1. Multi-grade Workshop Improving teaching and learning IPPN Conference 2008

2. Overview Proposing strategies to address common challenges identified in DES reports Participants’ input Tutor’s input

3. By the end of the workshop… What? Suggested strategies to some common challenges Why? To improve teaching and learning How? Your collective experience Updated CD-ROM: related resources

4. DES Reports Sample of WSE reports from small schools An evaluation of Planning in Thirty Primary Schools Inspectorate 2005 Fifty School Reports: what inspectors say Inspectorate 2002 An evaluation of Curriculum Implementation in Primary Schools, English, Mathematics and Visual Arts Inspectorate 2005

5. Not ‘NCT’ for the WSE! Shared moral purpose Part of the school’s development planning process External review supporting the school’s internal efforts Represents a change from policing model to encouraging internal control

7. Quality of Curriculum Provision Quality of School Planning Quality of School Management Quality of Support for Pupils Quality of Teaching and Learning Looking at our School

8. Challenges Not specific to schools with multi-grade classes Exploring the challenges in the multi- grade context Every school will address identified challenges at a pace and in a way appropriate to its own context Suggested strategies

9. Area 1 Management Consult/discuss/ratify/sign Enrolment to comply with Section 29 Review dates Establish a PA More involvement of parents in the school development planning process Communication with parents

10. Area 2 School Planning Making the School Plan easy to navigate Time for collaborative planning Strategic planning to prioritise and pace identified priorities

11. Area 3 Curricular Provision Many plans are too generic and have little impact on classroom practice Make the plan more concise and clear Relevant to the context of the multi- grade context of the school Clear links between the School Plan and teacher planning

12. WSE comments… For the future the school should guard against planning becoming a paper- gathering exercise. The school should develop its approach to planning by having as its central concern the extent to which its plans are making a difference to teaching and learning.

13. Area 4 Teaching & Learning Assessment Variety – including self & peer assessment Whole school analysis of data Clearly stating intended learning outcomes Integration Range of methodologies Active learning Greater use of ICT

14. Area 5 Support for Pupils Differentiation Attention (should) be given to the differing ability levels of pupils. Collaboration between class teacher and SEN teacher

15. Workshop Based on the five areas of school activity (Looking at Our School) Each group will focus on one area Two common challenges are listed for each area

16. Workshop Every group should… Agree chairperson Select one of the challenges Record one or more possible strategies

17. Key question… What practical measures could be taken to address the challenge in School B?

18. Feedback State the challenge Briefly outline one strategy Feedback will to be collated and e- mailed to you

19. Revised CD-ROM Individual Teacher Planning Timetabling Independent Learner Whole School Planning

20. Curricular objectives multi-grade …in other instances planning is predominantly based on the content of textbooks and other resources. (3 teacher) Grouped objectives and approaches: English, Maths and Gaeilge

21. Independent Learner Pupils with learning difficulties need closer monitoring and work needs to be assigned which is appropriate and allows them work more independently as they move through the classes. (2 teacher)

22. Independent Learner Oral Language Language Experience Charts Maths- Problem Solving Visual Arts - Looking & Responding Reading Reading Buddies Writing ‘My Writing Buddy’

23. Active Learning It is advised that a greater variety of methodologies and strategies to promote active learning be employed throughout the school…. with the emphasis being placed on investigative and research skills particularly in the senior classes. (2 teacher school)

24. Active Learning Science/SESE Trail Research template List of all curricular methodologies

25. Assessment It is recommended that the results of standardised tests be reviewed, with a view to getting a clear whole-school picture of pupil achievement. This will help staff to prioritise areas for development. (3 teacher)  Data gathering grid  Data graphing tool

28. Assessment A notable feature of the school is the recording of interests, hobbies and likes of pupils by parents and by pupils themselves. This is innovative and helps teachers plan for their pupils. …it would be advantageous to collate the results of standardised tests sequentially on an individual basis. (5 teacher)  Individual Data Card

29. Individual Data Card (Single A4 page) Name D.O.B. Strengths Challenges Interests Formal Assessments Special Education Preferred Learning Style

30. School Plan It is suggested that the board should now draw up a three-year strategy development plan in which priorities relating to all aspects of the work of the school are set out within targeted timeframes.  Templates www.sdps.iewww.sdps.ie

31. School Plan …the plan be indexed ….the plan be organised into various sections to include an introductory section, sections for organisational, curriculum and pastoral care policies and a development section to include action plans and priorities under review. (5 teacher)  Suggested organisational index  Suggested layout (Cover pages)

32. Suggested Organisational Index Headings Pupil related Parent related Teacher related BoM related

33. Opening the CD Opens automatically when inserted Vista operating system (newer computers) If the computer is not set to open CDs automatically, it will open the files rather than the front page. To get the CD to run as it should – Open My Computer Click on the file called cdmenu