Language network: stories from schools

Teachers in the NCCAs Primary School Network have been developing their practice in the teaching and learning of languages, with a focus on supporting children's progress in Irish. Read their stories, see videos of their work, and download information sheets below.

Supporting progession by using languages informally

Schools in the Primary School Network support children's learning by promoting language use throughout the school.
Find out more.

Planning for progression: a framework for reflection and action

The teachers have been using an approach to planning and teaching Irish that involves reflecting on what children can already understand, say, read or write in Irish to plan for progression, as shown in the diagram. The resources below will help you to find out more about how this approach works in the classroom, and even try it out yourself.

Information sheet:Building on what we know: a reflective approach to planning for progression in language learning (PDF, 629KB)

Sample unit:Caitheamh Aimsire (Hobbies) (PDF, 1.4MB)

Sample unit:Ócáidí Speisialta (Special occasions) (PDF, 625KB)

Resource sheet:Getting started - Reflection questions for teachers (PDF, 71KB)

Find our more information about each step of the process.

	Information sheet: Recording children's progress in Irish (PDF, 939KB) Video: Using peer-assessment to record progress(sixth class) Video: Using self-assessment to record progress (senior infants) Video: Using oral tasks and video to record progress (multi-grade 4th-6th class)
	School story: Looking at children's work in a whole school context (weblink) Samples of children's workwith commentary (weblink)
	Video: Identifing goals in partnership with children (multi-grade setting) Planning: Links to planning tools for Irish and English (weblink)
	The change in the teachers' practice is not the particular teaching methods or resources they use, but how they use them; *how they reflect on* the children's learning in Irish to build on what they already can do or understand. The teachers use a range of strategies, methods and resources, as outlined in the curriculum. Download: Curaclam na Gaeilge: Treoirlínte do Mhúinteoirí (PDF, 2.44MB) View online Curaclam na Gaeilge: Treoirlínte do Mhúinteoirí (weblink)