Be the Best You Can Be!! Two-pronged approach

Be the Best You Can Be!!

Two-pronged approach

• 1. Whole School

• 2. Subject areas

Whole School

• Staff in-service on aspects of learning. At least one a year. Outside the school-lunch provided.

• Challenging methodologies

• Teaching v. learning

• Raising the Bar

• Assessment for Learning

• Co-operative learning-subject in-service

External in-service

• Dr. Michael Stone, psychotherapist-teaching and learning

• Hal O’Neill, NCCA-assessment for learning

• Jim Lyons, former Clare CEO-raising the bar

• Maria Garvey, SLSS-co-operative learning

• Dr. Orison Carlisle-managing stress

Staff Generated in-service

• Ideas which evolved in-house

• Challenging methodologies

• Staff questionnaire

• Qualities of a good school

Marks of a good school

• Positive atmosphere

• Good work ethic

• High achievement

• High standards

• Well structured, well run

• Broad range of activities

• United team

• Positive leadership

Staff Questionnaire

Successful Teaching

• Well structured classes

• Positive atmosphere

• Students are learning

• High standards demanded

• Verifiable achievement

Subject Department Planning

• Subject Co-ordinators

• Encouraging subject meetings-3 per year

• Mock exams an ideal opportunity

• Subject inspections concentrate the mind

Subject Meetings-progress to date

• Agreeing programmes of work

• Subject materials, resources

• Common assessments, forms of assessment

• Managing the transition from primary to post-primary

• Mixed ability classes

• Special Needs

• ICT in the classroom

• Measuring our effectiveness-state exam results analysis

Re-filling the Tank

• Forbairt

• SDPI in-service

• NAPD conference

• Meitheal week-end

• AMCSS

• North-South Initiatives

• Invaluable sources of new thinking, renewing energy.

Useful Sources

• www.sdpi.ie

• Very useful material for staff in-service days, easily navigated

• SLSS-Maria Garvey on Co-operative Learning

• NCCA

• Marino www.marinopolicy.ie

Junior Cert. Science question

• Name 3 parts of the body and their functions.

• The Brainium

• The borium

• The abominal cavity