Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Isle of Skye 29-30 of May 2015
The second Soillse conference, in conjunction with CAER, the Education Society of the European Regions is free for practitioners of Gaelic and Gaelic Medium Education(GME). Keynote speakers are Miquel Strubell, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, and Antonella Sorace, University of Edinburgh. For more information, please visit the website.
The Scottish Voice is a computer ‘text-to-speech’ programme to assist with reading electronic books;
PDF files (such as SQA exam papers); worksheets and other documents in Microsoft Word and create audio files using the voice. This is being developed to assist with Gaelic text.
The new Gaelic voice will be available to schools from The Scottish Voice website for the start of the 2015-16 academic session. This will help learners with additional support needs and also all learners to read websites, documents, or to check and proof-read their own letters or emails. The voice will be licensed for use by Scottish schools, colleges, universities, local and national government agencies, NHS units and for use at home by pupils and staff. It is funded by The Scottish Government Gaelic and Scots Unit; Scottish Funding Council; Scottish Qualifications Authority and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
You are invited to join us on Monday 2nd March at 3.45pm for a discussion about the strategies that have been adopted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to promote Gaelic Medium Education.
The Director of Education and Children’s Services, along with two senior managers from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will outline what changes they have made and the policies they have implemented which have resulted in a steady increase in the uptake of Gaelic Medium Education across island schools, both at primary and secondary level. The session will include a brief introduction, outlining current developments and the context for Gaelic Medium Education in Eilean Siar. The plans for further development of the recently announced Gaelic schools and the teaching school programme will be shared with those who join the meeting.
Topics to be covered include:
1. CNES support for the development of GME
2. The Vision for Gaelic/GME/GLE in the Western Isles.
3. Promotion of GME to parents.
4. Increasing the capacity for leadership in Gaelic Medium schools.
5. Planning for 1+2 Approach to Languages, using this policy to increase the delivery of Gaelic
6. Gaelic Medium/Gaelic Status schools.
Register to join us live in Glow TV – Developing the Vision for Gaelic Medium Education
The Gaelic Books Council is inviting submissions for the Donald Meek Award 2015 which aims to encourage new and creative writing. This may be poetry, short stories, novels or drama. Academic works and research studies written in English related to Gaelic are also invited.
For more information, please contact janice@gaelicbooks.org or www.gaelicbooks.org. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday 3 April 2015.
The Education Scotland website, Weather and Climate Change, is now available through the medium of Gaelic. This is aimed at providing practitioners with resources to help them include climate change within the curriculum for Gaelic Medium Education. Read more.
Other Education Scotland websites that are available through the medium of Gaelic are:
Scotland’s History, Scotland’s Songs, Scotland’s Stories, Scots and Canada.
Democracy in Scotland is a new resource available for Modern Studies National 5 through the medium of Gaelic. Please visit the National Qualifications course materials on Glow for this resource.
Schools and local authorities are invited to advise Education Scotland of the subjects that they are offering in the senior phase through the medium of Gaelic. We will use these responses to consider the learning materials that we will translate.
Please visit the National Qualifications course materials on Glow for previously published support materials for the senior phase: National 3, 4, 5 and Higher Gàidhlig, Gaelic (Learners), and Gaelic Medium mathematics, Lifeskills mathematics, geography, history, modern studies.
Comann nam Pàrant, the national organisation that advises and supports parents/carers of those in Gaelic Medium Education (GME), has recently published a newsletter.
In this newsletter you will learn of:
• activities to raise awareness of the benefits of GME
• partners working with schools to help children use Gaelic beyond the classroom
•forthcoming conference for parents/carers of children and young people in GME.
• useful information to help parents/carers support their child’s learning.
Education Scotland’s Scots Language Coordinators Katrina Lucas and Simon Hall are looking for more schools who may be interested in taking part in a new scheme to promote the use of Scots Language in schools.
The Scots Language Ambassador scheme was launched in Edinburgh during Book Week on 24th November 2014. So far, Education Scotland has enlisted around 40 confident Scots speakers from different walks of life from all over Scotland who are willing to volunteer their time to work in partnership with a school, to encourage staff and pupils to use Scots within the classroom and raise the status of the language.
The Ambassadors will be expected to become champions of the Scots language, and work with schools for a period of three years to foster a love of the Scots language amongst learners. They will be expected to visit schools to learn about good practice in Scots education. They will also get involved with other activities within the school such as leading assemblies, writing a blog or newsletter, and acting as guest speakers or judges at school events.
A number of Ambassadors have already confirmed their involvement in the scheme including the cast of the Singing Kettle, Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2014 Robyn Stapleton, prizewinning author James Robertson and poet and Dundee Laureate W.N. Herbert. They will develop meaningful partnerships with schools that will provide a positive environment for Scots to flourish.
Dr Simon Hall, Scots Language Co-ordinator with Education Scotland, said: “We’re bringing together schools and Scots speakers from all over Scotland in order to celebrate and promote Scots language education. All of the Ambassadors and practitioners involved share a love of Scots and a commitment to providing young people with an understanding and appreciation of what is, after all, a priceless national treasure.
“The scheme works to create links between schools and Scots speakers within their communities to offer learners the chance to meet role models who use Scots, and show them that it can be used in their careers, and in their personal and professional lives. We want to celebrate and publicise good practice in Scots education and demonstrate that it is appropriate to be used in formal school and other contexts.
The introduction of the scheme is already proving popular amongst primary schools, with many considering Scots as a possibility within the 1+2 languages framework. Secondary schools are also getting involved to develop the new Scottish Qualifications Authority Awards in Scots Language to formally recognise learning in and about Scots.
If individuals or schools would like to find out more or to request a partnership with an Ambassador, please contact Simon Hall or Katrina Lucas at Education Scotland.
Tha blog aig CLAS a tha feumail dha tidsearan àrd-sgoil a tha a’ teagaisg Gàidhlig no cuspair tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. A’ measg na tha air a’ bhlog tha
Visit www.clas123.wordpress.com, the blog for the Association of Teachers of Gaelic for useful information relating to:
Please visit the Education Scotland website for resources to support learning in Gaelic Medium Education about World War I. These resources include looking at the causes of the war, stories from veterans and reflections on the impact of the conflict.
Route maps are a sequential list of the key guidelines, advice and support for qualifications at N4, N5 and Higher. They include important information about assessment, learning and teaching. These papers are for teachers and other staff who provide learning, teaching and support as learners work towards National 4, National 5 and Higher. The route maps for Gaelic (Learners) and Gàidhlig are available on the Education Scotland website.
Passionate about good care?
The Care Inspectorate is looking for people to help them carry out their work. They would like people with first-hand experience of care to help make sure care in Scotland continues to improve, by becoming an inspection volunteer. Inspection volunteers are members of the public who use a care service, have used a care service in the past or care for someone like a family member or friend who has used a care service.
Volunteers help the Care Inspectorate get the views of people using care services. They work closely with the Care Inspectorate’s teams of specialist inspectors and together they help spot where things need to improve, help keep people safe and ensure that the rights of people receiving care are respected and their needs met.
Interested?
To find out more please click the link below
http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7731&Itemid=757
The Multimedia Unit of the Education and Children’s Services Department of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has developed a new website to support 3-18 Gaelic Medium Education.Resources support Gàidhlig as well as a range of other curricular areas.
The website is being continuously updated with new materials to enhance young people’s learning opportunities through the medium of Gaelic. For more information,visit the website or contact the Multimedia Unit at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar by emailing evelyn.coull@cne-siar.gov.uk.
CLAS – The Professional Association for Secondary Teachers of Gaelic – are pleased to launch their annual writing competition for Gaelic Medium and Gaelic Learner Education. Young people in S1 and S2 are being encouraged to write on a choice of topics related to the significance of the year 2014 for Scotland. Schools should submit their entries by 9 June 2014.
For more information on the competition, please visit www.clas123.wordpress.com/co-fharpaisean. For general information on CLAS, which celebrates its 10th anniversary later this year, please visit www.facebook.com/tidsearan.
The Gaelic Books Council, the lead organisation for Gaelic literature in Scotland, is delighted to be working in collaboration with the Scottish Book Trust to establish an award for a young writer of Gaelic.
Teenagers who are keen writers are being offered a golden opportunity with four awards from the Scottish Book Trust being available to people between 14 and 17 who write in Gaelic, English or Scots. The recipients of this year’s Young Writers’ Awards will receive a prize which includes a six month mentoring period with a published writer, a visit to a top London publisher, a writers’ retreat at Moniack Mhòr and the chance to meet industry professionals.
Budding authors are invited to submit a piece of creative writing and a personal statement explaining why they would benefit from this programme. The closing date for applications is 27 June 2014. Full details are available on the Scottish Book Trust website. For more information on the award for Gaelic please contact rosemary@gaelicbooks.org.
Every year Scottish Book Trust love to see what schools have been up to during Book Week Scotland. If your school got involved in any activities during Book Week Scotland 2013, however big or small, we’d love to hear from you!
Fill out our quick survey, and you could win £150 of books for your school. Our deadline for submission is Friday 28 February 2014.
Creating Book Trailers is a fantastic way to enthuse your learners about reading and develop their critical skills. This year, Scottish Book Trust are running our first ever book trailer competition for the Scottish Children’s Book Awards, and have published a wealth of resources to help you get creative with trailers. Closing date for entries is February 7.
Make your pupils’ voices heard in the Scottish Children’s Book Awards
Every year thousands of children of all ages vote for their favourite book in the Scottish Children’s Book Awards. Why not get them writing reviews of the books to help them make their decision? Our review competition is a great opportunity to win some fabulous prizes, including book tokens and a visit from one of the shortlisted authors. You can find more details in the Get Involved section of SCBA. Closing date for entries is February 7.
Join us in Glow TV for the third of our Tell a Story events with the Scottish Storytelling Centre. This event lets you find out more about ‘Journeys’
‘Tell a Story Day’ is celebrated across Scotland in October. In the 3 weeks leading up to this national event join Storytellers in the ‘bothy’ at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh via Glow TV.
Enjoy listening to the storytellers share tales about nations and territories within the Commonwealth, about personal challenge and achievement and memorable, adventurous and incredible journeys. ‘Journeys’ is the theme for this year’s event.
While listening, learn how to tell and perform oral stories. Then take the opportunity to ask the storytellers questions about their ideas and techniques to help you plan and hold your own ‘Tell a Story Day’ event. On ‘Tell a Story’ day we plan to broadcast your stories across Scotland via Glow TV. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/1dBZu1R
This Glow TV event is part of the Learning Experiences catalogue and a series of opportunities for Scottish learner to learn, create, make, build, bake, grow, collect, code tell stories and more. Learning experiences are set within contexts and many themes are interdisciplinary and take the form of learning spaces to connect learners and allow them to share, collaborate as well as a series of live events. Find out more about the Learning Experiences Catalogue here: http://bit.ly/1bx6c5B
Join us on Thursday 19th September at 11am – sign up and join us in Glow TV – LearnCat Tell a Story – Journeys At the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
Join us in Glow TV for the first of our Tell a Story events with the Scottish Storytelling Centre. This event lets you find out more about ‘My Story’
‘Tell a Story Day’ is celebrated across Scotland in October. In the 3 weeks leading up to this national event join Storytellers in the ‘bothy’ at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh via Glow TV.
Enjoy listening to the storytellers share tales about nations and territories within the Commonwealth, about personal challenge and achievement and memorable, adventurous and incredible journeys. ‘Journeys’ is the theme for this year’s event.
While listening, learn how to tell and perform oral stories. Then take the opportunity to ask the storytellers questions about their ideas and techniques to help you plan and hold your own ‘Tell a Story Day’ event.
On ‘Tell a Story’ day we plan to broadcast your stories across Scotland via Glow TV. Find out more here: Learning Experience Catalogue.
Welcome back to the new session! Everyone here at Glow TV hopes that you had a relaxing break and are ready for the challenges of the new term ahead. As ever Glow TV continues to offer a wide range of events both for use in the classroom with your pupils and also for Continued Professional Learning. We are kicking off next week with a series of events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Why not sign up and join us live at an event or if you are unable to join live then remember that all events are recorded and can be found in the Glow TV Watch Again section.
Monday 19th August at 12.30pm – Tom Palmer’s Football Reading Game
This event is suitable for Primary 4-7. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Tuesday 20th August at 10.30am – Superhero Siblings with Gwyneth Rees
This event is suitable for Primary 3-5. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Tuesday 20th August at 12pm – The Physics of Superheroes with James Kakalios
This event is suitable for S2- S6. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Wednesday 21st August at 10am – Titanic: Death on the Water with Tony Bradman This event is suitable for P4-7. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Wednesday 21st August at 12.30pm – Ciaran Murtagh: Jokes, Genies and Japes
This event is suitable for P3-6. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Friday 23rd August at 10am – Lunar Adventures with Simon Bartram
This event is suitable for P1-3. Find out more about this event and sign up!
Education Scotland has published its first draft Gaelic Language Plan for public consultation. It confirms Education Scotland’s commitment to partnership working to secure and strengthen the use of Gaelic in Scotland. Education Scotland values all of Scotland’s languages. The focus of this particular plan is Gaelic in recognition of its valuable contribution to Scotland’s heritage and its status as an official language of Scotland. The plan demonstrates Education Scotland’s commitment to the National Plan for Gaelic and the Gaelic Language ( Scotland ) Act 2005. Dr. Bill Maxwell, Chief Executive of Education Scotland said, “Our Gaelic Language Plan sets out to show how we will embed the promotion and use of Gaelic across all of our work. I look forward to receiving views on the proposals in the draft Plan. Looking forward, I am absolutely committed to ensuring that improvements in the health and quality of Gaelic Education are a key strand of the overall impact we seek to have in improving Scottish education”. You can view or download a copy of the draft Gaelic Language Plan on www.educationscotland.gov.uk and send your comments to Inverness@EducationScotland.gsi.gov.uk or write to Education Scotland, Longman House, Longman Road, Inverness, IV1 1SF. The consultation runs until 12 September 2013.
Tha Foghlam Alba air a’ chiad dreachd de a Phlana Gàidhlig fhoillseachadh airson co-chomhairleachadh poblach. Tha e a’ dearbhadh dealas Foghlam Alba mu bhith ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas gus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a dhèanamh tèarainte agus a neartachadh ann an Alba. Tha Foghlam Alba a’ cur luach air cànain na h-Alba air fad. Is e a’ Ghàidhlig fòcas a’ phlana shònraichte a tha seo ag aithneachadh an cuideachadh luachmhor a tha e a’ toirt do dhualchas na h-Alba agus an inbhe a tha aige mar chànan oifigeil an Alba. Tha am plana a’ comharrachadh dealas Foghlam Alba a thaobh Plana Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig agus Achd na Gàidhlig (Alba) 2005. Thuirt An t-Oll Bill Maxwell, Ceannard Foghlam Alba, “Tha am Plana Gàidhlig againn a’ cur an cèill an dòigh anns an cuir sinn adhartachadh agus cleachdadh na Gàidhlig a-steach do ar n-obair air fad. Tha mi a’ dèanamh fiughair ri bhith a’ cluinntinn bheachdan air na molaidhean a tha san dreachd Phlana. A’ coimhead air adhart, tha mi làn dhealasach mu bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum bi leasachaidhean ann an slàinte agus càileachd Foghlam Gàidhlig nam prìomh dhual sa bhuaidh fharsaing a tha sinn a’ sireadh ann a bhith a’ leasachadh foghlam na h-Alba.” Faodaidh tu an dreachd Phlana Gàidhlig fhaicinn aig www.educationscotland.gov.uk no lethbhreac dheth a luchdachadh a-nuas agus do bheachdan a chur gu Inverness@EducationScotland.gsi.gov.uk no sgrìobhadh gu Foghlam Alba, Taigh an Raon Rèidh, Rathad an Raon Rèidh, Inbhir Nis, IV1 1SF. Bidh an co-chomhairleachadh a’ dol gu 12 Sultain 2013.
Our friends at Grounds for Learning have very kindly shared a link to the children of Caledonia Primary school giving a tour of their school grounds as they go on a bear hunt. You can see the video here.
Do you have a project you would like to share? Drop us a line in the comments box and we’ll get back to you.
ScottishPower in conjunction with the Edinburgh International Book Festival is celebrating the fifth year of Swap Shop – an award winning project that encourages primary school children to read more and recycle old books.
Swap Shop is great fun and importantly really easy to run. Each pupil is encouraged to bring in a book, which they then swap with their schoolmates. This provides a perfect opportunity to get the whole school together, swapping books and sharing stories. Many pupils might want to swap their books for ones from the class above, developing their literacy skills and enabling them to discover new stories. Five lucky schools will also get the chance to win an exclusive visit from a children’s author attending the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
A key aspect of Swap Shop is to encourage awareness amongst school pupils about the work being done by Scottish charities. For the third year, children’s charity Aberlour has been selected as the official charity partner. Aberlour operates across Scotland, providing a range of services, support and advice for vulnerable children, young people and families. All monies raised by children taking part in the 2013 Swap Shop will go directly to the charity.
To be in with a chance of winning one of five author visits, schools are invited to complete their Swap Shop by the end of the summer term. For further information on registration which closes on Friday 24th May and taking part please contact Emma Paul at Stripe Communications on 0131 561 8628 or swapshop@stripecommunications.com.
Join us once again live from the Glow TV Studio for an interactive sing along session!
This time we will be joined by Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller, two talented young singers and musicians recognised as shining stars on the Scottish folk scene. They are both blessed with lovely, natural voices that blend beautifully, and their performances focus strongly on communicating through traditional and contemporary song.
During the session the ladies will be singing 3 songs that you can learn and join in with in your classrooms. We hope that you can join us!!
Sign up and join us live at 2pm on Wednesday 1st May in Glow Tv- Scotland Sings Again.
Join us in Glow TV on Thursday 7th March at 1.30pm to celebrate World Book Day with the 1000-strong audience in the Caird Hall for the 2012 Scottish Children’s Book Awards Ceremony live.
There will be readings, music, illustration, Oscar-worthy drama performances, song, readings, interviews, all of the shortlisted authors and illustrators and of course, the announcement of the wining books as chosen by over 32,000 children across Scotland.
Like the awards, the event is suitable for children in P1-S4. This event is a live web stream from the event and the link to this and to sign up is available in Glow TV.
Join us for our celebration of the birth of Burns and the life and work of our famous bard on Friday 25th January at 9.30am. This year we want you to be able to share what you have been doing in your schools and classrooms so join us for our Burns Bash!!
If you would like to share your Scottish poems, dances or art work then make sure that you are with us that day to let other schools see what you have been doing – remember we always need an audience too so if you don’t want to perform then please just join us anyway!!
Taking part in the Glow Meet is easy – just email Jen McDougall and let her know what you would like to do and she will organise a short test with your webcam/microphoe to ensure that you are ready to go on the day.
If you have any Burns/Scottish art work that you would like to share then please send that to Jen as well and that will be showcased on the day too on our Scottish Showcase Sharepod!
During the event we will be joined by Newburgh Primary who wowed us with their ukulele playing in our recent Scotland’s Got Talent Glow TV event and a piper who will be piping us in to our show and bringing it to a close.
So get your shortbread and Irn-Bru (or other Scottish themed foods!) and join us for a fun and interactive session.
Sign up and join us in Glow TV!
Learning about Scotland in partnership with Live Music Now Scotland are teaming up with Hands Up for Trad’s new Scotland Sings project to encourage everybody in Scotland to sing.
In this Glow TV Event on Wednesday 24th October at 2pm you will hear two of Scotland’s top musicians Ewan Robertson and Megan Henderson singing a short song in Scots and another in Gaelic. You will then get the chance to sing along during the event and on the 30th November during the ‘Scotland Sings’ event itself!
There will also be a competition for schools to write a short song and chorus with prizes for the winning entrants and the chance to performance the song LIVE on Glow.
We look forward to singing with you! Sign up and join us in Glow Tv!
If you visit our Early Years Saturday Conference Community you will see links, resources and information from delegates.
If you are developing new ideas using this inspiring information why not make a pledge and let the community know all about it? Other You may be able to join other members of the community in developing your idea.
Saturday was a very inspirational day for the Early Years team at Education Scotland. Our Saturday Conference, Learning about Scotland in the Early Years was a great success. There was singing, poetry writing and even a competition!
If you would like to follow up on any interesting discussions from the day or revisit and reflect on the presentations then visit our Early Years CPD community. The presentations are within the Early Years Saturday Conference mini CPD site.
If you have not joined our community yet, then please do. We had a queue of enthusiastic delegates who couldn’t wait to join on Saturday and you can meet them (virtually!) when you do.
Well done to Sharon from South Lanarkshire who won the well deserved prize of two Scots books to share with her establishment.
Thank you
The Early Years Team
S
QA, in partnership with Education Scotland, are holding a series of curriculum area events to discuss the new national qualifications and give practical support on their implementation. The events are also an opportunity for practitioners to give their views on the new qualifications. Places have been allocated to local authorities and their schools, independent schools and colleges. The events are part of a range of support to help local authorities and individual centres prepare for implementing the new qualifications.
The Languages day was on the 5th Decemeber. To view the Glow Meet recordings from the event click on the links below (you will need to glow log in to access the recordings):
Languages – Introduction and Question/Answers/Workshops
To find out about other Curriculum Area Events during December via Glow TV click here.
Gus comharrachadh gu bheil coimhearsnachd leasachadh leantaineach proifeiseanta, Dachaidh, ga chur air bhog, tha sgioba na Gàidhlig aig Foghlam Alba toilichte innse gu bheil sreath de choinneamhan air-loidhne gu bhith air an cumail.
Bithear a’ beachdachadh air iomadach cuspair a bhiodh inntinneach do luchd-teagaisg anns an fharsaingeachd agus chan ann do luchd-teagaisg na Gàidhlig a-mhàin. Bidh cuid dhe na seiseanan air an lìbhrigeadh tro mheadhan na Beurla, cuid tro mheadan na Gàidhlig agus feadhainn eile le measgachadh dhen dà chànan.
Bidh Coinneamh 1 a’ dèiligeadh le Measadh. Bidh a’ choinneamh seo ann am Beurla agus bidh Maureen Martin bho Foghlam Alba a’ toirt an fhiosrachaidh a th’ aice fhèin air a’ chuspair. Bidh a h-uile gin dhe na coinneamhan ann an Gàidhlig air Dachaigh air an stiùireadh le Gillebrìde Mac ’IlleMhaoil.
Gus a dhol an sàs ann an Dachaigh, theirig gu http://bit.ly/dachaigh . Gus clàrachadh airson Coinneamh 1, theirig gu http://bit.ly/gaelmeet1 agus coimhead airson a’ bhutain airson clàrachadh.
To celebrate the launch of its online CPD community, Dachaigh, the Gaelic team in Education Scotland are pleased to announce the start of a series of online CPD seminars, GaelMeets.
These will tackle a number of topics of interest to many, not just Gaelic, educators. Some of the sessions will be Gaelic, some in English and some a bit of both!
GaelMeet 1 is the first of three on assessment. This GaelMeet will be in English and features Lorraine Facchini of Education Scotland. All of the GaelMeets will be facilitated by Gillebride MacIllemhaoil, the facilitator for the Gaelic Education CPD community on Glow, Dachaigh
To join Dachaigh, visit this link http://bit.ly/dachaigh. To sign up for GaelMeet 1, visit this link http://bit.ly/gaelmeet1 and look for the enrol button.
