Hi all,
At this stage as we head towards Halloween it is scary to think that almost one third of the schoolyear is over! In an ideal world all in Transition Year is flying, all of the subject/module programmes have been submitted and the TY Programme itself is complete, from the key aims and objectives right through to assessment, certification and the TY calendar.
For some of you this will be the case and if so brilliant. This will have been the result of the entire school community having an input, where senior management have allocated sufficient time and importance , when subject departments have collaborated along the writing up of the programme and with individual teachers having support and guidance.
However life is never perfect and many of you possibly have not yet managed to write up your subject programme much less the overall package. Now is the time to get this sorted.
If tomorrow morning an subject/TY/school inspection were announced one of the first requirements would be the written programme. Secondly you cannot teach a module properly unless you have prepared and written up the programme.
There are some very good resources to help. The PDST issued an excellent resource last year called “Transition Year Exploring Programme Planning”. It is available on the PDST website and a copy was distributed to TY coordinators. It gives excellent templates both for the overall programme and individual ones. In addition there are sample subject versions to help offer direction. There are also similar templates available on the TYTN website which also are very useful. If you need any further help pass on your concerns to us on the TY Advice Line and we will do our best. Never feel you are on your own. All too often in TY teachers and especially coordinators can feel they are on their own. That is why it is so important to avail of any opportunities that enable you to meet other people involved in Transition Year. Teach Meets are a brilliant way of meeting like minded people to share ideas and get new inspiration. The recent TY Picnic in Athlone and the TYTN conference in February are other opportunities to meet and share.
Next time around I want to chat about how to best communicate and share all the great work that you are doing in your TY. Until then take care, Finian.
At this stage as we head towards Halloween it is scary to think that almost one third of the schoolyear is over! In an ideal world all in Transition Year is flying, all of the subject/module programmes have been submitted and the TY Programme itself is complete, from the key aims and objectives right through to assessment, certification and the TY calendar.
For some of you this will be the case and if so brilliant. This will have been the result of the entire school community having an input, where senior management have allocated sufficient time and importance , when subject departments have collaborated along the writing up of the programme and with individual teachers having support and guidance.
However life is never perfect and many of you possibly have not yet managed to write up your subject programme much less the overall package. Now is the time to get this sorted.
If tomorrow morning an subject/TY/school inspection were announced one of the first requirements would be the written programme. Secondly you cannot teach a module properly unless you have prepared and written up the programme.
There are some very good resources to help. The PDST issued an excellent resource last year called “Transition Year Exploring Programme Planning”. It is available on the PDST website and a copy was distributed to TY coordinators. It gives excellent templates both for the overall programme and individual ones. In addition there are sample subject versions to help offer direction. There are also similar templates available on the TYTN website which also are very useful. If you need any further help pass on your concerns to us on the TY Advice Line and we will do our best. Never feel you are on your own. All too often in TY teachers and especially coordinators can feel they are on their own. That is why it is so important to avail of any opportunities that enable you to meet other people involved in Transition Year. Teach Meets are a brilliant way of meeting like minded people to share ideas and get new inspiration. The recent TY Picnic in Athlone and the TYTN conference in February are other opportunities to meet and share.
Next time around I want to chat about how to best communicate and share all the great work that you are doing in your TY. Until then take care, Finian.