A successful “Literacy Day” was organised by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and held at St Mary’s University College Belfast on Wednesday, 21 March. The conference, which was organised by Seán Mac Nia, Programme Manager for Irish-medium Education (IME) in CCEA, involved a series of training workshops for teachers in the IME sector on various aspects of literacy.


Padaí de Bléine, a lecturer in St Mary’s, described the novels of Michael Morpurgo, which he has translated for Key Stage 2, and shared his views on how to make the best use of them with pupils to promote reading skills. His latest Morpurgo translation, Toro! Toro!, was launched at the conference.

Ristéard Mac Dáibhéid, vice-principal of Gaelscoil na gCrann and author of the series Taisce Tuisceana (Treasuring Learning), spoke on how best to promote and develop reading skills. Ristéard informed the group that he is working on adding Tús Tuisceana (Beginning Learning) to the series to develop reading skills at foundation stage.

Fionnuala Ní Mhealláin, who teaches in Bunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh, described the most recent resource that she has developed in partnership with CCEA: Fonn le Fílíocht (Fun with Poetry). This resource gives teachers the opportunity to develop interactive ways of teaching poetry in Key Stages 1 and 2, which helps with language learning, and literacy skills in general.

Seán Mac Nia and all in attendance were pleased at the success of the conference and commented that the participation of teachers from the IME sector was important to supporting these new resources. They will be available to all schools in the coming weeks.


D’éirigh go hiontach maith le Comhdháil Litearthachta a reáchtáil CCEA i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire Dé Céadaoin 21 Márta. Is é Seán Mac Nia, Clárbhainisteoir Gaeloideachais le CCEA, a d’eagraigh an chomhdháil. Sraith ceardlanna oiliúna do mhúinteoirí in earnáil na Gaelscolaíochta a bhí sa chomhdháil ar ghnéithe éagsúla na litearthachta. Chuir Padaí de Bléine, léachtóir le Gaeilge i gColáiste Ollscoile Naomh Muire, síos ar na húrscéalta de chuid Micheal Morpurgo atá aistrithe aige d’Eochaircheim 2 agus ar an dóigh le tairbhe a bhaint astu agus páistí ag tabhairt faoin léitheoireacht. Seoladh an t-aistriúchán is déanaí Toro! Toro! ag an chomhdháil. Is é Ristéard Mac Dáibhéid, leas-phríomhoide Ghaelscoil na gCrann agus údar na sraithe Taisce Tuisceana, a thug léacht ar an dóigh le scileanna léamhthuisceana a fhorbairt agus a fheabhsú. Luaigh Ristéard go bhfuil sé ag obair ar cheann nua do bhun na scoile dar teideal Tús Tuisceana. Chuir Fionnuala Ní Mhealláin atá ina múinteoir i mBunscoil an tSléibhe Dhuibh síos ar an áis is déanaí a d’fhobair sí i gcomhar le CCEA dar teideal Fonn le Filíocht. Tugann an áis seo deis do mhúinteoirí dóigheanna idirghníomhacha a úsáid leis an fhilíocht a theagasc in Eochairchéim 1 agus 2, rud a chuidíonn go mór le foghlaim na teanga agus le scileanna litearthachta go ginearálta. Bhí Seán Mac Nia thar a bheith sásta leis an lá, mar a bhí na múinteoirí féin ar ndóigh. Dúirt sé go bhfuil rannpháirteachas mhúinteoirí na hearnála féin sna forbairtí tacaíochta den chineál seo fíorthábhachtach. Cuirfear ar fáil na háiseanna nua a seoladh saor in aisce do na scoileanna go luath.