Curriculum Focus Tasks strand 3- SP6 Laura Fahy 14152843:

Title/teideal: Gaeilge neamhfhoirmiil a chur chun cinn sa scoil.

Classes involved/ranganna: Juniors infants and senior infants (multi-grade), first class and
second class (multi-grade).
Number of sessions/meid ceachtanna: Eleven.
Subject/bhar: Gaeilge/ Gaeilge namhfhoirmiil
Task 1 describe your curriculum focus:
The initiative I have chosen to implement in my school is an eight session programme aimed
at encouraging students to use the Irish language in a daily context outside of the classroom
from a young age. I have decided to entitle the programme Gaeilge gan streo. I aim to
foster students love for Irish through the use of motivating, fun and realistic contexts such as
yoga, art, dance, games and sport. The primary aim is not just language learning or
acquisition but more so, for the students to see the value and use of the Irish language in a
purposeful manner so as to develop their confidence in speaking their native language. The
two groups will be split in accordance with their class grouping systems, for the purpose of
developmentally appropriate practice (DAP), when the task exceeds the ability of the younger
group. However, in the spirt of the whole school dimension to this strand, the classes will be
grouped for some activities and I have enlisted the assistance of both class teachers for this
purpose as I am aware of the limitations of my own classroom management as a student
teacher. The inspiration for my curriculum focus came about as a result of a conversation in
the staff room when the faculty noted that the problem with the lack of use of the Irish
language in the school was the childrens lack of confidence in their spoken Irish, rather than
their respective ability. Another problem noted by the faculty was that some students believed
that learning Irish was synonymous with boredom or working directly from a book. As a
result of this insight into the students attitude towards Irish in the school, I set about to
change the traditional dynamic of an Irish lesson by making my sessions as interactive and
eventful as possible. Another insight that I gained from the faculty of the school was that
students only seemed to use gaeilge neamhfhoirmiil when a teacher is present so that they
may receive praise for the act. In order to counteract this habit, I will hang up Irish phrases
that they would usually say in English to entice students to use Irish with their classmates.
Any member of staff who hears this effort will reward that student(s) for setting a positive
example for the rest of the school. The purpose of this initiative from the perspective of my
own professional development is that I may monitor any results or changes in confidence and
attitudes towards the Irish language as a result of a stimulating context so that I may apply
this to my pedagogical approach to gaeilge in the future.
Curriculum focus tasks strand three:
Task 2: Seven week plan: Gaeilge gan br!

Session/ceacht 1: Session/ceacht 2: 1st and 2nd

Infants(Nb&Nm) Haka (R1&2) Cha Cha
gaelacha

Session/ceacht 3: Session/ceacht 4:

Infants(Nb&Nm): 1st/2nd: (R1&2)

Amhrn: Hca pca Amhrn Tg amach
m (Wagon wheel)

Session 5/ceacht:

1st/2nd(R1&2) cluiche :Captaen ar

Brd

Session/ceacht 6:

Infants(Nb&Nm): cluiche: cat sa

teach.

Session/ceacht 7:

1st /2nd(R1&2): Sacar

Session/ceacht 8:

1st/2nd(R1&2): oga (Yoga)

Session/ceacht 9:

Infants(Nb&Nm) & 1st and 2nd: Ag

lrg don taisce (treasure search)

Session/ceacht 10: Session/ceacht 11:

Infants(Nb&Nm) & 1st and Infants(Nb&Nm) & 1st and
2nd : Cleachtadh don 2nd: Taispantas
taispantas