Early Reading ProgrammeLaunch of the Early Reading Programme
Thursday 9 February saw the launch of an innovative resource for improving literacy in Irish throughout Ireland.
An tÁisaonad in St Mary's University College, Belfast, in association with COGG, the Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-medium Education, has produced a range of sixty exciting books. This will act as a primer for new readers to become acquainted with the skills of reading. Accompanying this are extensive support materials which have been produced in conjunction with the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Belfast.
Speaking before the event, the coordinator of the project, Jacaí de Brún, emphasised that the Early Reading Programme drew from a wide range of strategies to enhance literacy in younger readers.
"The emphasis in this programme is to widen children's reading experiences – including strategies for beginning reading, experience in different genres in reading, as well as exposure to as many books as possible."
The demand for this resource has come from schools. Teachers have been central in designing the programme from start to finish. A number of in-service training days have also been organised so that other teachers can get the most out of this resource.
Muireann Ní Mhórain, CEO of COGG, welcomed this new North-South partnership as it will "ensure the sharing of expertise and resources and thereby deliver better value for money."
This graded programme will act as a key to enable young readers to begin their reading career, enabling them to deal with all of the existing reading resources which are available in Irish.
There are sixty books currently available in Band 1 of the programme and work is underway for Band 2.
Children from Gaelscoil na bhFál trying out the Early Reading Programme before its launch on Thursday 9 February.
The programme and related support materials was formally launched in St Mary’s University College, 191 Falls Road, Belfast on Thursday 9 February.
For further information please contact:
An tÁisaonad: +44 28 90 243864/07786508056 or email: Ciarán O'Pronntaigh.
COGG: +353 1 6340831 or email: muireann@cogg.ie
CCEA: +44 28 90261200 or email: smacnia@ccea.org.uk
Notes for Editors
This is an all-Ireland project which supports the Curriculum in Northern Ireland and the National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young People 2011-2020 in the Republic. It has been facilitated financially by COGG, Department of Education in Northern Ireland and Foras na Gaeilge.