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We all have questions at this time. This page will hopefully answer some of them for you. If there is a question we can help you with, please send us an email to office@scps.ie and we will answer it if we can!
How much time should we be spending on schoolwork while at home?
These are our recommended times, not including time spent on reading with your child or listening to your child's reading. Teachers are providing daily activities, and additional optional activities. Families can focus on the main daily tasks and do optional tasks if they wish.
Recommended times for school work:
Note: All times should be broken up into shorter sessions:
Junior and Senior Infants: no more than 45 minutes per day.
1st to 4th Classes: no more than 60 minutes per day.
5th & 6th Classes: 60-75 minutes per day.
My child is struggling with the activities being set by the teacher, can you help?
Our mainstream teachers and support teachers are working closely together to ensure appropriate work is being set for all children. However, if you feel this work needs to be tailored in a particular subject area, or you need a more specific timetable for your child, please let us know. Many children are used to working with a particular teacher for English / Maths and this teacher will be happy to assist with more specific tasks if necessary. You may need less work, sent on a more regular basis for example, so that your child can take it step by step. Again, please let us know if this is the case.
My child has Special Educational Needs. Where can I find some advice or support?
Firstly, please reach out to the class teacher or support teacher with any specific queries. They are more than happy to help you with schedules and routines as needed. A simple daily timetable is extremely important, and they can help you with this if necessary.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have provided a lots of resources on their website.
Materials are specifically targeting children with Special Educational Needs with input from Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists.
See https://ncse.ie/online-resources-for-parents for further information.
My child has been diagnosed with dyslexia, is there anything I can do to support him / her?
Nessy programs are designed to help students of all abilities learn to read, write, spell and type, especially those who learn differently. Nessy offers the complete dyslexia aware solution with a suite of multi-sensory products aimed at making learning to read, write and spell fun.
https://www.nessy.com/uk/ for further information.
My child keeps worrying that they, or a member of the family, are going to become unwell. They seem anxious. How can I reassure them?
Remind children that although coronavirus can make people sick, the vast majority of people go on to recover fully within a short period of time. Explain to your child that fear/worry is a normal response to a stressful situation. Explain that adults get worried too and share with them the strategies that you use to help yourself feel better at times of stress.
Help them to focus on what they can control (such as washing their hands regularly and maintaining social distancing). Encourage them to shift their thinking away from anxious thoughts and focus it on their body instead – feeling the breath in their nose and throat, feeling and watching their tummy/going in and out as they breathe, feeling their feet on the floor etc.
Practical/repetitive tasks can help to calm during bouts of stress (e.g. join the dots, colour by number, pairing socks etc.). Art, story writing and imaginative play can help children express emotions that are troubling them.
(Thanks to our NEPS psychologist for this advice)
My child seems to have regressed in terms of their independence. They are acting like a much younger child. This is difficult to manage because I have other children to look after too.
It is normal at times of stress for children to revert to earlier stages of development.
Children who are well able to feed/dress themselves may start acting as if they are younger and want you to baby them. Older children might start having tantrums or waking up at night. Regression is a common reaction to stress in children and is a child’s way of getting the extra attention they need. It does not mean that they have lost previously learnt skills.
If you have the time/capacity to do so, try to give your child the attention they are asking for, even if this means helping them with something you know they can do by themselves. Balancing life/work/childcare demands will mean that this is not always possible however. In these situations, gently reassure your child that you understand that they are feeling frustrated, but you cannot give them the kind of help they want at the moment. Reassure them that once you have finished what you are doing you will come and sit with them/talk to them/play with them etc. Try to increase connection time by being physically close and creating special time together.
(Thanks to our NEPS psychologist for this advice)
We have limited access to technology in our household due to device restrictions / wifi restrictions etc. What can we do to ensure our children continue to learn?
Please let us know if this is the case. We can send your child a range of activities or tasks to complete that do not rely on technology. We have some devices which we can loan to you if necessary.
If necessary, we can arrange to have some workbooks or other materials sent to you so that your child can continue to complete age- appropriate work.
Remember to look at the School Books Page in this section to find the particular books for your child's level, that many publishers are now giving free digital access to during this school closure time. This can help you in the short term.
My child is struggling to complete the work assigned. What should I focus on?
We appreciate this is a very difficult time for both parents and children, juggling work, home-schooling and regular family life, all while dealing with the restrictions that are in place. Please just do your best.
A plan for the day is an important starting point and should include the following:
1. Normal Daily Routines
2. Physical Activities & Housework
3. Social Activities
4. Enjoyable/Creative Activities
5. Schoolwork
What can I do without access to a laptop/tablet? I really don't want my child online all day!
Remember that there are many activities that are not considered academic in the traditional sense, but that provide a wealth of learning for your child. These include reading, gardening, cooking, designing and making, art, construction, take part in or design a quiz for friends, project work, podcasts, write a poem, draw a map, make a video, write a list, healthy eating, food related art activities, plan a holiday using a budget, kit out your bedroom using the Argos catalogue ... the list really is endless.
Remember your child could send a picture of something they make or do to their teacher. Teachers are missing the daily interaction with the children very much and it really brightens their day to hear any feedback or happy comments from them. They do not have to be activities prescribed from school, in fact the more creative and imaginative the better.
Remember the RTE Home School Hub runs daily from 10.00a and it is also available to watch on the RTE Player. This may be useful if you are trying to juggle working from home and homeschooling at the same time.
This is the schedule for the week beginning January 11th 2021:
Monday
Home School Hub 10am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about maps in geography class. We will learn how to draw a map and about symbols on maps.
Múinteoir John teaches us about shape space in maths class. We will learn about 2D and 3D shapes.
In this Irish class Múinteoir Clíona visits a fortune teller and learns all about China.
Home School Hub 11am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about length in maths class. We learn about how to measure lengths using non-standard units.
Múinteoir John teaches us energy and forces in science class. We will identify the difference between conductors & insulators and identify examples of each.
Múinteoir Clíona teaches us about sight clapping in music class. We learn the names of some of the beats in music and hopefully by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to sight clap rhythms!
Tuesday
Home School Hub 10am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about how to investigate historical artifacts in History Class.
Múineann Múinteoir John ceol agus Gaeilge dúinn. Foghlaimaíonn muid amhrán simplí darbh ainm "Insan Fhásach"
Múinteoir Clíona teaches us art, history and geography. We learn about life in Ireland since the 1950s, the local natural environment and about creating in fabric and fibre.
Home School Hub 11am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about energy in Science Class. We learn how energy is transferred or stored in our toys.
Múinteoir John teaches us about myths and legends in History Class. We explore Tír na n-óg and the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
Múinteoir Clíona teaches us about 'Area' today in Maths Class. We will learn the easy way to find out the area of a circle.
Wednesday
Home School Hub 10am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about fractions in Maths Class. We will learn how to identify and learn fractions.
Múinteoir John teaches us about living things and heart rate in Science Class. We will see the effect exercise has on our heartbeat.
Múinteoir Clíona teaches us how to make a nest in Art Class. You will see how to make your very own nest in time for Easter!
Home School Hub 11am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about Me Fein in a Gaeilge lesson.
There are lots of great things about surfing the net, you can learn so much. But we need to be careful too, and know what websites to trust. In this lesson Múinteoir John teaches us how to be webwise when on the internet.
We get stuck into long division in Maths class today. Múinteoir Clíona will take us through it step by step.
Thursday
Home School Hub 10am
There is a musical world all around us and all we have to do is listen (and dance!). Múinteoir Ray teaches us how learning to listen is a very important part of music.
The environment is everything we see around us so its very important to look after it! Múinteoir John teaches us about waste, water and recycling in today's geography class.
Can you name three female women scientists? We'll learn about some today! Múinteoir Clíona teaches us about stereotypes in science and about some amazing Irish women in science in history.
Plus learn about Marie Curie here
Home School Hub 11am
Múinteoir Ray does some PE to get everyone moving.
Múinteoir John teaches us probability in Maths.
Mata - Dochúlacht & seansúlacht
Múinteoir Clíona teaches us art, we make a bonnet!
Friday
Home School Hub 10am
Múinteoir Ray talks to us about feelings and emotions.
Múinteoir John teaches us about games and pastimes in his History Class.
Múinteoir Clíona teaches 3D maps.
Home School Hub 11am
Múinteoir Ray teaches us about narrative writing.
Múinteoir John teaches us about water and the water cycle.
And in today's’ Gaeilge class, Múinteoir Clíona introduces us to "saol laethúil" (everyday life).
Make sure to tune in all week. The Irish Sign Language version airs at 1pm with a daily show on RTÉjr.
And in the afternoon we have After School Hub on RTÉ2 from 3.20pm.
Keep an eye on RTÉ.ie/learn for more over the coming weeks.
Below is a link to a document providing support and practical tips for parents trying to support their children with a daily routine while at home.
https://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Announcements/guide-for-parents-supporting-children.pdf
I'm not sure what I should be doing about my child's physical health and he's really missing PE lessons.
This is certainly a tough challenge for children who love sports and need to get moving everyday. They miss the physical challenge and the fun of playing with team mates. Use the time you have outside to get walking, cycling, skipping etc. If you have a skipping rope at home, practice skipping; you would be amazed how many children don't know how to skip! If you need to borrow a skipping rope from us, please let us know.
Elaine, our dance teacher, will continue her dance classes as scheduled. This term, she will be working with 1st Class (starting January 12th) and 2nd Class (starting January 13th). Links will be sent for each class.
This is a link to some videos to develop your child's physical skills, including balancing, throwing and catching, jumping etc. Some are also in Irish so your child can practice two skills at the same time!
https://www.scoilnet.ie/pdst/physlit/beyond/
Joe Wicks is back again, three days a week. This was a hugely popular activity during last lockdown. Many families started the day with a Joe Wicks' workout.
Join Joe Wicks at 9.00am Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/thebodycoach1
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