Supporting EAL learners: Primary Community of Practice (P)

Supporting EAL learners: Primary Community of Practice

DATE:      Wednesday, 9th October 2024, Tuesday, 14th January 2025 and Wednesday, 12th March 2025
TIME:       7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
VENUE:   Online Via Zoom

Target Audience: Primary School Teachers working with EAL Students

Workshop 1: Sharing stories of our diverse settings and plurilingual learners - Wednesday, 9th October 2024

• We will start with a small input from Kirsten about pupil profiles and sharing the story of our classrooms. 
• There will be further reflection in breakout rooms so that all participants have the opportunity to share the story in their class.
• Resources to be shared via Padlet – the same padlet will be used for each COP

Workshop 2: Supporting EAL learners: Community of practice – plurilingualism the positives and the challenges - Tuesday, 14th January 2025

• We will start with a short input from Kirsten about what plurilingualism means and the links to the Primary Language Curriculum.
• In breakout rooms we will share good practice and examples of what has worked.
• Further conversations about the challenges and how we can overcome these.
• Resources to be shared via Padlet – the same padlet will be used for each COP

Workshop 3: Supporting EAL learners: Community of practice – across the curriculum - Wednesday, 12th March 2025

• After a short input about how to make the curriculum accessible the group will be split into breakout rooms for a conversation, discussion and reflection about how to support EAL learners across the curriculum. 
• There will be time to look at some good practice and share how we could adapt resources to our own settings.
• Resources to be shared via Padlet – the same padlet will be used for each COP

Presenter - Kirsten Barrett 

Kirsten Barrett is a Scottish primary school teacher from Glasgow. Glasgow has been welcoming refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants for decades.  Kirsten has taught for 15 years and has specialised as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) teacher.  In that time she has spoken at various different events and is keen to help others learn from each other.

Recently she has relocated to her home in Cork and is looking forward to developing her own knowledge of the Irish system.  She is a keen reader of children’s books and a huge advocate for Reading for Pleasure.