yb live Out and About
Incredible Years in Wales!
Incredible Years is not just for children; in fact the teachers are training too! In November Caitriona Nic Grianna (Gaelscoil Bhaile Munna) braved the high seas and took the ferry to Wales to train in delivering the child programme Small Group Dina. The three days training took place in University of Bangor with Dr. Judy Hutchins and her team. Caitriona is now back in Ballymun where she is applying her training to great effect, running a Small Group Dina Programme on Wednesday afternoons in the school for children in Junior and Senior classes.
Miriam Nolan (St. Joseph’s Junior School), Hazel Walsh (Ballymun Educational Support Team) and Breege Breheny (youngballymun Schools Coordinator) travelled to Cardiff to participate in a three day “Leader Training for delivering the Teacher Classroom Management Programme”. The three-day training course prepares leaders to deliver the five-day Incredible Years Teacher Classroom Management programme (TCM).
The teacher programme (TCM) focuses on evidence based practices and strategies that have been shown to reduce problem behaviour in the classroom and strengthen children’s social, emotional and academic competencies. It is delivered over five days, usually one session a month . Between sessions teachers undertake classroom assignments and receive both verbal and written feedback on their efforts. Breege, the Incredible Years Schools Co-ordinator, is in ongoing contact with Principals in the six Incredible Years Schools looking at the ways that Teacher Classroom Management can be applied in schools in Ballymun.
The teacher programme is linked to the IY Parent and Child Programmes all of which promote positive and effective strategies to improve children’s social competencies at school and at home.
- Jigsaw Learning Network hosted by youngballymun
Jigsaw youngballymun hosts the third "Jigsaw Learning Network”
Jigsaw youngballymun hosted the third Jigsaw Learning Network on the 25th and 26th January 2010 in the Axis Centre. The Jigsaw Learning Network is organised by Headstrong and brings together all the Jigsaw sites from Kerry, Galway, Roscommon, Meath and Ballymun four times a year. The emphasis of the two days was on learning from one another, with each session may containing a brief presentation followed by small group activities and exercises. The agenda covered a number of core topics relevant to all sites, what sites have learned to date, what can be learnt from the different settings and communities we are working in and what outside knowledge can we utilise to help us shape the work we are undertaking with our respective programs.
On the first day we heard specific inputs from each of the sites on one core piece of their work. Galway presented on Jigsaw in rural communities, Kerry on Youth Participation and how it can take off, Roscommon on utilising youth spaces and places and youngballymun on universal approaches to community wellbeing which included information on our Lunchtime Lecture Series, the Outreach Clinic in the RECO and our mental health and wellbeing awareness week “It’s Good to Talk”. The later half of the day focused on the Jigsaw model and asked the question “How does it work for young people?” The group looked at the different models including what a Jigsaw client looks like and what are their entry and exit points, case scenarios were used to highlight different issues and approaches. This discussion continued into the second day followed by a presentation from Headstrong with an update on the national evaluation and the next steps for the Jigsaw training agenda.
The visitors from the other sites also had an opportunity to see some of Ballymun with the RECO restaurant the venue for lunch and a walking tour of the area to point out where our Jigsaw partners are working and the types of service they provide. The two days were extremely useful and the opportunity to share learning was highly valued by all who attended.
First Steps Speaking and Listening
In November 2009, Martina and Duana from Write-Minded, attended 3 days of the ‘First Steps Speaking and Listening’ tutor training in Charleville, Co. Cork. First Steps Speaking and Listening is an Australian research-based resource supported by the Department of Education and Science to help specifically target the development of oral language skills in the classroom. It complements the other First Steps resources being used and rolled out in local primary schools (First Steps Writing & First Steps Reading). First Steps is dedicated to improving student achievement through the use of research-based approaches and provision of practical curriculum resources. It is used successfully in schools worldwide including Australia, New Zealand, United States, and United Kingdom.
The course was organised by the Primary Professional Development Service, was attended by approximately 40 teachers, principals, and DEIS advisors. A very intensive, yet enjoyable course provided a well-received balance between theory and practice. The range of expertise of participants also facilitated the sharing of good practice that is happening in local Irish schools.
Martina and Duana have just this week completed the second part of tutor training and will be applying their training in workshops for Ballymun teachers on key aspects of First Steps Speaking and Listening in February. They will also provide support to teachers in embedding the approach in the classroom.
