Useful Websites
The following websites may provide information regarding professional issues and/or information that may compliment classroom practice. It is the responsibility of each individual teacher or school to determine whether the links provided are suitable for their school situation. The National Induction Programme for Teachers assumes no responsibility for the content of the sites listed below.
NEW - Get ideas for your art lessons on the following sites.
www.princetonol.com
www.crayola.com
www.education.ie – The Department of Education and Skills site contains information that is intended to assist in gaining an understanding of the work of the Department, as well as providing associated linkages to key agencies and bodies in the educational and scientific sectors.
More information on the probationary process at
www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=32818&ecategory=35457&language=EN
www.teachingcouncil.ie - The Teaching Council website contains information on registration, on the codes of professional conduct for teachers, on teacher education and about all areas of the Teaching Council's work. Access the latest news stories, on-line publications and the Council's newsletter, Oide.
www.into.ie – The Irish National Teachers Organisation site provides information relating to, working conditions, salaries, leave of absence, the structure and history of the organisation including details of member services and benefits, and educational issues in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
www.vhi.ie/dep_edu_science - The Employee Assistance Service provides assistance to teachers who may be experiencing difficulties which are impacting on their performance in the classroom. The program being offered by VHI Corporate Solutions will incorporate confidential counselling on issues such as health, relationships, addictions, bereavement, stress, conflict, critical incident and trauma.
Classroom Resources
www.ncca.ie -Access the primary school curriculum online on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment website. Get information on assessment, differentiation, teaching English as an additional language, ICT, inclusion and special educational needs. Check out the following links:
Assessment for Learning at http://www.ncca.ie/index.asp?locID=537&docID=-1
Assessment Guidelines available at http://www.ncca.ie/index.asp?locID=533&docID=-1
Exceptionally Able Students – Draft Guidelines for Teachers at
http://www.ncca.ie/uploadedfiles/publications/Except%20Able
Access sample activities and support material at action.ncca.ie
www.ppds.ie -Primary Professional Development Services website provides resources that support schools and teachers in implementing all subject areas of the curriculum. Get resources for Gaeilge, English, Maths, Science etc at http://ppds.ie/index.php?option=com_mtree&Itemid=111
See Curriculum Glance Cards that are a one-page overview of the content objectives in each strand unit for each subject for all class levels
www.sess.ie -Special Education Support Services website provides information about circulars, IEPs and general guidelines for teachers of students with general learning disabilities and continuing professional development in the area of special education. Check out the Classroom Resources and list of websites at http://www.sess.ie/resources
www.scoilnet.ie - Scoilnet is the education portal of the Department of Education and Science (DES) in Ireland. The website is managed on behalf of the DES by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE). Resources are curriculum focused and have been selected and reviewed by curriculum specialists and teachers. Scoilnet actively promotes the integration of ICT in teaching and learning. Further information on supports and resources on integrating. See the most viewed resources on Scoilnet at:
http://www.scoilnet.ie/Top10_MostViewed_Resources.shtm
www.seomraranga.com - On this site you will find downloadable resources for the primary school classroom. The resources are arranged in accordance with the curriculum provisions of the Irish primary school. Check out the WABP section for resources regarding the writing process and get signs and posters at http://www.seomraranga.com/signsposters.htm
If you are interested in teaching tin whistle or in getting resources for the teaching of music try http://www.seomraranga.com/music.htm
www.mathsisfun.com - This site is aimed at basic math skills. However you will find some more complex stuff, and some easier bits. Hopefully there should be something for everybody.
www.busyteacherscafe.co.uk - Busy teachers cafe is a resource site for busy teachers and educators. Here you will find resources, ideas, lessons, free printable and more.Check out the literacy strategies at http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/teacher_resources/literacy.htm
www.adrianbruce.com - Shares educational resources with the world- reading games, reading posters, maths games, phonics games, phonics posters, podcasting ideas etc. Find a strategy for improving reading comprehension at http://www.adrianbruce.com/reading/room4/recip/index.htm
www.classdisplays.co.uk- A site completely devoted to classroom displays. See displays for numeracy, literacy, history, geography, science, ICT, etc.
www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies - Useful for junior classes. Check out the music and songs, stories and rhymes, fun and games section of this website.
www.teachingideas.co.uk – This site is for teachers who teach children ages 5 to 11. It has been designed with UK curriculum in mind, all ideas can of course be used by teachers around the world. The ideas, activities and worksheets are organised according to subject areas. Check out the literacy area for ideas for a reading lesson.
www.timelessteacherstuff.com – get advice on and scripts for Readers Theatre on this site
www.iamanartist.ie - Iamanartist is a visual arts initiative aimed at primary school children. It comprises of 30 short TV programmes and an interactive website with factsheets, weblinks and interactive games on a wide range of visual arts topics.
www.scispy.ie Sci-Spy is a science initiative aimed at primary school children in 5th and 6th class. It comprises 29 short TV programmes (each 6 minutes in length) and an interactive website with factsheets, interactive games, quizzes and experiment sheets on a huge range of science topics to show that science is all around us in our everyday lives!
www.teachnet.ie -TeachNet Ireland seeks to improve student learning by helping primary and post primary teachers to integrate web-based resources into their instructional practice. Through TeachNet, teachers have access to curriculum resources, curriculum and technical specialists, grants and a supportive network to further develop their skills.
www.cogg.ie - anseo tá áiseanna teagaisc agus foghlama i nGaeilge. Tá bunachar sonraí de na háiseanna atá ar fáil i nGaeilge agus don teagasc trí Ghaeilge sa Bhunscoil agus san Iarbhunscoil.
(Here you will find teaching and learning resources in Irish. There is a database of Irish language books and resources available for the teaching of and through Irish in Primary and Post-Primary schools.)
www.reading.ie - Reading Association of Ireland. Information on conferences, publications, teaching English as an additional language etc. Check out reading ideas at http://www.reading.ie/tips/readingTips
www.iatse.ie - Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education is a forum for teachers who work in the area of special education. See links to other websites at www.iatse.ie
http://uk.babelfish.yahoo.com - The Babel Fish toolbar on the yahoo website offers a translation service.
www.teachers.tv - On Teachers TV you can access short programmes that cover every subject on the curriculum. Check out clips on assessment at www.teachers.tv/assessment, topics of interest to NQTs at http://www.teachers.tv/video/browser/510 and clips on induction and mentoring at http://www.teachers.tv/mentoring
www.topmarks.co.uk - Topmarks is one of the largest independent educational websites in the UK that aims to make it easy to find free educational resources on the world wide web for learning.
www.primaryresources.co.uk -Free lesson plans, activity ideas and resources for primary teachers.
For classroom management aids see http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/behaviour/behaviour.htm
www.mes-english.com - Free resources for teachers of young learners- flashcards, worksheets,
free phonics cards, free ESL games, printable certificates, printable stickers.
www.starfall.com -On this site you will find online reading lessons. Very colourful and interactive for children. Check out the 'Alphabet' movie!
www.readingrockets.org - Information and resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help. See the NQT section at http://www.readingrockets.org/teachers/first year. Check out the articles on reading at www.readingrockets.org
www.rubricsbykids.ecsd.net. - This site contains examples of rubrics designed and used by children in elementary schools.
www.sitesforteachers.com - List of sites with resources for teachers- Lesson Plans, Worksheets, Activities, Clip Art and more.
www.primaryscience.ie - Download activity sheets providing step by step instructions for fun science activities. Spend a rainy afternoon browsing some of the great Primary Science websites. Find out about Science Education projects and events taking place at a venue near you!
www.ict.mic.ul.ie - Take a look at the Mary Immaculate College website Teaching Practice section. http://www.ict.mic.ul.ie/tp/default.htm Here you will find a list of search engines and online reference tools (dictionaries directories, encyclopaedias, conversion tools and more). There are images, sounds and video to add multimedia to your classroom activities and presentations. The is a list of resources sites and a list of online tools for making your own customised worksheets, wordsearches,puzzles, flashcards, etc. There are resources for your pupils too – online reference tools and a list of sites which are suitable for children's classroom use.