St Mary’s College currently has a vibrant team of teachers dedicated to embedding the directions and recommendations of the National Strategy for Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life (2011-2020). Regular events and campaigns are organised during the school year. English teachers are involved with targeted Reading Campaigns for second and transition year students. Junior Cycle is paving the way for increased awareness of the importance of literacy and numeracy amongst our Junior students. Cross curricular links are also being well exploited. St Mary’s College is involved in reflective practice and annual self-assessment in order to monitor the success of our initiatives and to highlight areas for improvement.
In 2011, the Department of Education and Skills launched the National Strategy for Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life (2011-2020). The central aim of this national strategy is the improvement of literacy and numeracy among children and young people. The strategy spans both primary and post-primary education, facilitating the growth in literacy and numeracy levels as the child develops.
St. Mary's College Literacy Drive 2018/2019
1) Book in the Hand
This year, as part of the St. Mary's Literacy initiative, all students are requested to have a book with them at all times, that they can read and enjoy. Extra books are available in the school and all students are members of the school library where they can borrow a range of riveting read. This year, we are delighted that all students are taking part in the 'Book in the Hand' initiative, although the main focus of the drive is aimed at First and Transition Year students.
2) My Little Library
Each English class has a 'My Little Library' where students fill in the titles of the books they have read. There is also a Progress Chart so that students can see how many books they have read. The visual nature of these posters on the classroom walls helps to encourage reading and improvements in overall literacy. We believe that it is very important to foster strong reading skills and to support a love of reading that students can take through into their adult lives.
3) The 'Write Word' Notebook.
All students are encouraged to keep a 'Write Word' Notebook to record new words and phrases that they meet as they read non-academic books, novels, short stories and poetry during the school year. This initiative helps to increase confidence, boost language awareness and can greatly improve student's writing.
4) Literacy Leaders
There are two Literacy Leaders in each first year and transition year class. These girls drive the literacy campaigns and help the English teachers with classroom displays and the generation of new ideas for future campaigns.
2011 -2010 Department of Education and Science Strategy
The DES stated aims for the post-primary sector are:
• To ensure that all schools set realistic targets for the improvement of literacy and numeracy
• The extension of national assessment of literacy and numeracy
• To increase awareness of the importance of literacy and numeracy and include assessments of students’ ability to read digital material
• Increase the percentage of students taking higher-level mathematics to 60% at Junior Certificate, and 30% at Leaving Certificate by 2020.
Whole School Evaluation and Subject Inspection Reports Observations on Literacy and Numeracy in St Mary’s College made some observations and recommendations regarding literacy and numeracy. The recommendations were implemented as follows:
- Science laboratories have been enhanced with modern science charts.
- All classrooms display maps and posters, grammar points, samples of students’ work on the walls.
- The classrooms are a print-rich environment can support a visual learning style and is an attractive and effective means of increasing linguistic and cultural awareness.
- Good use of the ‘target language’.
- Good access to a well-resourced library. All students have a library card and can borrow books each lunchtime.
- The school’s ICT infrastructure has undergone sustained development in recent times allowing for increased access to computers.
- A number of useful numerical charts and information notices have been placed on the walls.
- Student-prepared material is displayed on classroom walls. This directly supports co-operative learning as students learn from each other’s work.
- The use of visual stimuli to reinforce learning is evident in all classrooms.
- A strategy where subject-specific vocabulary and concepts are highlighted has been designed.
- Strategies for facilitating students to remember what is discussed are developed such as recording the main points, or strengthen recall of these.
- In relation to numeracy, measurement, scale, proportion, weights and volumes are all part of procedures for designing and making artifacts and are integral to practical and technical activities.