ation/NIC_Primary_IrishMedium.pdf
Department of Education (DE) (2008) Review of Irishmedium Education
http://www.deni.gov.uk/review_of_irishmedium_education_report__english_pdf_.pdf
Slide 24
References
Hickey, T. (2003) ‘Cad a mheallann Gaeilge ó Phaistí sa LuathThumoideachas’ in Taighde agus Teagasc Iml. 3. Coláiste Ollscoile
Naomh Muire: Béal Feirste.
Knipe, D. Bunting, G. Ó Labhraí, J. Nig Uidhir, G. and Mhic Aoidh, E.
(2004) The Professional Development of Teachers in Irish-medium
Schools www.deni.gov.uk
Lundy, L. (2006) Mainstreaming Children’s Rights in, to and through
Education in a Society Emerging from Conflict in International Journal
of Children’s Rights 14:339-362.
Mac Corraidh (2006) Irish-medium Education in Belfast in De Brún,
F.(ed.) Belfast and the Irish Language. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
Maguire, G. (1991) Our Own Language: An Irish Initiative. Clevedon:
Multilingual Matters.
Slide 25
References
McKendry, E. (2005) Immersion Education. Belfast; Council for Irishmedium Education.
Ó Baoill, D. (2007) Origins of Irish-medium Education: the dynamic
core of language revitalization in Northern Ireland in The International
Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism Vol. 10, No. 4, 410-427.
Ó Duibhir, P. (2006) Education and Continuing Professional
Development for Teachers in Irish-medium and Gaeltacht Schools.
www.cogg.ie
Peover, S. (2002) The Current State of Irish-medium Education in
Northern Ireland in Kirk, J. and Ó Baoill, D. (eds.) Language Planning
and Education: linguistic issues in Northern Ireland, the Republic of
Ireland and Scotland. Belfast; Cló Ollscoil na Banríona.
Uí Dhoibhlin, S. (2011) Pedagogical Approaches Which Enhance Early
Years Irish Language Development: a case study. Masters Dissertation:
St Mary’s University College, Belfast.