Up and Away - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

12
2. Integrating pupils
The following activities, many of which are a natural part of the school day, are used to foster integration
in the school.
In class:
Introduce newcomer pupils with a discussion
about their countries.
Seat newcomer pupils with native pupils.
Study different cultural festivals.
Do a class project on ‘Countries of the world’
(including Ireland).
Hold story telling sessions about schools in
different countries.
Introduce a buddy system for reading.
Do creative movement sessions dealing with
issues like exclusion, integration, assimilation,
etc.
Encourage pupils to play together in class
groups or with board games during indoor
breaks.
Invite pupils to bring in party food on their
birthdays.
Language support teacher takes mainstream
class on a regular basis and works on materials
that will be followed up in language support
classes.
Language support teacher takes SPHE sessions
in the mainstream class dealing with issues of
culture, difference, what it is to feel different, etc.
Language support teacher joins in art or IT
classes to look at art and websites from
around the world.
Classroom activities:
Activities based on cooperation and teamwork are
also an excellent way to develop a fully-integrated
group. These include familiar activities, such as:
Circle time.
Story time.
Story writing.
Drama for older pupils and plays for smaller
children using class readers.
Book making.
Class projects on mainstream topics.
Group art sessions.
Cooking.
Games and PE.
Organise:
‘International language day’ with word games,
songs, poems, etc.
‘World dance day’.
‘Day of world culture’. Involve all pupils in the
preparations.
Speakers from different countries to come in and
talk about relevant topics.
Ecumenical prayer week for children from all
religious backgrounds.
School tours.
Sponsored walks.
Also:
Involve pupils in sports and other activities such as
Community Games, swimming, Irish dancing,
majorettes, the school choir and singing, the school
band, concerts, etc.
Encourage all pupils to participate in local festivals,
parades, etc.
Use school assembly for the presentation of songs,
drama, costumes and stories from different
countries.
Invite newcomer pupils to bring an English-speaking
friend to language support class. Use the buddy
system.
Ensure that parents of newcomer pupils understand
invitations to birthday parties.
Use games (e.g. during break) that bring children
together.