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AsIAm - Ireland’s National Autism Charity supporting students and parents

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The Coronavirus has brought new challenges to everyone in Irish society and AsIAm is no different. For the safety of our staff and our community, all staff members are now working at home but are working full time and can still be reached through info@asiam.ie. During the next few weeks, we will be radically changing our planned content to adapt to this new situation. We will be putting in place online resources to help with the massive changes in routine, services and social situations during this situation. Check the bottom of the page for a sample of these resources.
Please note: As this situation continues the needs of the community will evolve and change. As a result this is a growing document which we continue to add to. This schedule gives a better idea of what's to come in the next few weeks.
Survey

Social Stories

Information resources

The summer months are extremely important for AsIAm from a fundraising perspective. Over the past few months we had planned and put in place numerous events - all of which are being cancelled, therefore donating to us will become crucial so that we can provide our wide range of services into the future.

Please click on the donate button on this page or through our social media and help make a difference.

Check below to find our Webinars about managing stress and anxiety during the outbreak.

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The Coronavirus has brought new challenges to everyone in Irish society and AsIAm is no different. For the safety of our staff and our community, all staff members are now working at home but are working full time and can still be reached through info@asiam.ie.

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Unless you're a sunbather in Shepherd's Bush, you will have noticed that the U.K. is experiencing its longest lockdown since David Blaine trapped himself in a glass box. Needless to say, this has made any trace of a routine harder to come by than a pedestrian obeying the 2-metre distancing rule, which is why, currently, many in the autism community are challenged by feelings of distress, unease and unequivocal boredom.

Understandably, many are now on the hunt for ideal autism activities to pass the days and establish a new routine, which is why, this week, I have created a list of 10 ideal indoor activities for autistic children, teenagers and adults (of which, you will find well over 10, as I got a tad bit carried away adding subsections - enjoy!).

1. Cooking

Cooking is an ideal activity for autistic people of all ages and abilities, as its set recipes and stringent rules provide ample opportunity for contained creativity. In particular, autistic people who have sensory issues can find something exceptionally soothing about working with batters and pastes, while those who are non-verbal will find lots to learn in its hands-on lessons.

During the coronavirus lockdown, cooking is especially recommended as an activity for autistic people as, not only does it give you a tasty way to kill time, but it also provides the opportunity to create some of those treasured foods which you might not currently have access to. For example, if you can't find pasta on the shelves, then grabs some salt, olive oil, flour and water and you're ready to make a nifty vegan substitute.

2. Virtual Reality/Virtual Tours

As many of the world's greatest attractions lie more abandoned than the ab mat I impulse bought over Christmas, a select few are finding a second life to entertain and educate on the World Wide Web.

For autistic people, the benefits of this are endless and include: avoiding crowded rooms, harsh museum lights and not having to wait in line for the loos. And, whether you go down the VR route or edge towards a 360 interactive tour, the variety on offer here is sure to capture even the most easily distracted out there.

A select few you might want to check out are:

It's also worth pointing out that, when using Google street view, you are now capable of clicking the doors of many buildings and it will show you what's inside. Should we ever get to go outside again, this is also a great way to prepare autistic people for visiting places they might not have been before.

3. Create a Calendar

Since early December, coronavirus has run amok with any plans we might once have had and, although I would be a fool to say that, during this uncertainty, you should rebook any previously scheduled events, going into each new day on a whim is a sure-fire way to increase anxiety for someone on the spectrum.

As such, creating plans which focus on the who, what, where, when and why of a day is a great way to still an autistic person's nerves and, by keeping these schedules short i.e. only planning a few days ahead, you reduce the chance that you will have to take a rain check yet again.

Furthermore, turning this planning into an activity, in which you draw a calendar with visuals, is a fun way to ingrain the information and the finished product can then be hung on the wall for constant reassurance.

4. Stay in Contact with Friends & Family

Call me dramatic, but if you sat me down, fixed a camera on me and told me to make awkward chit chat with friends and family during the lockdown then, I promise you, it wouldn't be long until you saw a smoke silhouette from where I once sat and a James shaped hole in any wall blocking my escape. This isn't because I dislike my loved ones though, it's just that, for me and many other autists, Facetime adds another layer of pressure to already challenging social situations.

Instead, while it's still recommended to use this time to nurture your relationships, consider using instant messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook messenger or even old school emails (if you can remember what they are), as this brings the conversation into our court; where we have plenty of time to respond, emojis to make emotional recognition easier, no pressure of having to suppress stims or make eye contact and, of course, the glory that is gifs!

Additionally, Netflix has just created an opportunity to jointly watch shows called 'Netflix Party'. So, if you are looking for ways to chat where the empty silence is filled, then look no further.

5. Learn Stuff

You may or may not have noticed that the autistic mind is brilliant where, due to a processing path that loves to create deeply connected links, we are capable of pulling out obscure facts that even we're surprised we know. When cooped up, it's easy to let this intellect slack off, however, doing so can be detrimental to an autist's self-confidence and self-esteem.

For youngsters, the solution here is to build a routine around the school lessons plans which you have probably been avoiding like cornavirus itself - something which can be done by slowly but surely trialling different times/locations until we find the perfect Goldilocks of a schedule in which we work best.

For autistic people of all ages, now is also the perfect opportunity to practice some of the areas we are not so strong in (like ball throwing games to promote hand-eye co-ordination). However, if you're looking to develop an area which we aren't pre-programmed to suck at, then why not find an opportunity to excel in one of the many online courses - such as one of the hundreds of online lectures taught by the leading academics at The Great Learning Courses Plus, which include:

[Please note, I am in no way affiliated with The Great Learning Courses Plus]

6. Keep Fit

Staying fit and healthy during lockdown isn't a recommendation but a requirement, as it will not only maintain your immune system but also increase those sweet, sweet endorphins to keep you mentally healthy.

In recent days, P.E. classes with Joe Wicks have become a national favourite. However, I have and always will be, a sucker for the many online exercise regimes which are limited to 4 or 5 activities and multiple sets (as this way I don't embarrass myself when I finally learn a move just in time to move on to the next).

Additionally, for those of us in the UK, exercise presents a small sliver of freedom throughout our day. So, my recommendation is to take this opportunity by the horns and go for a walk/run once a day. Remember, if you do choose to go out, be sure to treat others on the roads like grandma's stale biscuit tin i.e. be respectful but do your best to put as much distance between you and them as possible.

7. Read A Book

With the Coronavirus turning most of the world as quiet as a library, it seems only fitting to use the hours, days and weeks ahead of us to harness our inner bookworm and fall headfirst into the land of literature.

Of course, whether non-fiction or fiction, physical, digital or on audiobook (many of which are currently free through Audible), there is no right way to read or wrong genre to check out. However, if you would like to use these moments to explore neurodiversity, then look no further than the many previous recommendations from in and around this site including:

Moreover, I have recently started reading Saturdays at Noon(a book found in my The Best Autism Books to Look Forward to in 2020 article) and that book is BRILLIANT.

8. Watch TV (in Moderation)

During the lockdown, there is a very real risk that many of us will become so reliant on our TVs that, by the time we are allowed out, we might find that we have become fused to our sofas, only capable of communicating by humming the Newsnight theme tune. Don't let this deter you though as, in small doses, TV can provide a great escape from the often-overwhelming world and, as such, shouldn't be overlooked as a distraction during the pandemic.

Additionally, with so many movies, like Trolls: World Tour and The Invisible Man, coming to home viewing early, as well as many of the popular streaming sites currently offering COVID-19 deals, now is the ideal time to check out some of the awesome offerings you might have missed.

Furthermore, it's also worth noting that some streaming sites are currently giving away content for the low, low price of nothing . So, if you've already seen everything on your preferred site, then why not see what you can get elsewhere e.g:

Amazon Prime (free-for-kids):

Many UK shows, which are aimed at a younger audience, are currently free to watch on Amazon Prime without an account. These include Peppa Pig and the ghoulish hellscape that is In the Midnight Garden

IMDb TV:

Hands up if you even knew IMDb TV was a thing. I know I didn't. However, after the announcement that, for free, you can now watch cinematic bangers on their site like Shrek, The Muppets Take Manhattan and the hidden gem that is the first Scooby-Doo-Movie, I'm sure it won't be a name I forget anytime soon.

The NFL & NBA

Many sporting websites are now giving access to live streams of old matchs, which is awesome. However, the less I say about sport the better (as my knowledge of most things athletic it is equivalent to the price of this deal: nothing).

9. D.I.Y.

It's a commonly held belief that autistic people are bound by repetition. However, to us, our routines aren't about doing the same activity over and over but achieving the same thing again and again. This task can give us a sense of purpose and security and so, without it, we can become exceptionally anxious and in need of something to do - enter, D.I.Y.

D.I.Y. is great for restoring an autistic person's sense of purpose during the coronavirus lockdown and can range from painting a mural on the wall, fixing that creaky door or tidying up the garden to creating sensory jewellery, building a cardboard instrument or even making your own fidget devices (an awesome guide to which can be found here).

In fact, when it comes to D.I.Y. in the autism community, there really is no job too big or too small. Just remember, when picking a task, things need to be kept age and ability appropriate: too difficult and we will only occur unnecessary stress, while too easy can be boring and we will move on fast.

10. Play a Game

When it comes to gaming during the Coronavirus lockdown, of course, you can always bust out that old Cluedo board but, let's be honest, is now really the time to introduce another dangerous mystery to solve?

Instead, why not try something you've never done before and give one of the many makeshift activities from around The Web a shot. For autistic people, many of these games are great as, not only do most come with uncomplicated rules for people of all abilities, but they also ensure unsolicited fun that will bring the household together in a way that the relationship ruining Monopoly could only dream of. For example:

Pom Pom Racing:

In Pom Pom Racing, racers compete to see who can blow a cotton wool ball around a makeshift course the fastest. Using a straw here helps to ensure no one hits their head on anything and creating intricate Sellotape tracks (with lots of twists and turns) will help reduce the game turning into a contest of who can blow the hardest.

Human Pachinko Machine:

If you live somewhere with stairs (I should be so lucky), then an awesome game which has gained attention online is to place different coloured containers (like cups and bowls) at the bottom of the steps and, from there, challenge each other to see who can roll the mostS ball into containers from the top stair.

If you want to make it more competitive, try assigning different values to the various goals and, in a darts inspired score scheme, get contestants to aim for a specific number and see who can get the closest

Bobbing for Skittles:

Put a bag of Skittles (or other low weight, coloured sweets) into a bowl and then see who can remove the most of a specific colour from out (using only a straw) within a set time. Whether you score the highest or not, this game is always a winner as you all get to end by 'tasting the rainbow'.

Pub Quiz:

I'm sure this one speaks for itself, but creating quizzes on any autistic person's favourite subject is a great game during lockdown, as it will get the brain going and reward our restricted interests. Better yet, thanks to the miracle of the internet, all you really need to get a winning quiz is give the topic a search with the word 'quiz' added at the end and you are likely to find tons of results.

Scavenger Hunt:

Another self-explanatory game, this involves creating a list of items to search for, around the house, but instead of giving the name of the item write vague clues such as 'it's something with a face, two hands but no arms or legs' (and the answer was a clock).

Carry on the Conversation:

What are some of your favourite books, TV programmes and indoor games that you can recommend for lockdown? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you haven't checked out last week's comprehensive guide to Autism & Covid-19, then make sure to read that once you're done.

As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.

If you like what you have seen on the site today, then show your support by liking the Autistic & Unapologetic Facebook page. Also, don't forget to sign up to the Autistic & Unapologetic newsletter (found on the sidebar on laptops and underneath if you are reading this via mobile) where I share weekly updates as well as a fascinating fact I have found throughout the week.

Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.

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10 Indoor Activities for Autistic Children, Teenagers and Adults - Autistic & Unapologetic

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Looking for fun ways to enjoy quality time during quarantine? Then check out these 10 ideal indoor activities for autistic children, teenagers and adults.

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April 2020

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L1LPs and L2LPs in Action. Webinar April 2020

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Over 100 Challenge Ideas for home. Subject specific included

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If you're looking for home learning ideas and activities, explore our enormous list of challenges! They cover a wide range of subjects and can all be tried without much preparation or equipment.

English

Think of some questions that you could use in an interview with a family member. What would you like to ask them? Write down their answers or (with their permission) record them using a mobile device.

Write a letter to a friend or family member. What would you like to tell them about?

Read your favourite book to your toys. Make sure they're listening nicely!

Write a postcard to your favourite author.

Practise your phonics skills by playing 'I Spy'.

Make up a story with other people. Each person is only allowed to say one sentence before moving on to the next person.

Create a menu for today's meal.

Choose a toy, a household object or something in your food cupboard and make an advert to encourage people to buy it!

Write a set of instructions to teach people how to play a simple game.

Write a news report about something that has happened to you recently.

Write a book review of the book you are reading. What is it about? Who would you recommend it to?

Make some "top ten" lists. What are your top ten book characters, or books made into films, for example?

Make a stop motion animation that tells a story. We like Stop Motion Studio on the App Store, but others are available to download too.

Create a comic strip that shows what you did yesterday, or what you would love to do tomorrow.

Read the dictionary (or another book in your home) and make a note of some words that you have not seen before. What do they mean?

Write a letter to your teacher. What would you like to tell them?

Choose characters from different books and imagine that they came together in a new story. Imagine what they might do together.

Think of an alternative ending to one of your favourite books.

Maths

Look around your home for different shapes. Can you use tallies to count how many of each shape you can find?

Go on a pattern hunt. Can you find any patterns on your floor / walls or on objects around your home?

Choose some of your toys and measure them with a ruler or tape measure. Can you order them according to their size?

Choose some household objects or toys and make a shop. Add prices and invite a customer (or a cuddly toy) to buy items. How much will they spend? How much change will they receive?

Choose a multiplication table that you're not sure about and learn it off by heart. Practise, practise, practise!

Design a board game that uses a number track. You can make it as simple or as complex as you like!

Play 'noughts and crosses' (or 'tic tac toe'). Try adding more spaces to the board. How does that change the game?

Look at the TV guide and make up some problems using the information on it, e.g. What program is on channel 3 at 9.30 am? If Paw Patrol starts at 10.05 am and ends at 10.12 am, how long does it last for?

Start a number pattern (e.g. doubling, adding five) and continue it as long as possible. How far can you go?

Make a Maths quiz to test a member of your family. Don't forget to work out the answers so that you can check their work!

Science

Investigate which objects float in a bowl or sink filled with water. Check with an adult before you test the objects in the water!

Draw pictures of a healthy meal and an unhealthy meal.

Design an imaginary creature. Where does it live? What does it eat? How is it adapted to living in its environment? Could you make a food chain that includes your creature?

Use yoghurt pots and string to make a telephone.

Write a set of instructions to show people how to look after a plant.

Place ice cubes in bowls in different places (for example by a window, in the fridge, in a cupboard). Which one will melt the fastest?

Set up a simple Science experiment. Science Bob has some great suggestions.

Blow some bubbles. Can you blow small bubbles? Could you make a giant bubble?

Write some secret messages using invisible ink (you only need lemon juice for this activity).

Choose your favourite animal and find out more about them using books or information online. Can you present the information in different ways (e.g. a poster, a written report or a video)?

Geography

Make a poster to teach people about different things that they can do to protect the environment.

Draw a map showing a route from your home to a favourite place.

Draw a picture to show the weather outside. Repeat this activity each day to show how the weather changes.

Draw a bird's eye view of a building you know well. Make sure you include all the doors and windows!

Have a look at some of the items of food in your cupboard or clothes in your wardrobe. Check the labels and find out which countries they have come from. Which has travelled the furthest to get to you?

Make a map of your bedroom, showing where everything is.

Make a simple rain gauge by cutting the top off a plastic bottle, and marking the side in centimetres. Stand it outside and record how much rain it collects.

Hide a small toy in a secret place and create a 'treasure map' to help somebody else find it.

Travel around the world by going on a virtual field trip. This page has some great links to explore!

History

Create a timeline showing the main events in your life, from the day you were born to today.

Choose a famous person from the past and write a diary from their point of view.

Find some fascinating facts about your favourite period from history and make a poster to share them.

Think of some questions that you could ask a member of your family about their own life. What memories do they have? What are the key events in their life?

Art

Look in the mirror and draw a self-portrait.

Create a portrait of a different person or a pet. You can use a picture of them if they won't sit still for long enough.

Draw or paint a landscape picture (showing the view out of your window).

Produce a 'still life' picture that shows a bowl of fruit, a collection of your favourite toys or some other objects.

Think about your favourite book and design a new cover for it.

Design a superhero. What special powers will they have and how might they help people?

Create some pictures of animals using fingerprint painting!

Use objects from nature to create a picture. Could you take a photo of your work?

Find some rocks and paint them!

Play 'Pictionary'. Draw a picture that represents your favourite book or movie (without using any words) and ask somebody else to guess what you are drawing.

Draw a picture without taking your pencil off the page.

Draw a new illustration for a book. Will you keep it in the same style, or try something else?

Make a doodle drawing. Doodle a random shape onto a page, then turn it into an animal or object.

Make your own card game. This could be a simple game of 'Snap', 'Matching Pairs' or a 'Top Trumps' style game.

DT

Use construction materials to make a model of a famous building (e.g. the Eiffel Tower, the Colosseum or an Egyptian pyramid.).

Use folded paper or card to make a bridge that spans a gap. How much weight will it be able to hold?

Use junk materials to build a car that could transport a small toy from one place to another.

Make some shadow puppets and use them to tell a story.

Use craft items or construction toys to make a vehicle that can travel along the floor or down a slope. Challenge a friend to a race!

Build a den and have a picnic or read a story inside it!

Design some clothes for your favourite toy. Could you sew together a costume for them?

Design a home for your favourite movie or book character.

Invent a machine that would improve your life in some way.

Music

Practise singing some nursery rhymes.

Learn the lyrics to your favourite song. Could you perform it to your family when you have learned them all?

Use household objects to make some musical instruments. Could you make a song using them?

Listen to a piece of classical music and draw whatever it makes you think of. What do you imagine while you listen to it?

Choose one of your favourite books and make up a simple melody that could be used as part of an animated version of the book.

PE

Create a simple exercise routine for younger children. Write, draw or perform the sequences of movements.

Learn the dance moves for different songs and then perform them. Some of our favourites are Superman (by Black Lace), Macarena (by Los del Río) and Baby Shark.

Try some yoga exercises using Cosmic Kids Yoga videos.

Make a training circuit around the house or garden. At each station, complete a different exercise for 30 seconds, for example; bunny hops, star jumps, lunges, stepping on and off a step. Then move on to the next.

Practise jumping from a standing start in a hallway or in the garden. Put something down to mark where you land. Can you jump past it next time?

More

Write thank you notes to people who help you. Surprise them by leaving the notes where they might be discovered.

Offer to help with some household chores.

Tell somebody why you love them.

Try learning a language. There are lots of free apps, Youtube videos and online resources (e.g. French-Games.net)

Make a poster that shows all of the people and things that make you smile.

Think of some jokes and perform a comedy routine to your family.

Help to make a meal. Remember to wash your hands first!

Play 'Charades'. Act like an animal, a book or a movie and ask people to guess what you are pretending to be.

Close your eyes and listen carefully. Think about the different sounds that you can hear.

Create a quiz about your favourite topic and test other people's knowledge of it!

Record a video that teaches people how to wash their hands properly.

Play the alphabet game. Choose a few categories (for example, an animal, a country, a fruit) and go through the alphabet, thinking of an example that begins with every letter. Some of the letters are quite tricky!

Play the yes/no game with someone else. Take it in turns to ask each other questions. The person being asked is out if they answer "yes" or "no". How creative can you make your answers?

Play "Would you rather?" Give each player a choice of two options (for example, "Would you rather go for a walk in the snow, or on the beach? ". They have to choose one and say why. The ideas can be as silly as you like!

What hopes and dreams do you have for the future? Draw a picture to show what you hope life will be like in 10, 20 or even 50 years!

Be bored! Sometimes, our best ideas come to us when we are feeling bored!

We hope that this list of ideas has given you some inspiration for your learning at home!
If this collection is useful to you, why not join Teaching Packs today and download all of our resource packs too!

Already a Member? Log in here.

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100 Challenge Ideas for Home Learners - Resources for Teachers and Educators

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If you're looking for home learning ideas and activities, explore our enormous list of challenges! They cover a wide range of subjects and can all be tried without much preparation or equipment. English Think of some questions that you could use in an interview with a family member.

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Math explained in easy language, plus puzzles, games, worksheets and an illustrated dictionary. For K-12 kids, teachers and parents.

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A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.

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Literacy My Reading Journal Reading Challenge Workbook Reading Pairs leaflet Paired Reading Teachers Resource Book Letter Writing Geography Vocab English Stories for the Classroom WORKBOOKS FOR NOVELS Annan Water Boy in the Striped Pyjamas Bridge to Terabithia Buddy Cool The Dare The Field The Gambling Habit Girl Missing Johnny Delgado Of Mice and Men Private...

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For people in their 20s and 30s, there is a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese because of changes in eating patterns and lifestyles. This means that these ages are an important time to prevent excess weight gain, and to protect your health now and in the future.

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For people in their 20s and 30s, there is a greater risk of becoming overweight or obese because of changes in eating patterns and lifestyles. This means that these ages are an important time to prevent excess weight gain, and to protect your health now and in the future.

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Information and advice about your mental health and wellbeing, including mental health issues, coping with difficult situations and helping someone else.

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Literacy programme - Stories being told by some famous actors. Click on the you tube link on the website. Illustrations and subtitles included.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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WARM UP WITH THESE WRITING PROMPTS

Do you have writer's block? Try these prompts to kickstart your creativity.

FEATURED WRITING PROMPTS

Start a paragraph that uses today's Word of the Day.

What is empathy, and how does it influence your point of view?

What's the nicest thing someone has done for you within the last two weeks?

A Dictionary.com company

Expand your vocabulary daily

© 2020 Dictionary.com, LLC

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Writing Prompts To Fuel Your Creativity | Thesaurus.com

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Thesaurus.com is the world's largest and most trusted free online thesaurus brought to you by Dictionary.com. For over 20 years, Thesaurus.com has been helping millions of people improve their mastery of the English language and find the precise word with over 3 million synonyms and antonyms and the ability to filter search results by relevance, word length, and complexity.

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Curriculum support material, topic and subject specific. Post Primary

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Curriculum support material, topic and subject specific. Post Primary

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We, at the English Language support Programme, would like to thank all the teachers and educators who have supported us over the last three years.

www.elsp.ie and the materials it contains will continue to be made available for use thanks to the NCCA, who will host the site from September 2010.

I would like to thank Barbara Lazenby Simpson and Linda Richardson for their enormous work on the materials and to acknowledge my thanks to Prof. David Little for his guidance and for having the original vision. - Zach Lyons

__________________________________

We are delighted to host the Toolkit for Diversity in Post Primary Schools which aims to help schools create and sustain a welcoming and inclusive environment for students and parents from all backgrounds and ensure equal success for all.

Please click on the link below

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The ELSP won the 2009 European Award for Languages - click here for details

Jury's comments " Feedback from involved teachers very positive about motivation of students and this is motivating for teachers...Very impressed with project...Valuable idea transferable to e.g. Gaelscoileanna."

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English Language Support Programme (Trinity Immigration Initiative)

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This website has been designed for post-primary English Language Support and mainstream subject teachers and their students. On this site you will find a comprehensive range of activities which will help you to access all subject areas of the Junior Certificate curriculum. These activities can be downloaded and printed and are suitable for both classroom activity and self-study.

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Speaking and listening:

Indoor mapping template Let's rap! Twinkle, twinkle, little star (handbell accompaniment)Speaking and listening - the EAL context: Article from InTouch magazine

Comprehension strategies for fiction Comprehension strategies for non-fiction High interest reading series

Balanced Approach to Literacy Development
Reading more deeply into EAL! Article from InTouch magazine

Writing Planning

Writing genres Seven steps to teaching a writing genre EAL: Putting it in writing! Article from InTouch magazine

EAL review long term planning template pupil profile Short-term planning sample Short-term planning template policy prompts Language of targets

Assessment Learning Support and Team Teaching

Tips for using the Primary School Assessment Kit Parent observation window Conventions for recording miscue analysis Primary School Assessment Kit

Guidelines for team-teaching Team teaching review

Other Useful Resources Other Useful Links

Practical ideas to facilitate inclusion in the mainstream classroom Suggested websites for EAL EAL suggested resources EAL suggested bibliography Useful agencies for EAL

www.ncca.ie

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Speaking and listening: Indoor mapping template Let's rap! Twinkle, twinkle, little star (handbell accompaniment) Speaking and listening - the EAL context: Article from InTouch magazine Comprehension strategies for fiction Comprehension strategies for non-fiction High interest reading series Balanced Approach to Literacy Development Reading more deeply into EAL!

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EAL Resources: Word documents, PowerPoint slides, Flashcards and Vocabulary 

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EAL Resources: Word documents, PowerPoint slides, Flashcards and Vocabulary 

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Welcome to the EAL Nexus website which will answer many of your questions, as well as provide you with helpful advice and EAL resources for the classroom, whether you are a:

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Englishpage.com offers free online English lessons for advanced English learners. Lessons include hundreds of English grammar and vocabulary exercises. Everything is free and no sign-up is required.

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Recent news reports  you can listen to and read key vocabulary being highlighted.

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Recent news reports  you can listen to and read key vocabulary being highlighted.

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Also includes quizzes, phrase of the day, pronouncitation help, grammar and topic specific vocabulary

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BBC Learning English - BBC Learning English - homepage

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Help students with reading- check out the talking library

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Help students with reading- check out the talking library

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Starfall Education: Kids Games, Movies, Books & Music for K-5 and above

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At Starfall, children have fun while they learn - specializing in reading, phonics & math - educational games, movies, books, songs, and more for children K-5 and above.

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Comics for reading, grammar and vocabulary

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Comics for reading, grammar and vocabulary

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Grammarman Comic!

Have a look around and read some comics. You can also find all kinds of free resources for learning or teaching English, including videos, puzzles, games, stories, trivia facts, quizzes and some great downloads. Thanks for visiting Grammarman comic. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your teacher.

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Grammarman - Bad grammar NEVER takes a holiday!

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Have a look around and read some comics. You can also find all kinds of free resources for learning or teaching English, including videos, puzzles, games, stories, trivia facts, quizzes and some great downloads. Thanks for visiting Grammarman comic. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your teacher.

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Aims to help students and children to memorize English (US) vocabulary in an easy and efficient way by using images, pronunciation and games. Free and Fun!

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EAL Materials, games, interactive quizzes.(avoid sponsored content)

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EAL Materials, games, interactive quizzes.(avoid sponsored content)

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Welcome to anglomaniacy.pl! This is a site for kids learning English filled with fun activities, games, songs and worksheets that can help them with their English. This is also a resource site for English teachers. You will find here tons of free, ready-to-print teaching materials, as well as language resources to use online.

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English resources for kids and teachers. Tons of activities, games, printables to learn and teach vocabulary and grammar in a fun way.

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text maze worksheets & puzzle printables

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Kids ESL Games - Free Online ESL Games, Worksheets and ESL Printables for ESL Young Learners

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ESL Kids A to Z worksheets, Games Resources, ESL Grammar games, ESL Vocabulary games, English activity games, Teaching english as a second language, Classroom powerpoint games, Vocabulary exercises, Grammar exercises for kids, printables, ESL printables, Phonics pages, ESL kids phonics, Kids ESL games templates , ESL board games, ESL interactive games, Text maze worksheets & puzzle printables, Online vocabulary games, Jeopardy Powerpoint, Online grammar games, Card templates, Song worksheets

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Flashcards, phonics, PowerPoint presentations 

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Flashcards, phonics, PowerPoint presentations 

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ESL Kids World | Printable Worksheets | Flashcards & Resources for Kids

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ESL Kids Resources for teachers and students

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ESL-Kids - Flashcards, Worksheets, Games and Songs

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Free ESL resources for kids including flashcards, handwriting worksheets, classroom games and children's song lyrics.

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FREE ESL resources for those who teach English to children.

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FREE worksheets, flashcards, songs, games, and much more for ESL teachers. NO registration required. Enjoy! <meta charset=

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Englishpage.com offers free online English lessons for advanced English learners. Lessons include hundreds of English grammar and vocabulary exercises. Everything is free and no sign-up is required.

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Learn English for free with hundreds of video lessons by experienced native-speaker teachers. English grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, IELTS, TOEFL, writing, and more.

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ESL Worksheets, English Exercises, Printable Grammar, Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension Exercises, Flashcards, Vocabulary Learning Cards and Games For Kids

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The premier web service for creating professional educational resources. Used by teachers and parents around the world.

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British Council LearnEnglish Teens | Free resources for teens to help improve your English

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LearnEnglish Teens provides information, tips and resources to help teenagers learn English.

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English Exercises - Learn English with ESL Activities

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A collection of exercises for grammar, vocabulary, verbs, listening, reading, phonetic symbols and more. You can also access worksheets, audio stories, videos, and songs related to English.

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English listening exercises and printable listening worksheets for free, ESL listening activities for kids

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Free English listening exercises, listening test worksheets, downloadable audio files, printable listening activities for students and English teachers!

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5 Minute English - ESL Lessons - Helping you learn English

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ESL Lessons - Grammer, Vocabulary, Reading, Pronunciation and More

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Episode summary Autumn is in full swing here in the northern hemisphere, so this Real English Conversations episode is full of vocabulary related to the colors, weather, moods and feelings associated with this time of year. Lori and her friend Eliza talk about exercising outdoors, the health benefits of spending time out in nature, and ...

054 - What in the world is leaf peeping? Keep reading "

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Episode summary Autumn is in full swing here in the northern hemisphere, so this Real English Conversations episode is full of vocabulary related to the colors, weather, moods and feelings associated with this time of year. Lori and her friend Eliza talk about exercising outdoors, the health benefits of spending time out in nature, and ...

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ELTbase is a database of resources for teachers and students of English as a second or foreign language. English language worksheets, quizzes, notes and other online resources are indexed by language point and linked to leading course books. The emphasis is on adult / young adult learners at levels from intermediate to advanced, although some resources are suitable for younger learners and lower levels.

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Resources for English teachers and students of English | ELTbase

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ELTbase is a database of resources for teachers and students of English as a second or foreign language. English language worksheets , quizzes , notes and other online resources are indexed by language point and linked to leading course books.

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Interactive resource suitable for all students 

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Interactive resource suitable for all students 

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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Interactive Games (Paid site- free trial available)

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Interactive Games (Paid site- free trial available)

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Flocabulary is a library of songs, videos and activities for K-12 online learning. Hundreds of thousands of teachers use Flocabulary's educational raps and teaching lesson plans to supplement their instruction and engage students. Our team of artists and educators is not only committed to raising test scores, but also to fostering a love of learning in every child.

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Check out ‘Student’s stuff’ - you will find popular phrases verbs, slang and grammar tips.

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Check out ‘Student’s stuff’ - you will find popular phrases verbs, slang and grammar tips.

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There are also forums to join to practice your English with other students. Quizzes also.

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Since 1995 Dave's ESL Cafe has been a meeting place for ESL/EFL students & teachers from around the world - jobs, a resume database, forums, resources, & more!

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Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it's and its in this crafty quiz!

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Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the following sentence? "Although she didn't get the new phone she wanted for her birthday __ she did get a pair of new headphones."

More quizzes from Dictionary.com

Expand your vocabulary daily

© 2020 Dictionary.com, LLC

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Test Your Middle School Punctuation Knowledge With This Quiz

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Correctly using punctuation is tricky. There are many different kinds of punctuation marks, from the semicolon to the apostrophe, and they each have their own rules. (Ugh! Why do punctuation marks always have to have such big names?) Using punctuation marks correctly is important, though, because they help make our communication clear.

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We are excited to announce that we have launched an Online Library – a collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks that our students and staff can access anytime, anywhere. Membership of our JCSP Li…

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An endless library of Free Children’s Books

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Loving2Read - An endless library of children's books

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Use Loving2Read to help your child foster a love of reading with free children's books at their level

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Now free to use- see below password to access

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A site packed with interactive phonics games, phonics planning, assessment ideas and many teaching ideas and resources to help children to learn to hear phonemes, recognise graphemes and develop the blending and segmenting skills that are vital for learning to read and spell.

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Into The Book: Reading Strategies (Interactive)

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Into The Book: Reading Strategies (Interactive)

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The Into the Book website will be retired on December 31st, 2023. Content will not be available after this date.

Student activities now available in English and Spanish!

Into the Book is a reading comprehension resource for elementary students and teachers. We focus on eight research-based strategies: Using Prior Knowledge, Making Connections, Questioning, Visualizing, Inferring, Summarizing, Evaluating and Synthesizing. Try the online interactive activities, or click below to find out how to get our engaging 15-minute video programs.

Please choose a language.

(Bilingual offers both English and Spanish texts, which you can switch between during each activity.)

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Into the Book is a multimedia package designed to improve elementary students' reading comprehension, as well as their ability to think and learn across the curriculum. For Grades 2-5.

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Levelled Reading Passages (Easy, Medium or Hard)

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Our collection for young readers includes Mini-Books with illustrations and large text that students will enjoy coloring and taking home. Parents, teachers, and caregivers will find instructions for printing, cutting, and folding the Mini-Book on each page.

And for the leveled passages for older students, look for the green button to "Launch Literacy Resources" to view the passages with BeeLine Reader, a color gradient tool that facilitates reading. BeeLine Reader uses a customizable color gradient to guide your eye through each sentence and can be helpful for struggling readers. This function may be turned off to view without the color gradient.

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RIF's newest literacy resource is a collection of leveled reading passages for each grade, all with original content and illustrations. The passages are designed to extend student learning after reading specific books, but may also be used independently of ouside books. Each passage relates in some way to the book's themes, concepts, characters, settings, or subject matter.

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Literacy Central is a free resource for parents, teachers and children thanks in part to the generous support of Macy's.

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Digital Literacy Games and Tools for all ages!

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Not your everyday calendar, here you can find important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, all with related activities and resources that make them more relevant to students.

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Not your everyday calendar, here you can find important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, all with related activities and resources that make them more relevant to students.

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Dictionary Work

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Knoword is the game-based learning platform that makes teaching easier and learning vocabulary almost too fun for words.

Effective teaching tools

The definitive vocabulary game for teachers
Knoword for teachers

Teaching can be challenging, and it's not always easy to create lesson plans that keep students engaged. That's where Knoword comes in. It turns learning words, terms, and definitions into a game that's not only fun and intuitive, but also completely customizable by teachers. Choose from thousands of pre-made word packs, or create your own. With Knoword, you'll have a powerful tool to help your students build their vocabulary skills while having fun!

Trusted by these educators

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Unit 8 AP Psychology Vocabulary

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ESP 2: Unidad 5 - Buen Provecho

Word quizzes & course review

Packs and packs of fun

Knoword packs are like sets of interactive flash cards. Whether you're teaching biology terms, names of historical figures, capital cities, or movie titles, there's a pack for that. And if there isn't one, it's just as easy to create custom packs for your students to play and expand their vocabulary.

Browse packs

Browse packs by category

Study sets for every subject

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Find out how Knoword helps teachers create custom vocabulary exercises that help students learn while having fun. Knoword is the leading classroom word game.

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Effective Interventions for Struggling Readers

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A Free Well-Being Journal

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In these uncertain times with self-isolation within families and social distancing from the wider community, I've put together a really practical and helpful stay at home survival guide for parents to use while their children are at home. I hope you find it helpful, spread it far and wide with others.

Stay clam, playful and optimistic. We can do this together!

For many people this is the first time we've had our children all at home together for such long periods of time, without holidays and travel involved. The weeks and months ahead may therefore feel really daunting, even overwhelming.

I can understand that feeling too, but I think it helps to be calm and remind ourselves we can TOTALLY DO THIS and we are perfectly suited to the task ahead. Yes, it will require a period of settling and adjustment to new routines and preparation will be your friend here.

Let me help you get started with this simple guide and don't forget, you will also find me sharing DAILY PLAY and LEARNING IDEAS over on my Imagination Tree Instagram feed (where I often chat to camera behind the scenes and show you how-tos and set up videos too.) Also, I am going to open up the doors to my private membership site for parents PlayLab EARLY so that new members can hop on board and have weekly advice, videos, training and materials from me directly. This will be a great stress reliever as I will do lots of the work for you! Hop on over here to sign up to register your interest now, ready for when the doors open in the next couple of weeks!
Ok, let's start our Stay at Home Survival Guide!
Firstly, take the pressure off yourself. You do not need to be perfect at organising timetables, fun activities and teaching material. It will absolutely be ok if some things slip for a while. YOU know your child the best and WILL be able to provide well for them during this period, including their educational development. Their teachers will give some guidance and there are plenty of ideas online for a lifetime of learning ideas. Kids are amazingly adaptable, including being able to catch up again with their learning. This is not forever!

If in doubt, keep it PLAYFUL, fun and as active as possible as this is the proven best way to learn and retain new information. This could look like running around the house to hunt for hidden phonemes/ sight words against a timer, instead of studying boring worksheets, for example. This will also help keep them moving as much as possible which is very important when going out is no longer an option.

STOCK UP

I DO suggest stocking up as early as possible on loads of basic sensory play materials and learning resources.

Everything in this list will be useful in making play dough, slime, cloud dough, salt dough, dyed rice/ pasta, scented sensory play materials, sensory writing trays and LOADS of creative art activities. This combination pretty much covers all bases! Find the recipes themselves in the archives here and in my Sensory Invitations to Play Cards.

These are inexpensive but really useful to have handy in the cupboards for the days when you want to pull your hair out with frustration! If in doubt, ditch everything and get messy!

This list of learning materials will obviously depend on the age and stage of your own children, but it covers a good range from approx preschooler to older Primary school. These are versatile resources that can be combined in a variety of ways to make all kinds of DIY learning through play games and activities. You'll find the ideas themselves in the archives here (scroll down) and over on my daily instagram updates. PlayLab members will get them delivered directly on the membership site too.

MAKE A PLAN

Planning ahead will also be your friend here. Make a loose schedule for the weekdays and then be sure to plan in sensory play time and open-ended too. This will help everyone feel calmer and aid relaxation as the pressure will be off you to think on your feet. Here is a suggested week-day plan for children of school age. It might look very different in your home and some days you may skip everything for a day climbing trees or having a Harry Potter movie watching marathon instead maybe!

I can't say exactly how long each session would be as that would depend on your breakfast and dinner times, but I'd imagine around 30 mins per activity in the morning, with 10-15 minute breaks. And then longer stretches during free play and creative/ science projects in the afternoons. Read aloud time works really well straight after lunch while they're still at the table, for about half an hour. This can also be an audiobook, of course!

Plan for long periods of open-ended play, quiet time and creativity. Kids are brilliant at play, so provide them the tools/ space/ time and let them get on with it! The sooner they get used to this, the better this part of the day will be.

GET OUTSIDE

The best thing we can do with them is get them out into nature (unless they are showing symptoms of course.)

Find wide open spaces in the countryside such as nature trails, empty beaches or the woods and let them run wild climbing trees, building dens and burning off as much energy as possible.

GET MOVING

Even if you can't get outside or go further than your own garden/ yard, its possibly to get creative with your movement games.

Have a mini Olympics, make obstacle courses inside and out, jump on the trampoline, have disco dance parties, make up silly walks, play computer dance games etc!

Watch some kiddie yoga online, do stretches or family HITT workouts.

UTILISE SCREEN TIME

Screen time is not the enemy, it's a useful tool!

I suggest planning it into your daily schedule for times when you need a quiet period for your own planning/ admin/ online shopping/ work etc. You need some space from each other to keep the routine (and peace) flowing well.

Also, watching movies can be turned into an educational activity by asking them to rate them afterwards and complete movie review sheets! Watch nature and science documentaries, create projects based on the topics learned. Shows like Horrible Histories are a great springboard for fun projects.

SENSORY PLAY

This is really important as it helps keeps kids calm and focused. It's a great stress and anxiety reliever too, which will be very beneficial with the daily news updates and worries.

Stock up on sensory ingredients and dedicate a time of day to this. You can also move sensory play to the bath or garden for better containment if you're worried about mess.

Use the checklist above and then find my Sensory Invitations to Play cards full of recipes to help! (These are currently 25% off to try and help make them as accessible as possible to everyone.)

READING & WRITING

Audiobooks will be fantastic during this time, as will read aloud time together. Try reading in a makeshift fort, in the dark with torches, while they're in the bath or outside.

Find new books and review them for other kids online.

Write a book diary, make bookmarks, make a library role play area at home, read TO each other, read poetry and use all these experiences to inspire some writing too.

School aged kids can be fantastically independent in their writing projects. You just need to offer some inspiration with open-ended prompts such as: write a story/ comic/ quiz book/ poem/ book review/ information-based project etc.

Keep it purposeful and fun, it does not need to look like "school". Writing real letters to family members and friends that you can't see in person will be both fun and meaningful.

Older kids could set up private YouTube channels and share ideas there with their friends online!

Make use of the myriad of great resources online. Let THEM be the teaching tool and guide you need.

CREATIVITY

Keep the art supplies freely available and they will surprise you with their creative ideas! Save recycling and encourage them to make towns/ junk models. homes for their toys/ pretend gadgets etc.

Painting, drawing, sewing, paper mache, salt-dough and clay modelling are all great on-going projects.

Watch YouTube for tutorials on learning new skills eg crochet, sewing, tie-dye, weaving etc.

Play music, put on shows, dress up, create costumes from newspaper, do face painting, do talent shows, learn stop motion animation- the list can be endless!

A cardboard box is endless fun for all ages- just be creative with what you add!

Creativity involves lego, photography, cooking, trying smoothie recipes, having bake-off contests, creating projects for other kids.

Create loads of art then finally put together an exhibition! Take photos and share with family members via WhatsApp or online.

So many possible ideas- ask your children what they love to do the most!

FREE PLAY

This is by far the best thing your children can do, especially when in balance with some learning time. Give them some dedicated space for play and schedule it into the day.

Make resources available and include plenty of loose parts for play as these are open-ended and can be used in a myriad of ways.

You could do learning all morning then creative projects, free play and screen time in the afternoons for example. This model would work well and be really easy to achieve.

You could theme the weeks so that there is a different focus eg talent show to work on one week of afternoons, science fair to prepare the following week etc.

Get the whole family involved in some of these big games and challenges- it will be a great stress reliever and lots of fun!

SCIENCE

Grow beans, make lava lamps, make fizzing potions, play with water beads, make slime etc.

Search Pinterest for so many ways to investigate using household materials!

Design and make your own science fair at home!

I have plenty of ideas in the Imagination Tree archives to keep you busy for a long time! Here's a quick list of links to the deeper archives:
PLAYFUL LITERACY IDEAS here. PLAYFUL MATHS IDEAS here. SENSORY PLAY RECIPES here. SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS here.
Finally, keep in contact with others through phone calls and FaceTime. Encourage each other and share great ideas and tips that you find online. Let's keep communicating and laughing through it all and we can get through this together, even when physically apart. I am hoping your elderly loved ones are kept safe.

If this Stay at Home Survival Guide has been useful for you, please consider passing it on to others as this helps me as well as them. Thank you! x

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Stay at Home Survival Guide - The Imagination Tree

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In these uncertain times with self-isolation within families and social distancing from the wider community, I've put together a really practical and helpful stay at home survival guide for parents to use while their children are at home. I hope you find it helpful, spread it far and wide with others.

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Mindfulness and Wellness Resources - colouring, writing activities, journaling and audio

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Mindfulness and Wellness Resources - colouring, writing activities, journaling and audio

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WIMS School Supports Our new 'WIMS School Supports' series provides sets of presentations and lesson plans designed for teachers to use in the classroom to support students with transitioning back to school under the unusual and challenging circumstances of 2020.

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Ideas for Helping Children Practice Mindfulness

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Ideas for Helping Children Practice Mindfulness

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Guided relaxation videos

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16/21 Days of Mindfulness Bootcamp 5 Minutes Mountain Meditation - Mindfulness for Teens & Adults

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Take a break, meditate, relax.

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Meditation for Anxiety - Yoga With Adriene

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A super sample resource. Short activities suitable for all ages.

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A Parent Booklet to help develop Gross Motor Skills

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Home Programme

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Resource Pack including Fine and a Gross Motor Skills ideas amongst other activities that can be completed at home.

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1st Move Fine and Gross Motor Skills Resource Booklet

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1st Move Fine and Gross Motor Skills Resource Booklet

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Useful Websites and Apps to support and develop children and young people’s Speech Language and Communication Skills (SLCN)

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Duolingo is the world's most popular way to learn a language. It's 100% free, fun and science-based. Practice online on duolingo.com or on the apps!

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An information booklet for parents (NCSE)

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Coping with change

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Printable social stories for kids, including free social stories & social story templates

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Includes support around the current coronvirus. Helping children to cope.

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Coronavirus Support Archives - Elsa Support for emotional literacy

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Coronavirus support provides free resources for teaching staff and parents to help children cope with the current viral outbreak.

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Social and Emotional Behaviour Resource

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A number of downloadable workbooks to help students with numeracy.

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The PDST is funded by the Teacher Education Section (TES) of the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and is managed by Dublin West Education Centre. 14 Joyce Way, Park West Business Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 12 Email: [email protected] Login | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

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Maths at home activities. Tips for parents

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Maths Week 2020

Maths Week will be quite different this year. Health restrictions mean public gatherings will not be possible. We're also aware of the pressures in delivering education. Click the link for the 2020 Website to see what we're planning.

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Maths Week 2020 Maths Week will be quite different this year. Health restrictions mean public gatherings will not be possible. We're also aware of the pressures in delivering education. Click the link for the 2020 Website to see what we're planning. Go to Maths Week 2020 Website

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Free Text to Speech Online with Realistic AI Voices

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Convert text into ultra-realistic audio. Have any text read aloud with AI Voices. AI text reader for pdfs, books, documents, and webpages.

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Supporting students with literacy difficulties or dyslexia

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Supporting students with literacy difficulties or dyslexia

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My study bar is a suite of portable windows freeware applications assembled into one package to support learners with literacy difficulties

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all of those who have contributed to the development of the software that is included in MyStudyBar: Vu-Bar; ssOverlay; Blabolka; Rapid Typing; XMind, LetMeType and System Font Size Changer.

Special thanks to EA Draffan at Southhampton University for ATBar and to Soffed Ltd (the original developers of EduApps) for allowing CALL to continue further development of MyStudyBar. Also a big thank you to Julie MacRitchie, Disability Advisor at Queen Margaret University for writing the guides. Thank you to Jisc for their continued support. And thanks also to Robert Stewart (Technology Resources Officer) at CALL, for all his hard work and help in updating MyStudyBar.

Disclaimer

The software applications that comprise MyStudyBar are distributed by CALL Scotland "as is" and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed. In no event shall CALL Scotland be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of these applications, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.

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A suite of portable Windows freeware applications assembled into one package to support learners with literacy difficulties.

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Free typing website to help students with typing speed and finger placement.

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Learn to Type | Type Better | Type Faster - Typing.com

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World's most popular free typing program! Typing.com's K-12 typing curriculum features touch typing, digital citizenship, coding lessons, and games.

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Typing Tutorials - Learn & Practice Touch Typing for Free

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Tired to repeat the same keyboarding tutorials? Practice the lessons over Sense-Lang. Have fun!

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Supporting students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia

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Supporting students with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia

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iPad Apps for learners with reading and writing difficulties

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Schools already use a range of online learning websites and learning platforms to support teaching and learning. During school closures these tools provide schools with options to continue to support teaching and learning for their pupils & students, including relevant content, classwork and opportunities for enhanced learner engagement.

We've provided an initial set of links below to resources and online tools to assist schools during the current school closure period, to be in a better position to provide learners with access to relevant content, classwork and opportunities for enhanced learner engagement. If you need support in this area we'll be providing ongoing updates on our PDST Distance Learning page, on PDST-TiE Twitter, or you can contact us at ictadvice@pdst.ie .
New Teaching Online Course Available: This course has been prepared specifically to help teachers as they continue to teach and support their students' learning online during school closures. Click here to access the course.
Scoilnet is the National Portal for Education and supports Primary and Post Primary teachers in using the best available resources for teaching and learning. Within Scoilnet we'd like to draw your attention to the following areas, which may be of particular relevance during the closure period:

Learning Paths: These will be useful for teachers who wish to give students a list of resources to look at in a guided manner. Teachers select resources and add to a 'learning path'.

Subject Pages: These have recently been created and are effectively a mini hub featuring a series of resource collections.

The Maths and Science pages are particularly well developed.

The Science page too features a lot of 'challenges' recently shared by a teacher aimed at meeting the learning outcomes of JC Science. Oral language resources - In recent years we have put a lot of effort in to providing support for teachers / students for oral languages including Gaeilge Bealtriail, German general conversation and French general conversation

Videos for Online Teaching: With the closure of schools, we have reviewed our Good Practice videos and selected some which contain activities that could be adapted for use in an online teaching and learning scenario.

Some of the most popular learning platforms and tools being used by schools in Ireland are Google G Suite for Education (including Google Classroom) or Microsoft Office 365/Teams, Apple, and Seesaw are other online tools / learning platforms used by schools.

Here are two recent articles relevant to school closures:

G Suite for Education: With school closures, teachers can keep their lessons going remotely
Additional Resources: More tools to support learning Reliable sources of information
Microsoft Office365/Teams: How schools can ramp up remote learning programs quickly with Microsoft Teams
Support links for PDST and PDST Technology in Education:
For schools at an early stage of engaging with online learning tools, making decisions on suitable options for your situation can be challenging. Seeking advice from a similar type of school that is already successfully using these tools is an excellent way of getting relevant up to date information and feedback, however also please feel free to contact us.
PDST Technology in Education Twitter PDST Technology in Education Good Practice Videos PDST Technology in Education Online Courses
PDST's Distance Learning page
Webwise - Internet Safety
Digital Learning Framework Planning Resources

Contact us: ictadvice@pdst.ie

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Schools already use a range of online learning websites and learning platforms to support teaching and learning. During school closures these tools provide schools with options to continue to support teaching and learning for their pupils & students, including relevant content, classwork and opportunities for enhanced learner engagement.

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iPad Apps for Learners with Additional Needs

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iPad Apps for Learners with Additional Needs

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A range of subject specific videos to help with home learning

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50 Youtube Channels for Home Learning - Resources for Teachers and Educators

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Before choosing to watch any online video, it’s worth taking some to think about these questions:

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50 Youtube Channels for Home Learning

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Subject specific Online Resource pack from M.I.C and U.L Limerick.

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A resource booklet supporting identity and self esteem.

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Junior and Leaving Cert Exam Support

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Skill Development: All ages catered for up to Leaving Cert

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Testimonials

IXL is brilliant. I am using it for autistic secondary students who need literacy and numeracy support. I love the instant feedback, the huge library of questions available, and the teacher insights!

Tara, teacher

Dublin, Ireland

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IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site. Used by over 14 million students, IXL provides unlimited practice in more than 5,000 maths and English topics. Interactive questions, awards and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

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Practice addition, multiplication, fractions and algebraic reasoning with our popular math games. Discover fun learning games kids love to play.

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Practice addition, multiplication, fractions and algebraic reasoning with our popular math games. Discover fun learning games kids love to play.

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PE with Joe

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Welcome to the Body Coach TV where I post weekly home workouts to help you get, stronger, healthier and happier.