Who's there? Comment and say hello to let me know you're with me and if you are enjoying the blog :)
Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog. A big thank you to everyone for logging on and doing the work when they can.
English/SESE:

1. Practice reader online, sounds, word lists. Again I will mention in case anyone is new to the blog, I have put up information about getting our readers online, and also put up all word lists 1-18 on the blog post from Monday 20th April. You may wish to look back and find that.
2. Tricky words practice (see video)
3. Dictation 1-8 (see same video)
4. Handwriting - continue practicing the letter z. (See yesterday's blog post for correct cursive formation.)
   
5. Farm Animals Powerpoint - have a look through the different animals you may find on a farm!
6. Old McDonald (youtube below)

Gaeilge:
Tógaimid sos ar Bua na Cainte inniú a pháistí, chun athrá a dhéanamh ar an bhfóclóir. Today we will take a break from Bua na Cainte to do some practice and revision on our vocab.
Is féidir libh dul ar ais ar na hamhráin más maith libh (you can go back to some songs on Bua if you wish)

REMINDER: Don't forget to check out the 'Additional Support' section of our website for extra English and Maths support! You can also go to Parents >> All you need to know >> Junior Infants and you will find stuff more specific to our class level.

Gaeilge:
Éadaí: Ceacht 7
Tá ________ dearg ar Oisín. (Oisín is wearing a red _______).

1. 1-10, a haon, a dó, a trí etc...
2. Cómhrá
3. Tasc Éisteachta 7.3 agus 7.1 (Listening activity)
4. Amhráin (song)

PE with Joe is live on Youtube this morning at 9am and as usual is available after as well. You just put in today's date in the search bar.

I am so grateful to have this view everyday from my new office/classroom. I thought I would share where I do my work, I turned my sister's old room into a little classroom boys and girls! She moved to Australia in January so doesn't need it now. Don't worry, I will make sure to have it back as normal before she returns! Do you have an area where you do your work everyday? It might be the kitchen table perhaps, I can't wait to see. We are still waiting on getting emails set up for us to connect with you. There is a long queue of schools waiting so we need to be patient. I'm really looking forward to seeing the fabulous work you are all doing and maybe you'll share your little office too!
Now, let's see what we're getting up to today...
Maths:

1. The Number 5 (youtube below)
2. GAME: Look who it is boys and girls, it's Ms. Brooks! She has made a video for you and has left you a message:

Hi boys and girls, It's Ms. Brooks here. I miss seeing you all so much. I miss playing the games and doing activities with you. I will be posting some videos of games that you can play at home. This game is called 'Make 5'. Hopefully we will be back at school soon playing our games again! :)

I have had lots of video chats with Ms. Brooks already, and I've been telling her about all the amazing work you are doing at home when you can. You can say hello to her by commenting on today's blog!

English/SESE:

1. Readers online, word lists, tricky words
2. Sounds practice & blending (see video 1 below)
3. Handwriting
4. Writing Workshop:

• Mini Lesson (this video was giving trouble uploading so apologies if it is not there yet)
  
• Independent Writing
• Shared Session with family member/s

   5. A short video of some sheep waiting patiently to have their lambs (see below)

A short video of some sheep waiting patiently to have their lambs. The farmer needs to keep them together and safe inside boys and girls, to keep an eye on them before they have a baby lamb. Then once the lamb is born, and he/she is strong and healthy, they can be left outside in the fresh air which they love to play in just like you!

Gaeilge:
Éadaí: Ceacht 6
Tá _______ ar Niamh. (Niamh is wearing a _________).

1. Cómhrá
2. Tasc Éisteachta 6.1. If you have Bua na Cainte on your laptop/PC you can continue playing the game yourself! I am conscious on my videos being too long.

FYI: RTE's School Hub is doing a Dublin Zoo special starting from this morning at 11am! Catch up on the player :)
Hello everybody and welcome to a brand new week on the blog. I cannot believe we are at the last few days of April already, time is flying! This week we will move our animal theme to farm animals, which I'm sure you will love as much as the zoo animals.
English:

1. Tricky words and word lists, pick a new reader from www.connect.collins.co.uk. If you haven't made an account, scroll down to last Monday's blog to see login details.
2. Practice sounds (see video below for single letter sound practice)
3. Dictation 1-8 (see same video)
4. Handwriting - rainbow letter x (see video below showing formation)
5. Farm animals - how many can you think of? Make a list. Challenge yourself by setting a timer if you wish!
6. Old McDonald - See youtube below. Did any of the animals you listed come up in the song?

Gaeilge:
Éadaí: Ceacht 5
An bhfuil _______ sa chófra éadaí? (Is there a ______ in the wardrobe?)
Tá/Níl ________ sa chófra éadaí. (There is/is not a _______ in the wardrobe.)

1. Cómhra 5.2
2. Tasc Éisteachta 5.1

PE:
Monday's PE with Joe on www.youtube.com live this morning at 9am. You can of course access it after this time.

Hello everybody and happy Friday! I hope you are all well and safe. Today will be the end of our week with zoo animals, but I have got something very exciting coming up to end our work today. Let's get started right away so we can get to that quicker!

Maths:

1. One elephant went out to play (see youtube below). You will be familiar with this one boys and girls!
2. Sorting: Today will be our final day of sorting revision this week. We will sort by number (see video below).
3. Creating and extending patterns (see the same video)
4. Number formation: Revision of the number 5. Again, you will find printables on www.twinkl.ie if you wish.
   

       Formation Language: Down, a big round belly, and a hat.

Gaeilge:
Éadaí: Ceacht 4
Tá ________ air. (He has a ________ on him).
Cuir ________ air. (Put a _______ on him).

1. Cómhrá
   
2. Tasc Éisteachta 4.2 agus 4.3.
   
3. Rann (poem/rhyme)
   

English/SESE:

1. Practice: Reader online, sounds, word lists etc.
2. Tricky words (see video)
3. Dictation 1-8 (see same video)
   
4. Draw a picture of your favourite zoo animal. Try an label your animal with words you can try yourself eg. leg, arm, feet, hair etc.
5. Story - the Zoo Vet (see video below)
6. Dublin Zoo Webcam: This is so exciting! Dublin Zoo have live footage available on their website. You can see the animals and what they are doing at this very second! You can look this up any time of the day, you might catch them at feeding time in the morning/evening! I've already said hello to some giraffes today. Follow this link:

https://www.dublinzoo.ie/animals/animal-webcams/

Hello everybody and welcome back to the blog. I hope you enjoyed all the zoo animal themes activities yesterday and you will be happy to hear that we will be continuing these today!

Gaeilge:
Éadaí:       Dún do ______ (Close your _______)
Oscail do _________ (Open your _______)
Croc suas do ________ (hang up your ________)

1. Fóclóir Revision (see my video)
2. Bua na Cainte Ceacht 3:

•        Cómhrá
  
•        Amhráin (Song)
  
•        Tasc Éisteachta
  

Who is first in line?
Who is second in line?
Who is third?
Who is behind the hippopotamus?
Who is in front of the polar bear?
(Take turns asking these kind of Qs - Parent to child, child to parent)

Now who is first in line?
Who is last in line?

English:

1. Practice sounds, tricky words, word lists and Reader online.
2. Handwriting - practice some s letters on a whiteboard, copy, page - whatever you have! If you have forgotten the formation, just look to yesterday's video on the blog!
3. Writing Workshop:

• Mini Lesson (see video)
• Independent work
• Shared session

  4.  Oral Language: What animal can you see? (this will work best on a laptop/PC when downloaded to powerpoint, see below)

Hello boys and girls and welcome to Wednesday's blog! I hope you are enjoying being back online with me and getting back into some sort of routine, I definitely am! Today I have lots of animal themed work for us to link in with our topic this week, I hope you have fun.
Maths:

1. Counting practice: Revise Move Counting ie. when you are counting a set of items, you move them along with your finger as you count. This helps you count accurately so you don't count something twice. Remember to always double check and count again to make SURE you are right!
2. One, two, three, four, five, once I caught a fish alive... keep going!
3. Sorting: We will revise sorting by type today (see my video below to explain)
4. Pattern: Create your own simple pattern. You may use what you used for your sorting. (see video also)
5. Number Formation: Revise writing the number 3.

Gaeilge:
Éadaí: Bain díot do ________ (take off your ________)
         Tabhair dom ______ (give me _________)

1. Ceacht 2: Cómhrá 1 & 2
2. Tasc Éisteachta 3 (Listening Activity 3)
3. Amhráin (Song)

NEW TOPIC FOR APRIL: ANIMALS
This week we will zone in on zoo animals specifically and next week farm animals.
English/SESE:

1. Reader: Forgot to mention yesterday about the Big Cat readers online, you can pick one per week like we would have done in school, and then if you think they could do with changing more often give two.
2. Word lists, sounds
3. Tricky words & blending (video below)
4. Handwriting - practice writing the letter w on a whiteboard, copybook, page etc. with crayons, pencils, markers or anything fun you have at home to make your practicing more interesting!
   
5. Zoo Animals: Make a list of as many zoo animals you can think of! I've got some exciting animal activities coming up this week for you! Try writing the list yourselves, and maybe get some help if you need some to sound out the words.
   

Gaeilge:
I don't want to speak too soon, but I think I've found a better screen recorder to upload the Gaeilge lessons for those of you without laptops or PCs :) I hope its better quality for you. I'm learning too! :)
Inniú (Today):
Éadaí: Cuir ort do _________ (Put on your __________)

• Ceacht 1:  Cómhrá 1.2
• Amhráin (song)
• Cluiche (game): Tasc Éisteachta

Maths:

1. Forward counting 1-20 by marching
2. Backward counting 10-1 by jumping jacks
   

Check out the Youtube video below to help you count to 20 while also introducing you to our new topic Zoo Animals! You may choose to watch this last because it's a little longer then usual.

1. Tuesday Sorting: Today we will revise sorting by size. See my video for an idea. I'll have you organising your house in no time!
2. Number Formation: Practice writing the number 2 on a whiteboard, copy, page etc. Challenge: Get an adult to draw a line for you and try and get your 2s to sit nicely on the lines!

**Those with printers could access some worksheets on twinkl.ie**

Thought for today on what should be our first day back to school in a new term, but instead continues to be a very strange, unprecedented, and anxious time for everyone. I read this online over the holidays and thought I would share...

What if??? ❤️❤️❤️
If they cancel the rest of the school year, students would miss 2.5 months of education. Many people are concerned about students falling behind because of this. Yes, they may fall behind when it comes to classroom education...
But what if...❤️❤️❤️
What if instead of falling “behind", this group of kids are ADVANCED because of this? Hear me out...❤️❤️❤️
What if they have more empathy, they enjoy family connection, they can be more creative and entertain themselves, they love to read, they love to express themselves in writing. ❤️❤️❤️
What if they enjoy the simple things, like their own garden and sitting near a window in the quiet. ❤️❤️❤️
What if they notice the birds and the dates the different flowers emerge, and the calming renewal of a gentle rain shower? ❤️❤️❤️
What if this generation are the ones to learn to cook, organise their space, do their laundry, and keep a well run home? ❤️❤️❤️
What if they learn to stretch a euro and to live with less? ❤️❤️❤️
What if they learn to plan shopping trips and meals at home? ❤️❤️❤️
What if they learn the value of eating together as a family and finding the good to share in the small delights of the everyday? ❤️❤️❤️
What if they are the ones to place great value on our teachers and educational professionals, librarians, public servants and the previously invisible essential support workers like truck drivers, grocers, cashiers, custodians, logistics, and health care workers and their supporting staff, just to name a few of the millions taking care of us right now while we are sheltered in place? ❤️❤️❤️
What if among these children, a great leader emerges who had the benefit of a slower pace and a simpler life to truly learn what really matters in this life?❤️❤️
What if they are AHEAD? ❤️❤️❤️❤️

*********************

Comment to say hello!
Hello everyone and welcome back to the blog! I hope you all had a nice Easter and made the most of the beautiful weather as best you could with all that's going on. You will have probably heard by now that schools will remain closed until further notice. Before we begin, I have some things for the Mammies and Daddies to note: Make sure they are listening up boys and girls :)
Parents:
I am going to share some fantastic resources that are now available for parents at home and are all free to access/download.

1. Collins Big Cat Readers - you will recognise these! I'm very happy that Collins are so generous that they have created a free account to access our readers (the login details are below). This means that the children can continue to practice their reading using what they are most familiar with. You can select 'Pink A'  or 'Pink B' on the left hand side which is the level that most of the children were at. I encourage you to move up levels if you feel the need but I ask that you only do so if the children are fully confident and fluent (reading without stopping or pausing) in reading the books in the level they are at first. Nobody likes reading material that is too difficult! Make sure they are not reading by heart, that you can pick out words at random and they can read them.  In general the Pink levels are for Junior Infants and this is the level most children would remain on this year so don't worry if you don't think they are able to move on to red etc.

2. Bua na Cainte - this is the Gaeilge Programme that we use. The Educational Company of Ireland (EDCO) have also allowed parents and teachers to download the programme! The Username is 'trial' and the password is 'trial'. You will need a desktop or laptop to download this so I know it will not be possible for everyone to get it, but I am going to trail screen recording lessons and upload them for you! It is a fabulous resource with content, songs, poems, games and printables all free, so do download if you can. The children absolutely love this. Just go to www.edco.ie/bua and follow the directions to download, and use the username and password above to get in.

3.         Twinkl - I have already mentioned this but just in case anyone missed it. Twinkl is a bank of resources for all subjects and this will be especially useful to you if you have a printer. You can create a free account by going to www.twinkl.ie/offer and use the code IRLTWINKLHELPS.

4.     Word lists - I have scanned Word Lists 1-18 below. I'm hoping you will be able to download and print if you have a printer. You may also wish to write them out in strips of paper or cut them up into word cards. You could even practice them online, it really doesn't matter which way as long as the children are practicing blending them.

I am also going to share some websites and Youtube channels that might be useful to you.

Gaeilge:
FYI *** RTE's School Hub is on 'Éadaí' this morning so I've been told! Might be worth tuning in at 11am seeing as it's our Gaeilge topic***
The details to download Bua Na Cainte are above ^^ if you have a laptop or computer. You will be able to access everything.

1. Athrá (revision) 1-10
2. For those who can download the programme here is the lesson today:

       Éadaí: Ceacht 1

• Comhrá 1.1
• Amhráin (song)
• Cluiche (game): Tasc éisteachta

For those of you who do not have a laptop of PC, I have done a screen recording of the lesson. You will see it's not the best quality especially for the songs (if anyone techy knows of a good screen recording app for a PC please let me know of one in a comment, this is the Xbox game bar one and isn't great).

PE with Joe:
Here's something to give your brain a break before RTE's School Hub at 11am! I just love this show don't you? :)