Cork Education Support Centre

The following TPC's are currently active in the CESC area:

Support Group for teachers in Multi-class settings

This TPC aims to bring together teachers who share a common challenge or purpose with regard to best practice in their teaching, to enhance their effectiveness as teachers and to impact positively on children’s learning.
The primary focus of the group is to enhance teaching and learning in the multi-class setting. In order to do this the members of the group aim to do the following:

Identify the benefits of working in a multi-class school
Identify the challenges of working in a multi-class setting
Review organisational structures in the classroom
Trial  alternative structures over a period
The greater pupil diversity increases the demands on the cognitive and emotional resources of the teacher Miller (1991)

Modern Languages Primary Teachers' Network
Teachers in the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative are invited to join this network.

The focus of learning is the sharing of best practice in curricular and organisational areas.
Planning, classroom practice and resources development, thus encouraging the development of teachers’ confidence, skills and practice in the area of modern language teaching.

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Cork Arts Circle
The focus of our work is to enhance the child’s learning in the classroom.
To do this, we aim to build capacity in primary teacher skills and knowledge of the Arts at a local level through a process of monthly workshops called ‘Meitheal’ in the integrated Arts where teachers  develop personally and professionally by experiencing the personal joy of learning in and through the arts at a practical level; creating a forum whereby teachers experience collegiality in the Arts with a view towards sharing their own expertise with other Circle members; motivating teachers to develop leadership skills in the Arts by sharing new learning with a colleague(s) in their own school contexts; motivating teachers to reflect on their new learning and work  together for positive change in the Arts in education in Cork; exploring existing supports/resources in the Arts.

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First Steps Reading & Writing Tutors TPC
Primary Teachers who are First Steps Reading or Writing Tutors in DEIS schools are invited to join this TPC.
Focus of Learning
The primary focus of the group is to enhance the teaching and learning of Literacy in DEIS Schools through the use of the First Steps Resource.

Focus of Development
The group endeavours to meet bi-monthly. Through this forum, tutors will share ideas and receive support. These forums will provide a scaffold for the tutors to:

-Guide their staff in the implementation of First Steps in their school.
-Design and make presentations to staff on aspects of First Steps
-Work closely with teachers who are new to their school to ensure continuity in the teaching of Literacy.
-Trial and develop suitable resources to complement First Steps.
-Facilitate courses in First Steps through the Education Centre Network
-Enable the initiation of First Steps in other schools.

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