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The Department of Education's mission to facilitate children and young people, through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland's social, economic and cultural development.

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The Department of Education's mission to facilitate children and young people, through learning, to achieve their full potential and contribute to Ireland's social, economic and cultural development.

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Relaxation Techniques

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PDST Graphic Organisers For Teaching And Learning

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Dyslexia Association Of Ireland

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UrAbility | Helping kids learn and thrive with Assistive Technology

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Bringing learning to life with Assistive Technology for children with with additional learning needs such as dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD.

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Some useful Apps for language and communication

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Some useful Apps for language and communication

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Distance Learning for Special Education - Secondary

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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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Home Learning Resources List for Schools and Families

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We wanted to do something positive to ease the burden on schools and families during this undoubtedly worrying time. So, we asked the community to send in links and ideas for free home learning and the response has been phenomenal!
Whether you’re a teacher of any age group who is making plans for h…

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Reading Comprehension : Strategies And Resources

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Reading Comprehension : Strategies And Resources

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How To Improve Handwriting For Teenagers?
1) Have a belief
2) How parents can help
3) Fine motor skills
4) Don't allow your child to rush
5) Strengthen your upper body
Do You Have a Terrible Handwriting? Then the first thing you suppose to do is to identify the reason why you have bad handwriting. There can be few reasons for Your Terrible Handwriting, and the very first is that you may have never ever have been taught very well in the first place. what happens when you go to school and when you taught your letters and you learn to draw circles and little lines and you go against the neck to them and You Go ABC And your teacher appreciates you, then you have to start joining those letters, ones you start joining letters then your teacher tells you that you are of your own now, Basically from about age of 6 or 7 once you learned to joined your letters up you are on your own, unless you are lucky to have a teacher who likes handwriting, who particularly likes encouraging, who encourages you to write and practice then you really are of your own and its no wonder your handwriting has deteriorated of the years. Your teacher will not teach you how to write beautiful letters they will just teach you how to join letters and after that it's you who has to focus on your handwriting.

another reason for your terrible handwriting Can Be Your Laziness, You are too lazy hence for the solution of this is to buck up your ideas and understand the importance of good handwriting. the third reason for your terrible handwriting can be you might be holding your pen incorrectly, the fifth reason for your bad handwriting is that you hardly write, you hardly hold a pen in your hand, you hardly practice. after a certain age, you must have given up writing and therefore you must be having terrible handwriting.

The sixth reason is that you never practice if you want good handwriting then you have to write, you have to practice. the seventh reason for bad handwriting maybe you are suffering from dysgraphia, and if you are then there's nothing to fear about, it's not a problem. You can do a lot about it, there are many ways to improve your handwriting. Dysgraphia mainly affects handwriting, people who aren't aware of what dysgraphia is Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing abilities. It can manifest itself as difficulties with spelling, poor handwriting and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Because writing requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills, saying a student has dysgraphia is not sufficient.

Many parents lose hope for improving their child's handwriting after elementary school. They feel that improving handwriting after elementary school is something impossible. They find impossible to change the habit which they have developed so many years ago, children feel that after elementary school there is not much need for writing. Hence no matter how good or bad handwriting is, there's no need of improving it and with such thinking, they spend their life without improving their handwriting, they have a belief that kids need to write, teenage or adults just need to type.

Believing that handwriting doesn't matter in middle school is not a realistic belief, because everyone needs to be able to write legibly, even if it's a shopping list or a quick note, writing is must and you must always have a practice of writing. Your written words should be very clear, it should be neat and clean, so that it can be easily understandable by others, because bad handwriting can give a wrong impression, your handwriting can be the reason for your good or bad impression, having a good handwriting easily understandable handwriting can give an impression of responsible person, can give an impression of neat and tidy person, can give an impression of perfection, can give an impression of hard work, whereas having a bad handwriting can give an impression of irresponsibility, lack of confidence, procrastination and carelessness. hence never underestimate the importance of good handwriting, your handwriting has the capability to impress others and has the capability to make a good impression of yours on others without knowing you.

For example, have you ever noticed why your school teachers professors ask you to write in a good handwriting during board exams, why they ask you to write neatly because that clean handwriting of yours will leave a good impression on examiners and that will help you to score well, hence always focus on your handwriting, your words should be written so neatly so that it can be easily understandable by others, so that others don't need to struggle to understand your words, hence never ever think that writing and handwriting is for kids, typing is for adults, because writing is really a very best exercise for your brain and hand, handwriting not only strengthens your brain power but it also strengthens your hand power.

Now the question comes, How To Improve Handwriting For Teenagers? How can teenagers improve their handwriting in mid-school? How can they overcome their bad handwriting habit which they have developed years ago? Overcoming years ago habit can be difficult but it's not impossible. The very first step you must take to overcome the habit of bad handwriting is making a strong commitment, to have a strong motivation and inspiration, have a desire to improve, without commitment and strong desire you can never take a step towards improvement hence have a strong mental focus and take your goal seriously.

Handwriting Therapy for adults:

It's not only kids or teenagers who face Bad Handwriting problem. Even Adults Face it. Hence in this section, I will share some Handwriting Therapy for adults which can be practiced by teenagers too. So let's begin:
Therapy 1: Warming Up
When you write, you use muscles in your hand, wrist, and shoulder. But if you don't write often then your hands might cramp or get tired easily. hence spending doing some warm-up exercises will help the muscles in your hand get stronger and more flexible.

-STRETCH AND WRIGGLE YOUR FINGERS FOR A FEW SECONDS
-MAKE A FIST AND THEN STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND.
-TOUCH EACH FINGER TO YOUR THUMB. TRY IT TO YOUR FAVOURITE TUNE.
-PLAY AN IMAGINARY PIANO ON THE TABLE.
-MOVE YOUR WRIST IN A CIRCLE.
-ROLL YOUR SHOULDERS FORWARD AND BACK.

Warming-up also includes asking yourself ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?

And when you have a project or anything where you have to write for a longer time, then you have to give your hand a rest from time to time.
Therapy 2: Choose the right pen

Always choose the best tool for your job. Think of your pen as your handwriting tool. The right pen can help avoid smudging and make your writing look smarter. It can also prevent hand strain. Picking the right one for you can be tricky because there are so many different types. Here are some tips to help you.

There are three things to think about when choosing the right pen:

1. The type of ink it uses;
2. The size and shape of the pen; and
3. The type of point it has.

How to Hold your pen:
Hold your pen firmly, without squeezing, between fingers and thumb.
Therapy 3: How to Practice Penmanship
If you have no idea what exactly penmanship is, Penmanship is the art or practice of writing with the pen and the quality or style of handwriting.

Here are the 5 steps to Improve Handwriting For Teenagers?

1) Have a belief

The reason I am starting with have a belief is that most of the children feel that it is not possible to improve handwriting after elementary school because they have indulged a habit of poor handwriting, but the reality is totally opposite of such belief, because a motivated person with regular practice can improve at any given moment no matter what the age is, hence always have a self-believe that yes you can, and parents, teachers or guardians should always see how their children/teens are writing and how they can help them to improve, there are some fine motor skills which teens can practice to improve their handwriting.

2) How parents can help

When parents or teens by themselves decide to improve their handwriting there are certain things they need to avoid or should keep in mind, first: never use handwriting manual designed for manual, because such manuals just waste time and don't help much, when writers already know how to write letters hence these manuals are not much useful.

Second, don't copy the script which you find online

Third, don't try to practice cursive script by writing letters in order and by attempting to make them join, it doesn't work well.

3) Fine motor skills

Increase your hand strength and finger dexterity can help your teen or older child to get more control over the pencil or pen, Fine motor skill helps you to improve writing endurance of writing task, always ask or encourage your child to get involved in a general household task that can use your child hand and finger muscles, so that it strengthens your hand and finger muscles for example task like cutting paper with scissors, or using screwdrivers, or cutting your dad or mothers nails etc.

The reason I am talking about strengthening muscles of your hand and finger because usually, children hold their pencil or pen in a wrong way, their pencil or pen grip is usually wrong, hence it's really important to have a right grip.

4) Don't allow your child to rush

When your child or teen has a poor handwriting then there's a very important question you need to ask is your child rush? Like, do they rush? It is worth to see that if your child rushes for most of the task without completing it satisfactorily and if yes then it needs to be addressed carefully and attentively because when child rush in writing, their handwriting will for sure become poor hence they need to be taught calm and composed attitude.

5) Strengthen your upper body

Encourage your child or teen to strengthen their upper body through sports such as climbing, swimming, and targeted exercises. these exercises and sports will strengthen your child's upper body and stabilizes your upper muscles to free up the hand muscles for handwriting because most of the time your child or teen gets tired while writing, their hands start getting tired, because they have weak upper hand muscles, hence encourage them to do upper muscles exercises, because when they get tired their handwriting becomes poor hence for good handwriting strong upper body muscles is required, hence exercise and get into sports which strengthens your upper body muscles.

This is the end of "How To Improve Handwriting For Teenagers". Thank You.

6) Make sure you are using the right grip

Use the grip that's most comfortable for your hand, there are several ways you can hold your pen or pencil- Dynamic Tripod, Dynamic Quadruped, lateral Tripod, lateral QUADRUPOD.

6) Make sure you are using the right grip

There are many books written and there are many videos too from where you can learn and improve, every book and videos shares some great techniques and ways by practicing it you can improve your handwriting. example: Spencerian Theory Book, a penmanship book taught in American classrooms in the 19th century. or the Write now book.

Handwriting practice and activities for older students:

first: take it as a challenge
Analyze why you want to improve your handwriting. because reasons motivate us and thing which motivates us makes us better, hence know the reason for improvement.

second: starts with what you've already got
handwriting improvement starts with what you've already got, which is how you currently write cursive. Pick a topic, any topic, or write stream-of-consciousness thoughts on a piece of lined paper.

third: know What to Look for
Examine the paragraph you just wrote to see where you are exactly with your handwriting skills.

fourth: identify your imperfection
where's your work actually lacking, and you have to be very honest about it, only then you can work on it.

fifth: Here your preparation phase will start
should pick the right tool or material for your work. (have a pen which actually helps).

sixth: get inspired by the handwriting which inspires you
see someone's handwriting and get inspired, earlier it was hard to search your inspiration, but today the web is the perfect place for your dose of inspiration, do google search, search for different font styles and sites which helps you to improve your work etc.

seventh: learn to hold your pen properly
I have already shared about it you can learn more about it through many videos and books.

eight: learn posture
you must know the actual posture. whether you agree or not but it's our body posture which matters a lot when it comes to good handwriting. Sit up straight, and then utilize your non-writing hand for balance; this will provide you with more control during handwriting.

ninth: understand it's not about fingers
many people feel that writing has a lot to do with fingers. but, that is not true writing is more about using forearms and shoulders.

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How To Improve Handwriting For Teenagers - SeeKen

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How To Improve Handwriting For Teenagers? 1) Have a belief2) How parents can help3) Fine motor skills4) Don't allow your child to rush5) Strengthen your upper body Do You Have a Terrible Handwriting? Then the first thing you suppose to do is to identify the reason why you have bad handwriting.

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Our 2020 Vision

The year 2019 was one of profound change, endings and new beginnings. Tony Buzan, our business namesake and progenitor passed away in April after giving the world his creativity and energy, leaving behind hundreds of books, his breakthrough invention of the Mind Map, the development with his colleagues of memory training and competitive mind sports, and inspiring over 30 Mind Mapping software companies and numerous training businesses worldwide.

But Tony's passing is not the end; it is just the beginning. The idea emerged last Spring of an organization that would pull together everything that Tony started or caused and would add things he did not even imagine. A vision came together of a company dedicated to mental effectiveness and improvement worldwide for everyone; to give each person the tools to be his or her best. TBG would accomplish this through education, training, technology, print and electronic media, and reward accomplishment in world-class mind competitions.

The Tony Buzan Group will collect the far flung pieces of the Buzan world, connect them, and develop the technology that can bring these benefits to both businesses and millions of people. In doing so, TBG will become the world's first mind-building global multinational with an almost infinite opportunity. TBG will open its arms and welcome the technology and tools of third-party organizations that can further this goal.

TBG is organized in four divisions, united by this common purpose:

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The year 2019 was one of profound change, endings and new beginnings. Tony Buzan, our business namesake and progenitor passed away in April after giving the world his creativity and energy, leaving behind hundreds of books, his breakthrough invention of the Mind Map, the development with his colleagues of memory training and competitive mind sports, and inspiring over 30 Mind Mapping software companies and numerous training businesses worldwide.

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IXL | Online maths and English practice.

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IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site. Used by over 10 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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Free classes  that will help consolidate skills being taught

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Free classes  that will help consolidate skills being taught

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Improve Your Spelling, the latest book written by Nessy founder Mike Jones, explains the rules of reading and spelling. It will help teachers teach, and parents to understand how to help their children.

By the end, you'll be a master speller!

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You've found Nessy; World leader in helping children who learn differently. Founded and run by educators and dyslexia specialists, our award-winning programs are guided by the Science of Reading.

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iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia/Reading and Writing Difficulties

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iPad Apps for Learners with Dyslexia/Reading and Writing Difficulties

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Learn touch typing online using TypingClub's free typing courses. It includes 650 typing games, typing tests and videos.

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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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Instantly access over 40,000 of the best books & videos for kids on Epic

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A tool kit for those who dont find poetry easy

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A tool kit for those who dont find poetry easy

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Study tips for Junior Certificate Students

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Study tips for Junior Certificate Students

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Useful websites

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App Recommendations

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Managing Worrying Thoughts: Webinar with Michael Ryan

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Training

Middletown Centre provides a range of training opportunities for parents, carers and educational professionals in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Centre has a full training calendar of face to face and online sessions, which can be managed using the Centre's app The Centre, in partnership with Mary Immaculate College Limerick provides a Graduate Certificate, Diploma and MA in Autism Studies Individual schools can apply for whole school training and these are provided in partnership with the EA in Northern Ireland and The NCSE in Ireland. Further information on applying for a whole school training is available by contacting us using the email training@middletownautism.com

Here is a list of all our main current events happening within Middletown Centre for Autism

Online Learning Portal

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Online Learning

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Bulletins

Research Bulletin no. 42 - Strength-based approaches

Our latest Research Bulletin is focused on Strength-based Approaches. It highlights papers that show how taking a strength-based approach can create an empowering environment for autistic young people and allow them to define what they value..
Download issue (pdf)

Research Bulletin 41 - Well-being

Our latest Research Bulletin focuses on well-being for all. By better understanding the experiences & strengths of the entire autism community, we can better support each other to thrive.
Download issue (pdf)

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Middletown Centre for Autism - Middletown Centre For Autism

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Middletown Centre provides a range of training opportunities for parents, carers and educational professionals in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

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Throughout the month of May Middletown is providing a series of Webinars featuring the Centre's specialist team and international experts:

For more information or to book your space please follow the individual links for each course.

The live sessions will host a maximum of 500 delegates live and most sessions will be posted on social media the following day. Sessions marked 'live only' will not. Please consider the maximum number of places available when booking your place.

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Throughout the month of May Middletown is providing a series of Webinars featuring the Centre's specialist team and international experts: For more information or to book your space please follow the individual links for each course. The live sessions will host a maximum of 500 delegates live and most sessions will be posted on social media the following day.

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Emotions Thermometer | Middletown Centre for Autism

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All activities should be supervised by an adult. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

If you're looking for easy and low cost indoor activities for kids - we have a list of over 100 ideas for you! From simple activities to fun crafts that can keep kids busy during school breaks or on a rainy day. You can even cross off each one as you do them!

RELATED: Summer Bucket List for Kids

To make it easy, we have created a printable list of the 100+ Activities for Kids so you can easily print off the list.

We also have all of the ideas in this post if you need them. You can copy and paste to create your own printable, or use the one that we have already created for you! We only ask that if you are reprinting in a community newsletter or school newsletter that you credit our website as the source.

Indoor Activities for Kids - Over 100 Ideas!

We've organized the ideas by crafts, activities, games and educational. Hopefully this list will also provide inspiration for you to think of other ideas too!

And if you love making crafts with things you have around your home, check out our Recycled Crafts for Kids book. It has 60 crafts for kids with things you can use from around your home and a few other simple supplies.

SENSORY PLAY CRAFTS ACTIVITIES

Build a Fort

Have a Pillow Fight

Write a Story

Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Make Homemade Gummy Bears

Make Fruit Roll-Ups

Have a Movie Day

Put on a Fashion Show

Bake Cupcakes or Muffins

Do Yoga

Build an Obstacle Course

Make Dinner Together

Play with Magnetic Tiles

Build Something With Lego: You can even make your own travel lego case!

Build a Stack of Cards

Put on a Puppet Show

Make a Treasure Hunt

Make Your Own Indoor Bowling. Use paper towel rolls as your bowling pins and use a ball to bowl

Learn to Draw

Put on a Play

Make Indoor Hopscotch. Use masking tape to make your own hopscotch on tiles in your own

Do a Family Chore Together

Have a Dance Party

Have a Tea Party

Play with Water In a Bin With Toys

Set up a Play Store. Grab a shopping basket and set up the merchandise. We like this play cash register too!

Make a Sock Toss Game. Use mismatched socks and fill them with beans or rice. Then try to see how many you can 'score' in a laundry basket.

Make Perler Bead Art

Write in a Journal

GAMES

Play Would You Rather

Play I Spy

Play Simon Says

Play Board Games

Play Hide and Seek

Have an indoor scavenger hunt

Play Bingo

Play Card Games

Do a Puzzle

Play Charades

Build Your Own Game

Play Freeze Dance

Play Hot Potato

Play Marbles

Play Keep the Balloon Up

Play Dominoes

Play Hangman

Play Tic-Tac-Toe

EDUCATIONAL

Read Books

Do a Science Project

Learn Origami

Learn About a New Animal

Learn a New Card Game

Learn to Sew

Learn to Knit

Do Brain Teasers

Learn a New Language

Learn About a Country

Over 100 ideas are included in this indoor activities for kids free printable. Get the PDF printable delivered straight to your inbox as a gift for subscribing to our newsletter.

To get a PDF printable of the list above, subscribe to our email list and you'll receive it as a free gift. Make sure to check all folders for the confirmation email.

And for more ideas, see our book - Fun and Easy Crafting with Recycled Materials. This book is bursting with recycled crafts that use things you can find around your home. There are chapters with egg cartons, cardboard, newspaper, popsicle sticks, jars and more!

And if you want outdoor summer activity ideas, see our Summer Bucket List for Kids.

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100+ Indoor Activities for Kids (with Free Printable)- The Best Ideas for Kids

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All activities should be supervised by an adult. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here. If you're looking for easy and low cost indoor activities for kids - we have a list of over 100 ideas for you!

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5 Incredibly Fun GAMES to Teach Self-Regulation (Self-Control) | Social Emotional Learning

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5 Incredibly Fun GAMES to Teach Self-Regulation (Self-Control) | Social Emotional Learning

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Two weeks. Five weeks. Five months. The truth is nobody - including the Department of Education - really knows how long the schools and colleges will close for. This is an evolving situation, and the WhatsApp rumours are just that: rumours.

It's a stressful time for parents, particularly for those who have to work from home while trying to keep children amused and educated.

For however long this goes on, The Irish Times education team will be helping parents and students access the best resources to learn from home.

We will highlight online resources, as well as work that can be done without internet access, and we want to hear from parents, teachers and students about how they're coping, what they're learning and their top tips for each other.

We've already had a great response to our online callout to teachers, and it's clear the education community is pulling together to support learners and each other.

Please share your top tips via Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #EdShareIE, and we'll do our best to highlight as many as possible.

The good news is there are tonnes of resources out there to meet the needs of children of all ages and stages. Here are some of the better ones as recommended by teachers and parents.

Teacher Support:

PDST (pdst.ie/DistanceLearning):
The Professional Development Service for Teachers - linked to the Departmenbt of Education - has an updated section on "supporting online learning during school closures" with links to resources like Scoilnet and Webwise. It also features video to help guide teachers around online teaching.

Cogg.ie (cogg.ie/bunchar-aiseanna/)
Is féidir cuardach a dhéanamh ar líne do na háiseanna atá ar fáil do theagasc na Gaeilge nó don teagasc trí Ghaeilge.

Google G suite for education
For any teachers struggling to get to grips with Google classroom, there are updated tips and tricks here on how to keep your lessons going remotely

Microsoft Office 365 /Teams
Many schools are used Microsoft software to provide remote learning, but many teachers might not be used to what it can do.This site gives advice on how to ramp up online learning quickly

Computers in Education Society of Ireland (cesi.ie/cesi-mailing-list)
The society is inviting teachers and principals to share their ideas, strategies and resources related to remote teaching and learning.

TeacherCPD.ie
There are a number of short online courses in the area of digital technologies that teachers can access to upskill and gain ideas for distance learning.

Dermot Looney's teaching resources (@dlooney on Twitter)
A fourth-class teacher at St Dominic's in Tallaght, Looney has compiled resources that are shared on his Twitter account.

@specialedteacherireland
This Instagram account run by Trainability.ie managing director Angela O'Connor offers resources for primary school children and children with ASD and additional needs, including how to make visual timetables for home.

Primary school resources

Literacy / numeracy:

Irish education publishers
The major publishers of schoolbooks - including Edco ( edco.ie), Gill Education ( gillexplore.ie) and CJ Fallon ( cjfallon.ie) - are making their online education resources for primary and secondary students available free of charge, including ebooks, podcasts, games and puzzles. Twinkl.ie
Created by teachers, ideal for home education, it has lots of appealing games, stories, worksheets, etc. It is offering a free month's subscription (enter offer code: IRLTWINKLHELPS)

'School on TV'
RTÉ is planning to broadcast an hour of "school on TV" to support children and their parents at home from March 30th between 11am and 12pm, aimed at first to sixth class pupils. It will be availble on catch-up on RTE Player, while worksheets will be available at on RTE.ie/learn

Khan Academy
Nonprofit site that provides free video tutorials in maths and reading

IXL.com
Subscription-based learning experience that provides curriculum-aligned maths and English content from junior infants up to sixth year

Storyberries.com
This is a free, online collection of easy-to-read and beautifully illiustrated stories, comics and poems for kids. You can select stories by theme

handwritingpractice.net
Whatever happened to the art of handwriting? This site lets you create custom handwriting practice worksheets.

Over the Moon English resources (GillExplore.ie)
Gill Education has provided Over the Moon English resources for junior infants to second class children on their site GillExplore.ie
Gaeilge:
Cúla4 (cula4.com)
This free Irish app from TG4 is aimed at two groups: Cúla4 na nÓg is aimed at under-sixes, while Cúla4 is aimed at older children. As well as TV shows, there are games and creativity sections.

Physical education:

Go Noodle (gonoodle.com)
Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts and used widely by teachers who say it is a great opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies, engage their minds and be their best.

Super Troopers (supertroopers.ie)
Super Troopers offers a health homework programme that encourages children and their families to live happier and more active lifestyles.
Stem (science, tech, engineering and maths):
Scratch (scratch.mit.edu)
Learn to program interactive games, stories and animations

Geography:

National Geographic Kids (kids.nationalgeographic.com):
Learn about science, geography and history.

Nasa Kids' Club (nasa.gov/kidsclub/):
Child-friendly resource where kids can learn about science and space.
Games/tests:
Kahoot.com
Search from millions of existing games on any topic such as brain teasers, trivia of all sorts, news quizzes and science.

Sarah Webb's writing games (@MoLI_Museum)
Award-winning children's writer Sarah Webb is posting fun writing games and story prompts over on Twitter.

Smartycatgames
Games to help children learn Irish and French in a fun and exciting manner.
Special needs:
SEN Teacher (senteacher.org/)
This site has free special-needs teaching resources and learning materials. Its print tools allow you to create, adapt and share resources.

Secondary school resources

Dublin Academy (dublinacademy.ie)
The Dublin-based grind school is posting free-to-access classes on YouTube over the coming days.

iRevise (irevise.com)
This Irish revision website is providing students with free study resources for a month due to the school closures.

Studyclix (Studyclix.ie)
One of the most popular of Ireland's study websites, it offers notes, videos and a forum for students preparing for the Junior and Leaving Cert.

Protutor (protutor.ie)
It is running a series of free webinars on Leaving Cert accounting topics aimed at fifth and sixth years next week.

Studynotes (studynotes.ie)
Students and teachers can use the free platform to share their notes and resources.

ExamLearn.ie
Founded by three recent school-leavers, who between them got 30 As in the Junior Cert and over 1800 points in the Leaving Cert. Homeschool.ie provides an online grinds service for Leaving and Junior Cycle students.
Individual subjects Spanish:
Susan Leahy (pancomido.wordpress.com/)
Spanish teacher Susan Leahy has a free website for Spanish teachers and students, with lots of resources for the now-cancelled Leaving Cert orals and the higher-level essay questions.
Gaeilge:
Stephen Heffernan (@shffnn)
Leaving Cert students can keep themselves fresh by using the Vifax resources from NUI Maynooth where they take a story or two from Nuacht TG4 each week and prepare worksheets on them. vifax.maynoothuniversity.ie

Leavingcertirish.com
Teacher John Gavin has hosted this website since 2001; it provides a host of updated learning resources relating to Leaving Cert Irish orals and the written exam. There are free daily webinars that anyone can watch live or look back on.
History:
Dr Eoin Ó Donnchadha(@eoinodonnchadha)
History teacher Dr Eoin Ó Donnchadha has compiled a twitter thread on how Junior Cert history students can compile their family tree.

WaterfordMemories.com
The lives and experiences of women in Waterford's Magdalene Laundry can be a great case study for history and CSPE students, @AnBurcach (Stephen Bourke) suggests.
Geography:
Eoin Hughes(@_ehughes_)
Geography teacher Eoin Hughes (@_ehughes_) has compiled Leaving Cert Geography resources here: bit.ly/2TKWCMu and Junior Cert resources here: http://bit.ly/2TR4GeZ
Politics and Society:
PolSocPodcast.com
PolSocPodcast.com covers all things and is presented by Dr Jerome Devitt, a teacher of Politics & Society, History, and English.
Maths:
Joyce Mahon's teaching resources
Maths teacher Joyce Mahon has compiled Leaving Cert suggestions on jmmaths.weebly.com/

TheMathsTutor.ie
Provides online support and exam preparation for Junior Cert & Leaving Cert maths. Subscription-based, but a free trial is available.
French:
EssentialFrench.ie
Students of French should check out teacher Natasha Lynch's excellent resources, which are available on EssentialFrench.ie. Her Snapchat account is particularly popular.
Physics:
SophiaPhysics.ie
SophiaPhysics.ie has a resources section and is covering topics for Junior and Leaving Cert physics while telling the story of related physicists.
English:
SCCEnglish.ie
Run by Julian Girdham at St Columba's College in Rathfarnham, SCCEnglish.ie has lots of resources for post-primary English, and more resources and ideas on JulianGirdham.com

AoifesNotes.com
English teacher Aoife O'Driscoll has a free website and has been uploading notes for Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert English on it for over ten years now.
Graphics: Art:

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Home tuition: Our guide to the best teaching and learning resources online

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Two weeks. Five weeks. Five months. The truth is nobody - including the Department of Education - really knows how long the schools and colleges will close for. This is an evolving situation, and the WhatsApp rumours are just that: rumours.

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Trinity College English Language Support Program

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Trinity College English Language Support Program

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The research team for the English Language Support Programme comprises David Little (principal investigator), Zach Lyons and Barbara Lazenby Simpson (research fellows) and two PhD students (Rachael Fionda and Stergiani Kostopoulou).

The development team for the Language Support Activity Units comprises Zach Lyons, Barbara Lazenby Simpson and Linda Richardson.

We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Áine Larkin, Peter Maguire and Micheál Tiarnaigh who played significant roles in developing the units and the website.

Finally, we would like to thank all the teachers who helped us trial these units and the website.

1.2 The Challenge
The challenge of ensuring that newcomer pupils and students can access mainstream education at post-primary level is particularly acute for three reasons:

1. The older newcomer learners are, the more they must learn in order to catch up with their English-speaking peers.

2. The post-primary curriculum is delivered by subject specialists whose formation has not prepared them to take account of ESL (English as a second language) students in their classes.

3. Whereas the Department of Education and Science funds teaching posts at primary level, it only pays for additional teaching hours at post-primary level. In some schools ESL classes are assigned to teachers to do not have a full timetable, which can mean that ESL support is both marginal and haphazard.

1.3 Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT)
From 2000-2008 Integrate Ireland Language and Training (IILT), a not-for-profit campus company of Trinity College, was funded by the Department of Education and Science to support the teaching of English as a second language in primary and post-primary schools. IILT began by developing curricula - English Language Proficiency Benchmarks - that are based on the first three proficiency levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (Council of Europe 2001). The third level (B1) is the one at which the language learner is able to navigate his or her own course among native speakers of the target language, which seems an appropriate minimum exit level for ESL support. By specifying learning outcomes at three levels, the Benchmarks are intended to facilitate teacher planning as well as the placement of newcomer pupils/students who come to school with some proficiency in English. IILT then developed primary and post-primary versions of the European Language Portfolio (Little 2002) that contain checklists of "I can" descriptors derived from the "can do" statements that define learning outcomes in the Benchmarks. In this way the ELPs communicate the content and progression of the ESL curriculum to the learners themselves. Between 2000 and 2007 the Benchmarks, the ELPs and an ever-expanding range of teaching/learning and other support materials were mediated to teachers via a programme of twice-yearly in-service seminars. Regular interaction between IILT and ESL teachers ensured that the materials were appropriately informed and focused; it also provided feedback on the Benchmarks and ELPs, so that IILT was able to publish revised versions in 2003 and 2004 respectively (IILT 2003a, 2003b, 2004a, 2004b).

The number of primary teachers attending the in-service seminars increased rapidly year by year, whereas post-primary numbers remained constant. By 2006 IILT was offering seven primary in-service seminars in each round, but only one post-primary seminar. This may reflect the fact that many post-primary ESL teachers cannot be released to attend in-service courses because they are chiefly teachers of mainstream subjects. In 2006 IILT revised all the materials it had developed for primary ESL support and published them as a substantial teacher's handbook entitled Up and Away (IILT 2006); the next year it did the same for the post-primary sector (IILT 2007). In 2007 IILT was obliged to suspend in-service provision for lack of funding and human resources.

The English Language Support Programme aims to build on IILT's work in five ways. First, it will investigate the present reality of post-primary English language support with a view to identifying good practice as well as recurrent problems at organizational and classroom levels.

Secondly, it is intended to make the Benchmarks and the ELP more useful by adding a substantial subject-specific dimension. In addition, a fourth proficiency level (B2) will be added to the Benchmarks and the ELP before the end of the project to encompass the language skills students need to develop if they are to meet the challenge of the public exams.

The third task we set was to use our linguistic analysis of the linguistic demands of the mainstream curriculum to develop a large array of teaching/learning materials and make it freely available to schools via the internet. The fruit of this endeavour is to be found within the Language Support Activity Units on this website. These and other materials found here build on what IILT has already put in place and are designed to support teaching and learning at each of the Benchmarks levels, focussing explicitly on the different subjects of the curriculum.

Our fourth and fifth tasks are the compilation of a manual for post-primary English language support and the development of assessment instruments. Both of these lie in the future. To begin with we thought we should develop further IILT's resource book for ESL support at post-primary level. Now it seems more appropriate to make organizational and pedagogical guidelines available on our website.
In January 2009 the Deparment of Education and Science published a suite of tests for ESL students that were developed by IILT and piloted with the assistance of post-primary English language support teachers. By the end of the project we hope to supplement these with additional assessment instruments, probably delivered via the project website.

1.5 Interaction with schools and teachers
Regular interaction with ESL teachers and their schools has been fundamental to the work of IILT. It is also fundamental to the work of the English Language Support Programme. In the autumn of 2007 we held briefing sessions at the Education Centres in Drumcondra, Blackrock and Dublin West. The focus group we recruited at these sessions subsequently provided us with essential information and acted as a sounding board while we planned the first phase of our survey and began to analyse the linguistic demands of the post-primary curriculum.
Such feedback is essential to the achievement of our overall aim: to make a difference to English language support in post-primary schools. Any post-primary ESL teacher who would like to be associated with the programme should contact Zach Lyons ( lyonsdz@tcd.ie).

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English Language Support Programme (Trinity Immigration Initiative)

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The research team for the English Language Support Programme comprises David Little (principal investigator), Zach Lyons and Barbara Lazenby Simpson (research fellows) and two PhD students (Rachael Fionda and Stergiani Kostopoulou). The development team for the Language Support Activity Units comprises Zach Lyons, Barbara Lazenby Simpson and Linda Richardson.

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From frustration...

...to understanding

Don't let an abstruse lexicon heighten your trepidation. Rewordify.com can assuage your anxiety.

Don't let a difficult and confusing word list increase your fear and nervousness. Rewordify.com can calm your fear and stress.

Rewordify.com simplifies difficult English. Enter hard sentences (or whole chapters) into the yellow box at the top of the page. (You can also enter a web site URL.) Click Rewordify text and you'll instantly see an easier version, for fast understanding. The reworded words are highlighted- click them to hear and learn the original harder word. You can change how the highlighting works to match the way you learn!

Do you dislike dictionaries because they're confusing and unhelpful? You'll love Rewordify.com's clear, easy-to-understand definitions-they change to match the original word or phrase's part of speech, verb tense, and singular/plural form, so they make sense. Our amazing Rewordifying Engine is what makes it all possible, and no other web site has it.

Want to see something now? Click Classic Literature at the top and start reading-easier.

Learn more words faster. Our exclusive Learning Sessions actively teach you words so you learn them. Any time you paste in a block of text, our software finds all the hard words, lets you pick which ones you want to learn, and then teaches them to you in a Learning Session.

A Learning Session isn't an online quiz: it's an effective, step by step process where you hear words and phrases, type them, and read them. The software re-teaches you exactly what you need when you need it, and moves ahead when you're ready. When you've learned a word, the site stops "rewording" it, so the site grows with you as you learn! Learn more about Learning Sessions.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

You never have to type another vocabulary list or quiz again.

Type (or copy-paste) in any block of text in the yellow box at the top of this page, click Rewordify text, and click the Print/Learning activities button. Here's how. You (or your students!) can select from a rich variety of quizzes and learning activities, with or without answer keys.

Do you need to teach (or not teach) particular vocabulary words and phrases? Rewordify.com gives you the exact control you need for specialized vocabulary instruction. You can make customized word lists so the site rewords and teaches any word or phrase exactly the way you want.

Learn the way you want-from what you want to read. You can change the way the site works to fit your learning style as you read and learn from almost any text passage or web page. See the different highlighting styles in the box? You can pick any of them, and lots more options. Click the Settings link (at the bottom of the page now, or at the top of any page) to see all the choices you have. (The demo text in the box here never changes.)

Chart your progress and have fun. You can keep track of your learning with lots of detailed charts that show how you're doing. Plus, as you use the site, you earn points and get Learning Stars -a fun reward for reading and learning!

Now you can easily get your students involved in their learning: let them select the text that interests them. Let them print and complete the activities with which they're most comfortable. Imagine each student learning vocabulary customized to his or her interests, while you have time to teach instead of typing. Could differentiation by interest or readiness be any easier? You can start doing it today, for free.

Save all your documents online so anyone can read them and learn from them at any time.

Just log in, rewordify something, and click the Share button.

Select how public or private you want the document, enter the title, author, etc., and you're done!

You get a link that you can put in your online lesson plans, teacher web pages, or blog. No more rewordifying the same thing over and over again!

You can view, manage and edit all your documents from any computer. Just log in (or create a free, safe account) and start building your learning library. Here's how to do it.

At Educator Central, you can create and manage student accounts, monitor your students' learning, and get detailed reading and learning analytics that help you make smart classroom decisions. For free. Now.
(In a hurry? Log in. Click Educator Central at the top.)

In a few minutes, you can create student accounts on Rewordify.com, and easily monitor your students' reading and learning progress. Get actionable learning and error analytics as your students read and learn from any document you post, or from any document or web page they want to read.

Imagine each student learning different words based on his or her interest or ability level. It's easy to do: Rewordify.com designs and teaches individualized vocabulary lessons with our highly effective Learning Sessions, so you have the time to teach students the important stuff: how to learn, how to break through obstacles, how to believe the words "I can do it."

As your students read and learn, get detailed charts and reports that tell you what you need to know-by student, by class, or for all your classes.

Effectively match interventions with students, based on detailed error breakdowns that let you see what you need to see in a few clicks.

Student accounts are anonymous, and they keep your students safe and focused on learning.

Start using it now: Log in and click on Educator Central at the top. Read more about Educator Central.

Rewordify.com is free online software. You're using it now. There's nothing to buy or install. It works on any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just point your browser to Rewordify.com and start reading and learning. Yes, it's tablet-friendly-no mouse needed. Yes, your whole school district can create teacher and student accounts, without entering any personal information. When? Now.

It's fast. Wasting your (and your students' time) is bad. That's why Rewordify.com was designed from the ground up to be lightning-fast and use very little data. The site doesn't have a hundred images of puppies and kittens and a hundred links to a hundred lists. What it does have is speed and ease of use, which are very nice when you have to teach a room full of teenagers. Or adults.

It's an app. Want the app? You're using it. Wasn't that easy? The site is a web app, which is great for you, because you get almost-daily site updates automatically -so you can read and learn, not download and install app updates.

We keep kids safe online. Rewordify.com requires no personal information. Student accounts are completely anonymous and cannot post or share anything. Read more about how we protect children's privacy.

Rewordify.com can display simplified versions of web pages. Our state-of-the-art web filtering technology blocks millions of inappropriate sites and questionable language, to protect kids online and keep them reading only what they should be reading. Read more about how we protect children from inappropriate material.

Difficult English is intelligently simplified with our exclusive Rewordifying Engine

Saves time when reading hard text, improves comprehension and self-confidence, and increases total reading time

Copy-paste entire text passages into the yellow box and press Rewordify text. You'll see a simplified version. Read more.

Definitions are easy to understand, context-aware, and match verb tense and part of speech

Reduces frustration and improves comprehension by maximizing time spent reading versus dictionary research

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click the highlighted words. Read more.

Learning Sessions actively teach individualized vocabulary lessons with research-proven multimodal techniques

Improves vocabulary and word retention

After you "rewordify" text, you'll see a purple bar at the top. Click the buttons to pick hard words and learn them in an effective Learning Session. Read more.

Site carefully monitors student reading time, learning progress, and learning errors, and gives educators full-color, real-time charts and reports

Gives actionable learning data that helps improve student learning outcomes

Create an account. Click on Educator Central. Create free student accounts. Post assignments online. Get learning data. Make smart classroom decisions based on valid data. Read more.

Site identifies and extracts over 58,000 difficult words and phrases from any text and creates a rich variety of learning activities with answer keys

Saves time when teaching and gives students individualized learning activities

Copy-paste any text passage into the yellow box and "rewordify" it. Click Print/Learning Activities. Pick the quizzes, activities, vocab lists, cloze activities you want, with keys. Print them. Read more.

Software allows users to change the difficulty level and presentation style of the output text

Improves engagement by allowing easy differentiation by learning style and readiness

Copy-paste any text passage and "rewordify" it. Click Settings. Change the text presentation style, "rewordifying level" (difficulty level), even the highlighting style. Read more.

Site works as an app on any device, using a minimum of data

Allows for easy district rollout on nearly any existing device while conserving Internet bandwith

Point any device's browser to Rewordify.com and it works like an app. Here's how to make an app icon on your home screen or desktop.

Site calculates accurate text complexity measures, including our exclusive READ score

Improves engagement and learning through the selection of appropriate reading materials

Rewordify any text passage. Click the Stats button. Read more.

Site's browser app (bookmarklet) extracts most web pages to Rewordify.com for learning in one click

Improves engagement and total reading time through independent selection of high-interest materials

Install our free browser app. Browse the web. At any page, click the "Rewordify text" button. Read the extracted text on Rewordify.com.

You can post any document and share it publicly, privately, or with a password

Increases reading time and organization of learning materials

Log in. Paste in a document and "rewordify" it. Click the Share button, share it, and get a link. Post the link to your teacher page. Or, add it as a Rewordify.com assignment. Here's how to post documents. Here's how to create assignments.

Site calculates points and displays Learning Stars based on total minutes read and words learned

Increases reading time and engagement by making the site more fun

Log in and start reading and clicking on the purple bar to do Learning Sessions. Points and Learning Stars will display. Click My Learning/My Documents to see charts of your progress. Read more.

Over 300 pieces of classic literature are available

Improves comprehension of the classics-from Shakespeare to Douglass to Austen

Click Classic literature at the top. Or, type a word like Frankenstein into the search box at the top.

Here's what to do next:

First, do the demo. You'll be an expert in five minutes: Click here for the demo.

Learn the site, step by step. Our First-Time User Guide clearly shows you how to get started.

Teachers: Learn about Educator Central and all it can do to help improve student learning outcomes. Also, you can print lots of free, full-color literature to help you get started in the classroom.

Have some fun. Are you up for a vocabulary challenge? Play Rewordo. Be aware: it's not easy.

Browse some classics. Want to be more sure of Shakespeare, or brush up on Bronte? Scroll to the top, and click the Classic Literature link. It's a fast way to get started using the site. Or, use the Search bar at the top. Try entering the word raven to understand the deal with Poe, that black bird, and the "Nevermore" thing.

Check out the goodies. You can install our One-Click Learning browser applet that lets you rewordify most web pages in one click. Our cool (and free, of course) School Clock tells you the current time and date, what class period you're currently in, countdowns to the next period, and more. You can customize it for any school's schedule, and make as many different School Clocks as you have different day schedules. Use it now.

Show the love! Please tell us about mistakes the site makes when "rewording" and defining words. That feedback is the single most valuable thing you can do to help the site (and learners around the world). Click here to contact us. Do you want to help defray the site's operating costs, and read a great thriller at the same time? You can! Get your copy of Electric Dawn.

Contact us. We want to help you! Please use the Contact page with any questions or comments.

Site summary: Rewordify.com helps with reading comprehension and vocabulary development by simplifying English to a lower reading level. It lets you reword a sentence or reword a paragraph. It will simplify English by reducing text complexity. It's a dictionary alternative that will improve comprehension and teach vocabulary. It's an important part of reading instruction and vocabulary instruction for ESL students, people with reading disabilities, people with a learning disability, or anyone who wants to improve reading skill.

35650 / 9.0

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Rewordify.com | Understand what you read

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Rewordify.com helps you read more, understand better, learn new words, and teach more effectively.

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NEW I-TEACH STUDY LAUNCH ON YOUTH MENTALHEALTH DURING COVID19

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NEW I-TEACH STUDY LAUNCH ON YOUTH MENTALHEALTH DURING COVID19

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Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions

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Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.

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Learning to read with phonics? Click the '+' for advice.

Learning to read with phonics

If you live in England, your child will learn to read using phonics. Their school is very likely to use either the Letters and Sounds phonics framework or the Read Write Inc. programme. Check with your school if you're not sure which one they use.

Using Letters and Sounds?

If your child is using Letters and Sounds, you can find this list of eBooks by Letters and Sounds Phases useful. Bear in mind the following:

If you don't know your child's Phase, you can check with your school. As a guide, most Reception children will be on Phases 1-4 and most Year 1 children will be on Phases 4-5. Beyond Phase 5, your child will be able to decode most books.

In Letters and Sounds, there are 'sets' within the Phases - so your child might not know all the sounds in every book within their Phase.

Some series contain occasional 'tricky words' that your child can't decode using phonics. Use the inside front cover notes to teach your child these words before they start the book.

Find out more about Letters and Sounds >

Using Read Write Inc. Phonics?
If your child is being taught to read using the Read Write Inc. programme, you can find books suitable for them by clicking on the 'Levels' menu below and using the 'Read Write Inc.' filter to select the right level.

Find more support and resources for Read Write Inc. in our parents' guide to Read Write Inc. >

Looking for printed books for phonics practice at home?

Not reading to practise phonics?

Sharing books and independent reading

If your child is reading simply for enjoyment, comprehension, or practice, just browse the library or use any of the other filters. You can check which level is right for your child with this simple test from Read with Oxford.

Reading for pleasure

Are you a teacher? Find out about the Oxford Owl for School eBook library.

More available on Oxford Owl for School

Schools who are registered with Oxford Owl can provide pupils with access to an additional 30 Oxford Primary eBooks, plus a separate library of 50 Read Write Inc. titles all for free using a class login associated with their Oxford Owl for School.
How to set up a class login >

If you need more eBooks, Oxford Owl for School has introduced a new annual subscription of up to 550 titles. For more information, please visit the OUP website.

Are you looking for your class login?

Accessing your class eBook library from home

The class log in link has moved. If your teacher has given you login details to use your class library at home, please use the log in link at the very top of this page and select 'Students'.

sign up log in

Songbirds

Levelled phonics books from the fabulous Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo.

Read Write Inc. Phonics

A step-by-step phonics programme to support reading. Learn at home with Read Write Inc. Phonics

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Free eBook library | Oxford Owl from Oxford University Press

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Learning to read with phonics If you live in England, your child will learn to read using phonics. Their school is very likely to use either the Letters and Sounds phonics framework or the Read Write Inc. programme. Check with your school if you're not sure which one they use.

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I'm adding to these specific language therapy ideas on the individual pages, and making a large list over on The Language Fix blog. It's gonna be HUGE! This is just the start...

Attributes/Functions

Catalog. Get out a catalog. Talk about the items for sale.

Example statements: "Why would somebody want a coat?" "It keeps you warm". "Why do people buy wallets?" "Why are those pillows so big?" "What do you need umbrellas for?" "Are those shoes big or little?" "Does that blanket look comfortable?" "Could I wear those gloves, or would they be too tight?"

Textbook. Get out a textbook. Instruct student to describe vocabulary words at or below student's level by using functions.

Example statements: "What does a period do?" "What is a shelter?" "Why do bears have to hibernate?" "What is a map?" "Why would you need an index?" "What was a covered wagon?" "What is the Constitution?"

Look around you. Describe functions of objects in your environment or of things commonly seen in offices. Take a walk, and describe functions of things seen in the hall out the window, etc.

Example statements: "What is a stapler?" "It attaches papers together." "What is a trash dumpster?" "It holds the building's trash until the garbage men get it."

Specific interests. For example, for younger kids, talk about video games, television, or sports, or for older students talk about cooking, construction, or health care. Discuss

specific interests. Use the internet if needed.

Example statements: "What does a cutting board do?" "What does a remote do?" "What do anesthesiologists do?"

Homework maker: Create a list of from five to ten words at student's level. Write directions such as the following: "Provide a function for each vocabulary word." Write helper next to a blank line for any helper to sign. Provide individualized incentives for completed return. For example:

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I'm adding to these specific language therapy ideas on the individual pages, and making a large list over on The Language Fix blog. It's gonna be HUGE! This is just the start... Catalog. Get out a catalog. Talk about the items for sale. Example statements: "Why would somebody want a coat?"

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Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.

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We talk about self-care a lot. But what does it mean? How do you look after yourself during these unusual times. Linda, Jigsaw clinician runs through some ways we can look out for ourselves.

Self-care can also include:
Read more about coping with the impact of Coronavirus.
How young people are practicing self-care

Some of our volunteers in Limerick made this video about how they're spending their time in lockdown and practicing self-care.

Right now, there's a lot of messaging out there telling what to do with your time. We (ahem) can be a bit guilty of that too. Young people have told us that they are feeling guilty not using all this time they supposedly have.

How ever you look after your mental health and engage in self-care, it's about finding out what works for you. As our volunteers in Limerick say "you be you."
Sign up for updates

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Listen: Self-care during Covid-19 | Advice for young people

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We talk about self-care a lot. But what does it mean? How do you look after yourself during these unusual times. Linda, Jigsaw clinician runs through some ways we can look out for ourselves. Self-care can also include: Read more about coping with the impact of Coronavirus.

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How to use Read Aloud And Immersive Reader

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How to use Read Aloud And Immersive Reader

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Resources for individuals, families and parents during Covid-19 Crisis

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Resources for individuals, families and parents during Covid-19 Crisis

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Understanding and tackling the issues around the novel Cornavirus (Covid-19) is challenging for all of us. On this page we list resources for individuals, families and parents on how they can help themselves and their children.

We will update the resources regularly. Please feel free to distribute to anyone you think might benefit

Articles by Dr John Sharry, founder of Parents Plus
Managing family and relationship conflict during Covid crisis
Create space for time apart as well as together and learn to pause, listen and speak up respectfully during conflict Read More

16 tips to help you cope in the new world we live in
Accept the new reality, exercise each day, reach out for support, limit social media use and more... Read More

Helping young children understand social distancing
We are all stuck at home together and my children can't understand why they can't go out more, etc. My four-year-old girl says she misses visiting her Nana (who has COPD) and can't be visited.... Read More

Talking to children about Coronavirus (Covid-19)
I am wondering how best to talk to my children about coronavirus. Clearly, there is lots of anxiety around. My 14-year-old daughter, who has a tendency to be dramatic, has been bringing home some mad information... Read More

Other Resources and Visual Aids

Some of our partner agencies have produced excellent resources for families that they have given us permission to distribute. The resources are particularly helpful for professionals who have trained in our Parents Plus Early Years programme and Parents Plus Special Needs Programme, including social workers, nurses, teachers, family support workers, youth workers and psychologists.

Cheeverstown House have put together some information on supporting someone with additional needs during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) closures, including supporting emotional health, engaging in meaningful activities, using technology, and visual information on Covid-19.

Speech and Language Therapy Departments in Cork and Dublin have produced some great picture guides and schedules to help families explain issues relevant to Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The following child-friendly picture stories have been produced by the HSE Speech and Language Therapy Team at Dublin North Central:

The Speech and Language Therapy Team at Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, Southern Region, kindly produced the following resources:

A downloadable short wordless story, produced by Beyond Words, is also available to help understand what to do if you have Covid-19, and how to keep yourself and those who you care about safe. It comes with supplementary text at the end of the story and is available to download here.

We will keep our resource page updated for you, with more valuable tools to support families during this time. We will also share this content with professionals and parents via our newsletter, which you can sign up to here
If you have trained in any of the Parents Plus mental health or parenting programmes, and would like advice on how best to support families during this time, please contact Eileen@parentsplus.ie

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Resources for individuals, families and parents during Covid-19 Crisis

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Understanding and tackling the issues around the novel Cornavirus (Covid-19) is challenging for all of us. On this page we list resources for individuals, families and parents on how they can help themselves and their children. We will update the resources regularly.

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

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

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Transition to Post-Primary School Sample Transition Programmes 

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Transition to Post-Primary School Sample Transition Programmes 

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2020 3 13 How to use Immersive Reader in an Exam

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This video demonstrates how to use Office 365's Immersive Reader in an exam if you have an electronic version of the exam paper from which you can copy/paste text. Prepared for use of students with reading difficulties taking exams online due too college closure for infection controll.

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Using Dictate speech-to-text Office 365 for online exams

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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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An initiative which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Ireland

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Advice regarding holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.

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Advice regarding holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.

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SpunOut.ie is Ireland's youth information website created by young people, for young people.

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Online websites, resources and apps to support students.

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Online websites, resources and apps to support students.

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OK5R  is a study strategy that helps students tackle textbook material in a strategic manner.

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OK5R  is a study strategy that helps students tackle textbook material in a strategic manner.

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Welcome!

ChatterPack is a voluntary-run, online special educational needs and disabilities hub
We work hard to support families, schools, and other professionals through our free resources, and by sharing accurate, practical, respectful, advice and information

Supporting pupils with speech Language and Communication needs

Free information and resources to help identify and support pupils with SLCN in EYFS, primary, and secondary, and how this can help improve academic, social, and behavioural outcomes
Join us at @ChatterPackUK to win FREE SLCN resources for your setting

Download here

ADHD and Me

A guide for children and young people to help them understand what ADHD means to them as a unique individual. Also includes advice and tips for adults.
NOW AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

VIEW THE BOOK

Simple, positive behaviour support. Plus improving motivation in structured tasks

Positive, proactive, simple tips to help adults better understand the causes of children's behaviour, how to help children manage their reactions, and how to adapt support for individuals. This also a resource to help motivate children to complete learning tasks.

VIEW RESOURCE

Skills/child-led home learning curriculum for young people struggling to engage with work at home

This interactive digital download includes simple examples and suggestions for schools and families. It is based on using an individual approach that encourages engagement and helps to develop skills. (free for families)

VIEW RESOURCE

Transition passport Providing individualised support during school transitions

For young people with additional needs and those who struggle with anxiety. A simple method of recording individual needs and methods to support children and young people

VIEW RESOURCE

Free resources

Our professionally designed, engaging resources include simple, step by step instructions and tips on how to adapt for individual needs

3 lists of free online resources

VIEW the LISTS

Pain rating chart

Free download -A child-centred resource to help children communicate physical pain, or it can be adapted to help children communicate how they feel emotionally

Written by Helen Weston, designed by ChatterPack.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Free PDF download offering advice and support for families to help reduce anxiety

Written by Professor Amanda Kirby, CEO DO-IT Solutions. Designed by ChatterPack

DOWNLOAD HERE

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Resources for special educational needs & disabilities (SEND)

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Welcome! ChatterPack is a voluntary-run, special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) hub. We work hard to support families, schools, and other professionals through our free monthly SEND newsletter, our free resources, and through sharing accurate, practical, respectful, advice and information

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Members of the National Council for Special Education

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Free

This is the number one app for anyone with a visual impairment using an iOS device.

Seeing AI can recognize and speak text detected by the smartphone camera. It can read bar codes on grocery and other product labels, offer up the product name, and usually additional information, such as nutrition labelling, cooking and other instructions.
Using Seeing AI you can snap pictures of your friends and family members, and later use the app to tell you who's nearby.

Seeing AI is a free app that narrates the world around you.

Website SeeingAI.com for more details

Free

ChatterPix is a fun app that can be used to support home learning while having lots of fun! You can create silly greetings, playful messages, creative cards, or even fancy book reports. And best of all, it's FREE! See our guide as to how to use this app here (insert link to uploaded doc).

Free

EasyReader is a FREE accessible reading app for readers with dyslexia, low vision or blindness. Browse & download from the collection of talking book and newspaper libraries. Open your own DAISY, EPub or textbooks. Or copy text from anywhere on your phone & hear EasyReader read it back to you.

Free

Stars appear as you draw your finger along the screen, tap a star and it flies away, shake the tablet and all stars fly away to clear the skies. Musical sounds enhance the experience. Practise spellings, letter shapes, or relax with the sensory experience.

Free

This app allows you to create a page of text through speech. Pages is the word processing app from Apple. You can plan an oral summary using a mind map/key word/pictures) and then go to the app, choose a blank document and use the microphone key (on the right of the space bar) to speak and the text appears on the screen. For punctuation just say "full stop", "new Line", "question mark", etc. Functionality can depend on the quality of the broadband where it is being used.

For a step by step guide see our How to Guide in this week's Theme of the Week section.

Free

This app helps with learning sight words, their context and usage with the Endless monsters.

Each word features an interactive word puzzle with letters that come alive, and then a sentence puzzle with words that become what they describe.

Other apps in the series "Endless Alphabet" and "Endless Number"

Free (when you click on "Take the Tour")

Games to practise blending, rhyming, phoneme deletion and substitution.
"Take the Tour" option allows users to have 3 levels of ability (low, medium, high)
The app is free but there are additional charges for more levels of difficulty.
Very interactive and lots of fun for home learning!
Great support for all students especially those with dyslexia and reading difficulties.

Free

Humanware Buddy App - This offers comprehensive training and resource materials for all Humanware products for visual impairment, e.g., Connect 12, Braille Note.
Our visiting teachers who support students with a visual impairment often use this app to support students their parents and their teachers.

Free - but note there are in app purchases

Create a puppet show, record and play the video back! Practise interactions, greetings, questions etc in a puppet theatre style background. Great way to practise oral language at home!
Choice of 6 puppets in Free version with in-app purchase to buy more, if required.

Free

This app is designed to teach young people simple mindfulness and relaxation skills. During this time of uncertainty it may be a useful support. It can be used to help mindfulness practice when playing the Mindful Gnats desktop game (see www.peskygnats.com for details) or as a stand alone aid to mindful practice.

Free

This app makes it easy for the user to create picture books with voice and/or text. Links directly to the photos taken with the tablet. It's very easy to use and the story books can be saved in the app or shared through email. Our advisors recommend this app to class and SET teachers in all school settings. It is useful for developing literacy and communication skills.

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Free This is the number one app for anyone with a visual impairment using an iOS device. Seeing AI can recognize and speak text detected by the smartphone camera. It can read bar codes on grocery and other product labels, offer up the product name, and usually additional information, such as nutrition labelling, cooking and other instructions.

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Supporting Students With Autism Through Uncertain Times

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Supporting Students With Autism Through Uncertain Times

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Explore all aspects of developing social competencies

Informed by the latest research and 20+ years of clinical work, and honed through hundreds of worldwide presentations, these one-of-a-kind online training video courses explore all aspects of developing social competencies including building self-regulation, executive functioning, social problem solving abilities, and much more. Some modules were filmed together to teach about a larger topic; those have been grouped into series to help you learn the information sequentially. All courses offer access to continuing education credit for select professions in the U.S. and Canada and a personalized Certificate of Completion!

Teaching Our Vocabulary, Frameworks & Motivational Strategies

This Category contains 1 Series and 2 Stand-Alone Modules (see below).
Discover some of Social Thinking's core treatment frameworks and Social Thinking Vocabulary, plus learn fresh strategies to motivate social learning. Includes unique modules designed to introduce young learners to basic Social Thinking concepts, and to help teens learn how to foster friendships, find motivation, and converse more effectively.

Teens, Transition to Adulthood & Living as an Adult

This Category contains 2 Series and 1 Stand-Alone Module (see below).
As we age, our social competencies are expected to become more sophisticated. This can be difficult to keep up with for even the savviest social minds! Get practical insights to help adolescents and young adults manage increasingly complex social demands. Learn strategies to foster social competencies, relationship development, and independent living skills while helping individuals experience deeper well-being.

Browse Stand-Alone Modules

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Informed by the latest research and 20+ years of clinical work, and honed through hundreds of worldwide presentations, these one-of-a-kind online training video courses explore all aspects of developing social competencies including building self-regulation, executive functioning, social problem solving abilities, and much more.

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Challenging Kids

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Lives in the Balance sponsors a monthly web-based podcast for parents, . Parenting Your Challenging Child airs live at 11 am ET on the first Tuesday of every month, except during the summer. For more information about this podcast, click here. To ask questions or make comments during the live podcast, just call (347)994-2981 while the program is on the air. Here's the most recent segment:
Three Plans, Two Way to Apply Them Collaboration in Trying Times: A Special Edition of Parenting Your Challenging Child (March 27, 2020) Parenting Your Challenging Child Helping Behaviorally Challenging Students And, just in case that's not enough, here are some other recorded resources that you may find useful: (April 7, 2020)
You'll find hundreds of our previous podcasts -- call 45-minutes each -- in our vast Listening Libraries, including our program for educators (which is no longer active but has a massive lisening library):

✓ Dr. Greene's recent podcast with Dr. Robyn Silverman...

✓ Dr. Greene's podcast for ADDitude...

✓ Dr. Greene's interview on RadioNZ (New Zealand)...

✓ Two Minute Videos...

✓ An article on Collaborative & Proactive Solutions by Dr. Brendan Keenan on .

✓ Dr. Greene pinch-hitting for U.S. Senator Al Franken as the keynote speaker at the 2014 Annual Conference of the National Association of School Psychologists in Washington, DC. It was over three four years ago, but it's still worth watching ( click here). Also, here are the Goals for School Psychologists he articulated at the end of the keynote.

Dr. Greene is also featured in 26 different videos on Kids in the House, and has been interviewed on numerous radio programs over the past few years, and the recordings provide a good introduction to the CPS model:

And the feature on CPS on Maine Public Television is always worth watching.

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dr ross greene approach to solving problems collaboratively

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Lives in the Balance is the non-profit organization founded by Dr. Ross Greene, the originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model (originally, but definitely no longer, known as "Collaborative Problem Solving"), as described in his books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, and Raising Human Beings.

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Teach Kids to Manage Big Feelings Through Effective Social Emotional Learning

Over 80% of U.S. public schools reported in 2022 on the negative impact of the pandemic on child well-being and self-regulation. Kids are:

Struggling to manage their feelings and mental health

More disruptive in the classroom

Needing additional social, emotional, and behavioral support

(source: National Center for Education Statistics)

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The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control.

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

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ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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Supporting Young People  During The Covid 19 Crisis

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Supporting Young People  During The Covid 19 Crisis

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ReadTheory fits everyone

From K-12 to adult education (ABE) - ReadTheory proudly serves them all.

ReadTheory is perfect for reinforcing English as a second language and thousands of students in Asia, Africa, and Europe are currently honing their skills with ReadTheory.

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Reading Comprehension Exercises for all Grades & Levels | ReadTheory

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From K-12 to adult education (ABE) - ReadTheory proudly serves them all. ReadTheory is perfect for reinforcing English as a second language and thousands of students in Asia, Africa, and Europe are currently honing their skills with ReadTheory.

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ReadTheory fits everyone

From K-12 to adult education (ABE) - ReadTheory proudly serves them all.

ReadTheory is perfect for reinforcing English as a second language and thousands of students in Asia, Africa, and Europe are currently honing their skills with ReadTheory.

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Reading Comprehension Exercises for all Grades & Levels | ReadTheory

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
From K-12 to adult education (ABE) - ReadTheory proudly serves them all. ReadTheory is perfect for reinforcing English as a second language and thousands of students in Asia, Africa, and Europe are currently honing their skills with ReadTheory.

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ReadWorks | Award-Winning, EdTech Nonprofit Organization

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
ReadWorks is an edtech nonprofit organization that is committed to helping to solve America’s reading comprehension crisis.

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We are happy to announce that registrations for our Leaving Cert language classes are open and we have added more language options!

This year, Portuguese, Lithuanian and Polish were made curricular languages, and, along with Mandarin Chinese, they have been added to our list of classes.

- For students sitting the Leaving Cert in 2022. Students should register before they begin 5th year.

- Saturday mornings during term time in 5th year and 6th year. (Japanese in Cork will be held on Saturday afternoons)

- Held in City Centre locations in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway (subject to demand).

- Free of charge (fully funded by the Department of Education and Skills).

- Places fill up quickly so register soon to avoid disappointment!

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Languages classes on Saturday mornings to prepare students for the Leaving Cert exam. Students should register the summer before they begin 5th year. Classes are free of charge. Places fill up quickly! Japanese Japanese Classes in Dublin Japanese Classes in Cork Why study Japanese? Russian Russian Classes in Dublin Russian Classes in Galway [...]

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PDST Graphic Organisers For Teaching And Learning

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Reading Comprehension : Strategies And Resources

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Reading Comprehension : Strategies And Resources

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Improve Your Spelling, the latest book written by Nessy founder Mike Jones, explains the rules of reading and spelling. It will help teachers teach, and parents to understand how to help their children.

By the end, you'll be a master speller!

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You've found Nessy; World leader in helping children who learn differently. Founded and run by educators and dyslexia specialists, our award-winning programs are guided by the Science of Reading.