Up and Away - National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

26
Organising the timetable for language support
Language support is best delivered
1. In groups – small groups of 3-5 pupils, or a larger class which can be divided into pairs or small
groups.
2. On a daily basis – little and often is much more effective than a longer session less frequently.
Example of a timetable based on 1 teacher and 26 pupils
JNR.
INFANTS
✓
✓
✓
✓
7
8.50 – 9.30
9.30 – 10.10
10.10 – 10.30
10.30 – 11.10
11.10 – 11.50
11.50 – 12.30
12.30 – 13. 10
13.10 – 13.30
13.30 – 14.30
SNR.
INFANTS
5
1ST
4
Junior Infants
Senior Infants
1st
2nd
3rd + 4th
5th + 6th
2ND
*It is useful to keep one session per day for particular purposes such as:
Focused work on pronunciation for children who need it.
Additional session for older children whose literacy level is low.
Referrals from teachers to help children with work for their mainstream classes.
Extra contact with pupils who arrive during the school year.
Extra help for children approaching transition to post-primary.
! Points to remember!
3
Break
Break
3RD
Open period to be used flexibly*
Avoid one-to-one teaching unless this is absolutely essential for a particular reason.
2
4TH
Generally form groups on the basis of age and/or class in the school.
Organising children in pairs or small groups within a larger group allows for differences in language
proficiency to be accommodated.
Use the ‘open period’ each day to focus exclusively on a particular problem area. This session should
not be treated in the same way as the regular language support classes.
2
7
5
4
3
4
3
5TH
2
6TH
1