US students go to school in St. Conaire’s

U.S. students go back to school in Conaire’s!  Twelve U.S. students and their professors spent three days in St. Conaire’s recently.  They came from the College of Education in Frostburg State University, Maryland.  Frostburg is part of the University of Maryland system.  The visit was a component of their International Education Studies Seminar which took place over two weeks in Ireland.

Our guests arrived on January 11 2016 and were immediately introduced to life in our school.  They were first given an overview of our teaching and learning in St. Conaire’s.  They were then assigned to visit all class levels.  The students and their professors took active roles in each of the classes they visited.  There was an exchange of professional ideas with the teachers and a warm engagement with the pupils.  Our guests shared picture books from the University’s Children’s Literature Centre and even brought snow with them.  How they got it here is a closely guarded secret!  They were also briefed on our reading activities by the Junior and Senior Infant teachers.

On Tuesday, the visitors sampled different learning settings and explored our work in Numeracy and Science, even adopting supporting roles in the different classes.  They took part in P.E. lessons and were taught the Siege of Ennis by the 2nd class teachers and pupils.  Following on from the dancing they visited Wolfe Tones GAA club and were shown how to become hurlers.  They learned fast and acquired some basic skills.  The day closed with a briefing from our learner support teachers and special needs assistants.

Wednesday saw them engage further with teachers and pupils before sharing some wonderful American textbooks with us.  As a treat, the visitors were guests at the Clare versus Kerry Senior Hurling match in Sixmilebridge.  The game provided a fitting end to a valuable, engaging and worthwhile visit from our guests.  See photographs of their visit here.

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