Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Confidentiality
Participation
Contributing to group learning
Asking questions/clarifying issues
Taking responsibility for your own learning
Please remember to:
check that your phone is off for the duration of the workshop
ensure that you sign-in on the official EC attendance form
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Working together in the
workshops will involve…
3
Top 3
challenges
students face
starting
secondary
school
2
1
2 Learning and
1 question you
behaviour skills
have about
that they use
senior Primary
th
regularly in 6
school?
class
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Group activity
Students in the “middle years” of schooling (aged
10-15) have very different learning and social needs
from younger children and older adolescents
This is a period of rapid development in all areas:
intellectual, social, physical, emotional and
psychological and moral understanding
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Early Adolescence and Transition
Numeracy
Literacy
Transition
supporting
learning
JC Reform
Motivation
Learning
Relationships
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Wellbeing
1) Oldest to youngest
2) Most social power to least (initially) and in many cases
great physical freedom
3) Childhood to adolescence
4) One educational key relationship to many
5) Small number of classrooms to many different rooms
and specialisms
6) Talking and verbally demonstrating a considerable
amount of the learning to listening a lot of the time
7) Gender and Subjects
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Layered Transitions - Name 5…
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Lack of curriculum continuity
Too many subjects
Changing classes
Top class in streamed schools/ Streaming
Fear of bullying
Little idea what to expect
Formal structures
Getting lost
Not understanding terminology
Lockers
Mixed school
More homework
Moving up...The experiences of
First Year Students in PostMisinformation
Primary education
New rooms
Making friends
In depth study of 900 1st Year
pupils in 12 Post-Primary Schools
Teachers’ names
ESRI/NCCA 2004
Subject options
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Transition difficulties
• Important for Post-Primary teachers to
understand the teaching and learning approaches
in Primary school
• Mixed-ability grouping in First Year leads to
improved progress in Literacy and Numeracy and
can give students more confidence as learners
Moving Up -ESRI/NCCA 2004
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Some Findings…
Student
and Families
Primary
School
Secondary
School
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
We are in this together…
Entry
Pre-entry
Post-Entry
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
What is it like for the student at
each stage?
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
THE BRIDGES
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
1. Social and Emotional
•
Skills, relationships, feelings
2. Bureaucratic
•
Information and data
3. Curriculum
•
Content to be taught on either side
4. Teaching
•
Teaching skills and styles
5. Management of Learning
•
Induction, learning style, learning logs
Moving to Secondary School:
Advice and activities to support transition
Lynda Measor with Mike Fleetham
Network Educational Press
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Bridges
Curriculum
Bridges for Transition
Primary
School
Post-Primary
School
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Each group will examine one element of transition
and consider good practice for:
1. Whole school
2. Individual Class Planning
Whole-school Good Practice
Department and Class Group Good Practice
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Bridge:
Between Schools - data, records, samples, etc…
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Reading ages
Assessment for first years
Learning support – NCSE
Attendance
Behaviour plans
IEP
School Reports
Micra and Sigma T
Work samples
Psychological and Professional
reports
• Educational reports and
Information
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Health issues
Outside agencies
Information evenings
Parent meeting
Joint primary and secondary
meeting
Samples of work
Observations
Family structure
Individual interview
Application form data
Information from the students
Passports from students
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Bureaucratic
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Transfer diaries
Belonging +
Peer Support
Care team
SPHE
After school programme
Feelings words
Social literacy
Emotional Curriculum
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Friendships
Being safe
Targeted skills
My new school – the
physical space
Health and Fitness
Conflict skills
Adolescent development
Postcards from school
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Social And Emotional
• Prior learning - what they
learn in Primary
• NCCA - Primary
• Sharing specialists rooms
in Secondary with Primary
• Talking to Primary
• Gifted and talented
teachers about
• Joint art display
methodologies
• Development day with
teachers
• A Day in the Life of…
• Shadowing and common
themes
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Curriculum Bridge
• Teaching Methodologies
• Teacher toolkit
• Teaching learning skills
• Handwriting practice
• Teacher observation
• Home work practice
• Teacher exchanges
• Assessment practice
• Joint development day
• Training
• Assessment for learning
• ICT
• Blended teaching for
behaviour and learning
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Teaching Bridge
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Behaviour skills
Parents’ support
Learning profile
Learning style and strategies
Learning Mentors & Social Mentors
Peer reading – Shared Learning
Evidence of the learning
Learning Strategies – Comprehension – Text Book
Testing curricular projects across a number of schools
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Learning Bridge
Activity: Think Pair Share - Case study
In your groups for 15 min:
Considering what you know about Transition and Bridges
theory now, what additional supports would be
needed for students with SEN?
Gifted and talented, Cognitive, Physical, Behavioural, Social and
Emotional - all have additional needs to be addressed
Inclusion factors need also to be considered such as EAL and Cultural
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Transition and SEN
Overview and details of the Primary Curriculum for Fifth and Sixth Class
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Primary Curriculum
• Consider the general run of a school day for
Primary school students…
• Talk through a sixth class timetable
• Q and A session with the Primary teacher
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
What a difference a day makes..
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
1-2.30: SESE, History, Geog.
etc.
12.30-1: Lunch
12-12.30: Religion
11.15-12: English
11: Break
9-11: Maths & Gaeilge
Typical Primary School Day
• Looking at the materials and templates, choose
1 that you could adapt and use in class to
support First-year students
• What bridge(s) are you focussing on?
• Feedback to the larger group
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Class Activities for Transition
• National Parents Council
- Primary and Post-Primary
• NCCA
• NBSS
• PDST
• SESS
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Resources for teachers and schools
Additional Support
Professional Support Groups
NIPT School Visit Service
Contact details
Mary Burke, Primary Co-Ordinator (086) 813 0997
Billy Redmond, Post-Primary Co-Ordinator (087) 414 8556
www.teacherinduction.ie
To ask for support is a sign of strength…
Transition from Primary to Post-Primary
Next Workshop
Inclusion