MIC Teams Up with TG4 for Series 2 of ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil'
Tar éis an chéad sraith rathúil, filleann ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil’ ar TG4 ar ár scáileáin an tseachtain seo agus craolfar é ó Luan go Déardaoin ag 10r.n. Tar éis dul i gcomhar le TG4 ar an gcéad shraith níos luaithe i mbliana, cuirfidh Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál (CMgS) tacaíocht ar fáil arís do na léiritheoirí agus do na láithreoirí ar ábhar an chláir.
Ag obair i gcomhpháirtíocht le TG4 agus leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, roinnfidh an Dr Conchúr Ó Brolcháin, léachtóir sa Roinn um Oideachas Teanga agus Litearthachta ag CMgS, a shaineolas ar an gclár oideachais, ag tarraingt ar a thaithí mar mhúinteoir bunscoile agus ar an taighde fairsing atá déanta aige i réimse an oideachais dhátheangaigh agus ilteangaigh.
Craolfar an tarna sraith, atá dírithe ar dhaltaí bunscoile sa Ghaeltacht agus i nGaelscoileanna, ó Scoil na bhForbacha i nGaeltacht Chonamara. Gach coicís díreoidh an clár ar théama difriúil agus is é an topaic don chéad choicís ná filleadh ar scoil agus na hathruithe atá tagtha ar sheomraí ranga na bpáistí.
Dar leis an Dr Ó Brolcháin, “… ‘sí an aidhm atá ag an dara sraith den chlár Cúla4 ar Scoil, ná tacaíocht a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí agus do mhúinteoirí bunscoile atá fillte ar scoil an Fómhar seo. Cuirfear ábhar siamsúil agus idirghníomhach ar fáil trí Ghaeilge ina leagfar béim ar an drámaíocht, ealaín, ceol, folláine aus an chruthaitheacht. Spreagfar an lucht féachana chun a bheith rannpháirteach agus chun dul i ngleic leis an ábhar ar shlí thaitneamhach.”
Agus é ag tagairt don chomhoibriú idir CMgS agus TG4 deireann an Dr Ó Brolcháin “Tá mé an-sásta comhairle a chur ar fáil don dara sraith den chlár Cúla4 ar Scoil. Bhí sé thar a bheith taitneamhach a bheith páirteach sa chéad sraith, ach go háirithe mar gheall ar an rath a bhí ar an gclár le linn na dianghlasála. Braithim go bhfuil sé go hiontach do Dhámh an Oideachais i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál a bheith páirteach sa chlár seo ina leagfar béim ar an spraoi, an rannpháirtíocht agus an chruthaitheacht.”
Cuirfidh céimí CMgS, Orla Ní Fhinneadha, an clár i láthair le cabhair ó bheirt chéimí ó CMgS: múinteoirí Joe Ó hEachtairn agus Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill, mar aon le Caitríona Ní Chualáin, Síle Ní Chonghaile agus Caitríona McAtee.
Tar éis di céim a bhaint amach i gCMgS mar mhúinteoir bunscoile in 2012, tá Orla ag múineadh daltaí Rang a Sé i Scoil Éinne ar An Spidéal faoi láthair. Nuair nach bhfuil sí sa seomra ranga, is féidir Orla, gurab ó Chonamara ó dhúchas di, a fheiscint os comhair an cheamara i TG4, áit a bhfuil sí ina láithreoir páirtaimseartha leanúnachais agus aimsire.
Ag labhairt di roimh an gcéad chlár, deir Orla, "Tabharfaidh an tsraith nua de ‘Cúla4ArScoil’ seanchairde ar ais chugainn chomh maith le daoine nua. Tá réimse leathan de théamaí agus d’ábhair á bplé agus á iniúchadh ar an tsraith. Beidh múinteoir difriúil in éineacht liom gach coicís ionas go mbainfidh na páistí taitneamh as réimse buanna agus scileanna i rith na sraithe."
Is iad Joe Ó hEachteirn agus Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill beirt de na múinteoirí a bheidh in éineacht le hOrla le linn na sraithe nua, is céimithe de chuid MIC an bheirt acu.
Is as Cill Uird i dTuaisceart Chorcaí é Joe atá díreach tar éis Máistreacht san Oideachas Gaeilge a chríochnú i gCMgS (M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge & Gaeltachta) agus é ag múineadh le breis le deich mbliana anuas tar éis dó an Dioplóma Iarchéime i dteagasc bunscoile a dhéanamh i gCMgS i 2008. Faoi láthair ag múineadh daltaí rang a sé i Scoil na nÓg i nGleann Maghair i gCorcaigh, deir Joe go gcuirfear "stíl teagaisc dhíograiseach, tharraingteach agus chomhaimseartha atá mealltach agus siamsúil don lucht féachana" ar fáil do na páistí a bheidh ag féachaint ar an gclár.
Tugann Mícheál, céimí teagaisc bunscoile freisin, faoi deara go bhfuil páistí ar fud na tíre tar éis dul i dtaithí ar thaithí na foghlama cumaiscthe agus go raibh taithí acu ar scoil ar an teilifís le cúpla mí anuas. Deir Mícheál, arbh as Luimneach ó dhúchas dó, a d’fhás aníos i gConamara ach a bhfuil cónaí air anois i dTrá Lí: “Is é atá i gceist againn a bhaint amach le ‘Cúla4 ArScoil ’ná cabhrú leis na páistí le hábhair suimiúla a bheidh á ndéanamh acu ina ranganna féin”.
Tá Orla den tuairim gur acmhainn foghlama den scoth é an clár a thugann seans iontach do pháistí bunscoile, do mhúinteoirí agus do thuismitheoirí foghlaim trí Ghaeilge, agus freastal ar pháistí nach mbeidh ar a gcumas freastal ar scoil. Deir Joe "Beidh ceachtanna gearra i gceist, le torthaí foghlama sonrach agus insroichte laistigh den am atá i gceist. Cabhróidh an clár le múinteoirí ina gcur chuigí féin agus beidh deis ag múinteoirí é a úsáíd sa tréimhse réamh nó iarchumarsáide dá mba mhian leo.
Bhí sé deacair ar Orla, Joe agus Mícheál le cúpla mí anuas agus iad ag aistriú a gcuid teagaisc ón seomra ranga go soláthar ar líne, rud a bhí “thar a bheith dúshlánach” dar le hOrla. Dar le Joe, thug na hathruithe a rinne COVID-19 deis dó dul chun cinn a dhéanamh mar mhúinteoir, go háirithe i réimse na cianfhoghlama, agus cé go raibh dúshláin ann de bharr chúinsí nach bhfacthas roimhe seo, ba mhór an t-eispéireas é freisin.
De réir mar a dtéann an triúr ar ais go dtí an seomra ranga, tá siad ag súil go mór le bualadh lena ndaltaí go pearsanta seachas go cianda. Deir Mícheál, a mhúineann Rang a Sé i Scoil Náisiúnta Lios Teilice i dTrá Lí, “Cé go mbeidh dúshláin nua romhainn, táimid ag súil go mór le filleadh ar an ngnáthshaol de shaghas éigin." Deir Joe, “Tá sé chomh tábhachtach a bheith ar ais ag múineadh na bpáistí. Is céim mhór chun tosaigh iad filleadh ar an bhfoghlaim, ó thaobh an oideachais agus eacnamaíochta de."
Tá an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Orla, Joe agus Mícheál agus iad ag smaoineamh siar ar an am a chaitheadar i gCMgS:
Deir Orla, “Thaitin sé go mór liom a bheith ag staidéar i gCMgS! Rinne mé cairde ann a bheidh liom go deo. Bhí na léachtaí agus na ranganna dúshlánach ach spreagúil. Is iontach an rud é an tslí a chuaigh na rudaí a d’fhoghlaim mé ann i bhfeidhm orm anuas tríd na mblianta agus is minic a chloisim guth na léachtóirí i mo chluais agus mé ag tabhairt aghaidh ar fhadhb ar scoil. Teachtaireacht amháin den sórt sin a thagann chun cuimhne ná “is páiste duine éigin gach páiste, agus thar rud ar bith eile is páiste é/í gach páiste”.
Deir Joe, “Thug Coláiste Mhuire Gan Smál ar aistear mé a bhí mar oscailt súl dom. Chonaic mé CMgS mar ionaid barr feabhais in oiliúint múinteoirí. Bhí an cuma ann go raibh dámha an choláiste i gcónaí ag barr a réime bíodh sin le linn na hiarchéime nó le linn na Máistreachta. Bhí cuma na proifisiúntachta agus na tacaíochta sa choláiste i gcónaí agus chuir an colaiste ar mo chumas mé a bheith i mo mhúinteoir díograiseach, tiomanta agus proifisiúnta. Táim fíorbhuíoch don choláiste agus tá ardmheas agam ar an áit.’’
Dar le Mícheál, “Bhí baint mhór agam le MIDAS le linn mo thréimhse ansan agus bhain mé úsáid as mo thaithí ar árdán an “Halla”(bhí mé ann roimh Amharclann Chrann Teile!) le linn mo ghairm mar mhúinteoir. Ach an rud is mó a thóg mé liom ó mo thréimhse i gCMgS ná conas mé féin a iompar mar mhúinteoir ar bhealach gairmiúil, comhbhách agus páiste-lárnach. "
Craolfar ‘Cúla4 Ar Scoil’ ar TG4 ó Luan go Déardaoin @ 10r.n. le hábhair ar fáil chomh maith ar líne ar cula4.com agus ar bhealach YouTube Cúla4.
Tá an clár seo á léiriú ag Fíbín Media le maoiniú ó TG4 agus le comhairle ar ábhar oideachais agus curaclaim ón Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna, ó CMgS, ón gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), ón tSeirbhís um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil do Mhúinteoirí (PDST) agus ó Ghaeloideachas. Tá saineolas agus comhairle Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta.
MIC Teams Up with TG4 for Series 2 of ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil'
Following a successful first series, TG4’s ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil' returns to our screens this week and will be broadcast from Mondays to Thursdays at 10am. Having teamed up with TG4 on series one earlier this year, Mary Immaculate College (MIC) will again provide support to the producers and presenters on the programme’s content.
Working in partnership with TG4 and the Department of Education and Skills, Dr Conchúr Ó Brolcháin, lecturer in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at MIC, will lend his expertise to the educational programme, drawing on his experience as a primary school teacher and his extensive research on bilingual and multilingual education.
The second series, which is aimed at primary school children who attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools, will be broadcast from Scoil na bhForbacha in the Connemara Gaeltacht. Each fortnight the programme will focus on a different theme with the topic for the first two weeks being the returning to school and the changes that children are experiencing in their classrooms.
According to Dr Ó Brolcháin, “The second series of ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil’ aims to support pupils and teachers as they make the transition back to schools. It will continue to deliver fun, engaging and accessible content through the medium of Irish. There will be an emphasis on drama, art, music, well-being and creativity in which viewers will be encouraged to actively participate and engage with the programme’s content.”
Commenting on the collaboration between MIC and TG4, Dr Ó Brolcháin says, “I’m really delighted to be invited to take part in the second series of ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil’. It was such an enjoyable experience to see how successful the programme became during Ireland’s lockdown. To have the Faculty of Education at MIC involved in such a fun, interactive and extremely engaging programme for primary children is fantastic.”
MIC graduate, Orla Ní Fhinneadha, will present the show with assistance from two other MIC graduates, teachers Joe Ó hEachtairn and Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill, as well Caitríona Ní Chualáin, Síle Ní Chonghaile and Caitríona McAtee.
Having graduated from MIC as a primary teacher in 2012, Orla is currently teaching sixth class pupils at Scoil Éinne in An Spidéal. When not in the classroom, the Connemara native can be found in front of the camera at TG4 where she is a part-time continuity and weather presenter.
Speaking ahead of the first episode, Orla says, “The new series of ‘Cúla4 ar Scoil’ will bring back familiar faces as well as introducing new people. There’s a wide variety of themes and topics being discussed and explored on the show. I’ll be joined by a different teacher every fortnight so children will get to enjoy a range of talents and skills throughout the series.”
Two of the teachers who’ll be joining Orla during the new series are Joe Ó hEachteirn and Mícheál Ó Dubhghaill, both of whom are graduates of MIC.
Joe, who has just completed a master's in Irish language education at MIC (M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge & Gaeltachta) hails from the village of Kilworth in North Cork and has been teaching for 11 years since graduating as a primary teacher from MIC in 2008. Currently teaching sixth class pupils in Scoil na nÓg in Glanmire in Cork, Joe says children who tune into ‘Cúla4 Ar Scoil’ can expect “an enthusiastic, engaging and contemporary style of teaching that’s appealing to the audience, as well as being entertaining.”
Mícheál, also a primary teaching graduate, notes that children across the country have grown accustomed to the experience of blended learning and have been exposed to school on the TV over the past few months. The Limerick native who grew up in the Connemara Gaeltacht but who now resides in Tralee says, “What we are hoping to do with ‘Cúla4 Ar Scoil’ is to aid the children with interesting topics which they will be covering in their own classes”.
According to Orla, the show is an excellent learning resource and gives primary children, teachers and parents a great opportunity to learn through Irish, while also catering for children who may be unable to attend school. Joe says, “The lessons are short and learning outcomes will be specific and achievable in that time. The show will also help teachers in preparing their own lessons and may possibly fit well as a pre or post communicative activity for the class.”
For Orla, Joe, and Mícheál, the past few months have been difficult as they shifted their teaching from the classroom to online, which Orla says was “extremely challenging”. According to Joe, the changes that COVID-19 brought about have given him opportunity to progress as a teacher, especially in the area of distance learning, and while there have been challenges due to unprecedented circumstances, the experience has also been a rewarding one.
As all three return to the classroom, they’re excited to see their students in person rather than remotely. Mícheál, who teaches sixth class in Listellick National School in Tralee says, “Even though we will be met with new challenges we’re all craving some sort of return to normality.” Joe says, “Being back teaching the children is so important. Their return to learning is a huge step forward, educationally and economically.”
Recalling their time at MIC, Orla, Joe and Mícheál all speak fondly of their student days.
Orla says, “I loved studying in MIC! I made some life-long friendships during my time there. Lectures and classes were challenging yet inspiring. It’s amazing how much has stuck with me through the years and I often hear the voice of lecturers in my ear when facing a problem at school. One such message that comes to mind is that “every child is someone’s child, and every child is first and foremost a child”.”
For Joe, “Mary Immaculate College took me on a journey that was simply eye opening. I saw MIC as a centre of excellence that was committed to providing the very best in teacher training. There was an air of professionalism and support throughout my learning journey that enabled me to become an enthusiastic and motivated professional. I’m indebted to Mary Immaculate College for instilling this in me.”
According to Mícheál, “I was very involved in MIDAS during my time there and have used my experiences from the 'Halla' stage (I was pre-Lime Tree Theatre!) throughout my teaching career. But what I carried with me most from my time in MIC was how to conduct myself as a teacher in a professional, caring and child-centered way.”
‘Cúla4 ar Scoil' will be broadcast on TG4 from Mondays to Thursdays at 10am with content also available online at cula4.com and on Cúla4's YouTube channel.
The series is being produced by Fíbín Media with funding from TG4 and advice on educational and curriculum content from the Department of Education and Skills, Mary Immaculate College, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (Council for Gaeltacht and Irish-medium Education - COGG), the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) and Gaeloideachas. The expertise and advice offered by Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta is also included in the programme approach.
