Monthly Archives: September 2016

Child Rights launchpad by Unicef UK

posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer, Schools and Learning

Launchpad is an award-winning, free digital resource which helps children in Scotland learn about their UNCRC rights. unicrf It was made possible by Unicef UK’s partnership with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, and is currently only available in Scotland.

Launchpad offers an exciting online environment for teachers to help the children they work with learn about their rights in Scotland, and around the world.  It supports Curriculum for Excellence and is available at three different levels, covering ages 3-18.

Over one quarter of all Scottish schools have already signed up to use Launchpad.  If you’ve not yet registered, get your free individual account today.

Musical Futures Opportunity

posted by Louise Kirby, YMI Coordinator, Schools & Learning

musicfutures         aclogo            Youth MI

Musical Futures Opportunity 

We are looking for 1 primary school who would like to take part in Musical Futures project.   This is a 2 year music project that is aimed at training up teacher of P6/7s classes to deliver the Just Play programme (full training and equipment provided and no musical experience necessary).  We can pay for supply to cover teacher out of school for the training.

School Commitment

  • Commit for 2 years
  • 2/3 class teachers to take the training from P6 and P7
  • Class teachers to deliver the programme with their class
  • Enough room in school to have the equipment in an accessible play

Equipment Provided – 1 Drum Kit, 8 Keyboards, 16 Guitars, Microphone and cables (we can provide hooks for wall to hang guitars) 

The aim of the project is:
To reduce barriers for generalist primary school teachers to deliver inclusive music education in Europe

The intended outcomes are:

  1. More generalist primary school teachers are trained and confident to deliver inclusive approaches for music education in Europe, based on local need.
  2. Better informed and self-sustainable networks of generalist primary school music teachers enabled in Europe
  3. A movement for a more inclusive and accessible music education for primary school pupils is seeded in Europe

This is funded by ERASMUS and YMI.

Please email note of interest and confirm you can fulfil the School Commitment to YMI Coordinator Louise Kirby by Friday 30th September KirbyL@angus.gov.uk

Languages Network Group Scotland

posted by Stuart Burns, Schools and Learning Support Officer, Schools and Learning

languges

Dear colleagues

We’re delighted to announce the launch of this year’s Mother Tongue Other Tongue (MTOT) multilingual poetry competition and are thrilled to welcome the new Scots Makar, Jackie Kay, as the competition’s patron. As well as being the national poet of Scotland, Jackie is Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University and has received an MBE for her services to literature. Winners and highly commended entrants will be lucky enough to meet Jackie when she presents the awards at our celebration event in March 2017.

Whether pupils are learning a language at school, or whether they speak a native language at home, everyone can get involved in celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity through creative poetry writing as there are options to enter in either the Mother Tongue or Other Tongue category. Last year saw over 400 children participate in 36 different languages!

Once again, we are delighted to be able to offer FREE poetry workshops for primary and secondary teachers at four different venues across Scotland. Trying to emphasise the links between literacy and languages, these workshops are aimed at any class teacher who teaches Literacy, Gàidhlig, Scots, EAL and Modern Languages.

Teachers will work with Juliette Lee, poet and creative writer, for a half-day workshop to develop their own creativity, explore poetry and the impact of language we use. Teachers will leave inspired and able to take back some ideas and examples to work with their own pupils who will then submit their poems/rhymes/raps/songs into the MTOT competition.

Details of the workshops are as follows. Click on the appropriate workshop link below to register for the event:

  • Saturday 24 September, 10.00 – 12.30; Dundee University, Dundee (deadline for registration Friday 16 September)
  • Friday 30 September, 13.30 – 16.00; The Open University in Scotland, Edinburgh (deadline for registration Friday 23 September)
  • Saturday 1 October, 10.00 – 12.30; Inverness College – UHI, Inverness (deadline for registration Friday 23 September)
  • Saturday 8 October, 12.00 – 14.30; University of Strathclyde, Glasgow (deadline for registration Friday 30 September)

Teachers do not have to attend one of the workshops to register their school for the MTOT competition although the workshops are a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills in teaching poetry, languages and to gather ideas to take back into the classroom.  Due to he creative and interactive nature of these workshops, places are limited to 15 teachers at each venue, therefore we advise you to book your place early.

For more information about the competition visit the MTOT page on our website and register your school to take part.  Alternatively contact angela.de-britos@strath.ac.uk

Angela de Britos
Angela de Britos
Professional Development Officer
angela.de-britos@strath.ac.uk
T: 0141 444 8179
M: 07896 149 353


Angus Teachmeet

posted by Kellie Smith, Teacher, Langlands Primary School

It’s now just one week until the Angus Teachmeet takes place to coincide with the Scottish Learning Festival. Please be sure to sign up to secure your place, even if you are only coming along to listen. The teachmeet takes place on 21st of September between 5pm and 7pm at Langlands Primary School in Forfar.

So far we have 2 minute and 7 minute presentations on Classdojo, PE SALS for infants, flipped learning, playplanner, computational thinking, Tigtag and Twig for Science and code club. The format is very informal, as the whole point of a teachmeet is sharing practice. We’re all in the same boat so there’s no need to be shy! It’s a great way to network with other teachers in a relaxed environment. There will even be cakes and coffee!

So what are you waiting for? Get signed up today using the link below!!
https://tmscot.wordpress.com/2016/06/04/tmconnect-angus/

Families Outside – New Resource for Supporting Children Impacted by Imprisonment

posted by Tim Haines, Families Outside, Family Support Manager, Children and Young People

Families Outside are delighted to launch ‘My Diary’, a new resource which seeks to address the very real difficulties experienced by young children who have a loved one in jail. Written in the form of a diary, similar in style to ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’, the booklet takes the reader through the issues a child might face when a relative goes to prison, and is a useful resource for families and professionals.

The resource can be used for one to one support work with children, opening up discussion around issues surrounding imprisonment.  The sensitive and engaging way in which the subject matter is handled, also makes it ideal for more general use in Health and Wellbeing lessons around themes such as inclusion, feeling burdened by secrets and dealing with worries.

‘My Diary’ is available free of charge.  To receive copies please contact our Support and Information Helpline on 0800 254 0088.  The Helpline is also available if you have any questions around supporting children and families impacted by imprisonment.

The booklet is available now, but you are invited to attend the formal launch on Thursday 22nd September, 5 – 7 pm, at the Scottish Story Telling Centre in Edinburgh.  To book your place please contact jonathan.goodfellow@familiesoutside.org.uk

If you have any thoughts or questions, I am more than happy to discuss.

Please do circulate the book launch to colleagues and other organisations who you think might be interested in this resource: http://www.familiesoutside.org.uk/kids-book-launch-2/

familiesoutside