Irish Language Hacks for Seachtain na Gaeilge

Irish Language Hacks for Seachtain na Gaeilge

Seachtain na Gaeilge has started and in a few days Lá le Padraig will be upon us. This year, with the centenary of Eirí Amach 1916 we seem to have a renewed interest in Irish culture and by extension in our language. So if you think that you don’t have any Irish, here are some hacks to get you going again.

#1 You have more Irish than you think!

You’re just out of practice.  You read my opening two sentences and you understood them, even though part of them were in Irish.  You did Irish in school, it’s there.  Our brain holds on to everything it has ever learned, it just needs practice.  You have Irish, you’re just out of practice – Tá tú as cleachtadh. It will all come with some practice.

#2 Your Irish doesn’t have to be perfect.

Irish is a language and the purpose of language is communication.  I once bought a beautiful hand woven rug in a craft shop in Spain.  I had no Spanish & the owner had no English, yet we were able to communicate because I wanted to buy the rug and she wanted to sell it!  Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  Just start talking in Irish & if you need to put in an English word – put it in!  If you go to the Gaeltacht areas, you’ll find this happening all the time!

# Think like Yoda

Irish is a very unique language in that it follows a sentence structure that only 9% of the world’s languages follow.  Its structure is Verb Subject Object.  When directly translated into English I always think that it sounds like Yoda speaking in Star Wars.  No wonder the birthplace of the Force is in Kerry!

# Irish has very few irregular verbs.

Unlike English which has over 100 irregular verbs, Irish only has 11.  Once you know them (and you do already), you’re good to go.

# There is no Yes or No in Irish.

Ever wonder which you can never get a straight yes or no from an Irish person – it’s because it’s not in our psyche.  Think about it, listen to people around you.  Even in English we continue with the Irish structure – We’d ask – ‘was John sick yesterday?’  We’d never say yes, we’d say ‘he was / he wasn’t’, An raibh Seán tinn inné?  Bhí sé /Ní raibh sé

# Grammar helps but it’s not the be all and end all

Make mistakes, make loads of mistakes. Nobody is going to think less of you. You’re (re)learning a language, you’re going to make mistakes. Think about it when you a tourist asks you for information in broken English. Do you ignore them because they are not speaking the Queen’s English? Of course not.  The grammar will come and once you are speaking in Irish it will become easier to correct those little butúns – see you understood that!!

# The Modh Coinníollach cannot hurt you.

For some reason the modh coinníollach has been built up into this huge scary monster. But the truth is, the modh coinníollach cannot hurt you.  Have you ever thought about what you would do if you won the lotto?  Yes? Congratulations, you were thinking in the Modh Coinníollach.  It is the conditional tense, something happening on condition of something else happening e.g. I would go on a cruise if I won the lotto.  It is that easy.

# Learn the words that matter

A new (or forgotten) language means learning lots of new words, which can be very off-putting. But, here’s the big secret, you do NOT need to know all the words of a language to be able to speak it. The reality is that, although you are fluent in it, you don’t know all the words in the English language either. Use the 80/20 principle here, and realise that 20% of the effort you spend on acquiring new vocabulary could ultimately give you 80% comprehension in Irish—for instance, in English just 300 words make up 65% of all written material. We use those words a lot, and that’s the case in every other language, including Irish as well. So invest your time well and learn those words that you are going to get maximum use out of.  You can always learn the rest in the future.

# Take advantage of free stuff

What did we do before the internet?  Want to learn Irish – or any other language for that matter?  You Tube is great, just be sure to get the dialect correct.  If you’re from Munster, then learn Munster Irish! Find native speakers online & skype with them. Watch TG4 – there are some fantastic documentaries on it.

There is an excellent free app called Duolingo, which could a great place to start your Irish language renaissance.

#Listen to Raidió na Gaeltachta

I had it on in the background today while typing this and I found myself thinking in Irish while trying to type in English.  It was a surreal experience because I’m not a native speaker.  I could follow a good share of the interview, they were talking about exporting shamrock from Ballinskelligs & how it was sent to the UK by courier and they agreed , is iontach an system at DHL! 

 So if the native speakers are happy to throw in the cúpla focal Béarla, you can be happy to too.

If you’ve read all the way down to here you may be interested in ‘The Irish Course™’. It is a innovative approach to the Irish Language incorporating the Hummingbird Learning Method®. We are finalising dates at present so to be one of the first to hear about it just email me at elaine@hummingbirdlearning.com and I will put you on the advanced notice list.

Slán.

Elaine Sparling Founder & CEO Hummingbird Learning Centre®

Elaine Sparling is the CEO of the award winning Hummingbird Learning Centre®. Based in Adare, Co Limerick and Tralee, Co Kerry, she works with clients on a one to one basis and can be contacted on 087-2996054 or through their website www.hummingbirdlearning.com. They are currently developing a week long Irish Course for summer 2016. The online version of their popular workshop The Secrets to Successful Spelling™ is available through their website and Facebook page and they have launched their Study Success Program™ for second & third level students.

How to Correct a Pencil / Pen grip and why it is so important

A few weeks ago, my cousin Trish was visiting from Dublin. Trish is a Montessori teacher and as you can imagine, it didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to learning. We were amazed to find that we have both noticed that many children dislike writing and how there seems to be a decline in handwriting skills and an increase in really bad pencil grips!

Handwriting Requires:

-Fine motor skills: Dexterity, Precision, Coordination, Grasping

-Visual motor/Oculomotor skills: Eye teaming, Convergence, Scanning

-Behavioural skills: Attention, Focus, Creativity

Writing can be both a representation of necessary skill mastery (i.e. a proper grasp = able to button a shirt, tie shoes, or open containers to prepare a meal).

OR, it can be a window into underlying delays in skill development (i.e. poor handwriting can reveal visual motor integration issues, vision issues, behavioural/emotional issues, etc.).

Humans are not born with the natural inclination to hold writing tools with a proper grip. The proper pencil grasp actually has a name: the tripod grip.  Though the tripod grip is preferred, the quadropod grip is also a common and accepted grip.

The tripod grip utilizes three fingers to secure a writing utensil: the thumb and forefinger directing, with the utensil resting on the middle finger. The quadropod grip uses four fingers working together to stabilize the writing tool.

The tripod grip is the ideal grip for proper letter and number formation and writing, and this grip is a skill that must be modelled, taught, and corrected.   When there are too many fingers involved, or if the stance is improper, writing will not be as easy as it can be.  And writing is a difficult skill even without the grip!

But how do you teach kids how to properly hold a writing utensil?

Before you even place the tool in the child’s hand, determine whether the child is right-handed or left-handed (or a ciotóg as we say in Irish).

When you are ready to introduce the tripod grip, it’s pretty simple:
– Place a writing tool in your child’s hand;
– Move the fingers to the proper position, encouraging the child to keep their little finger and ring finger on the palm so that the fingers can do their jobs (a little pom-pom is great to use here);
– Show the child how to manipulate the tool by moving their fingers more than their wrist.

And after your child does a little bit of doodling, colouring, and painting, the tripod grip will become as easy as breathing.  It’s just imperative for parents to play an integral role in instructing early on, with demonstrating, correcting, and modelling. I cannot stress this enough – children seem to be arriving to Montessori, playschool and big school with really poor tripod grips and if not corrected early it can become a problem later on.

Ideally, we want children to be comfortable writing and to teach them proper grip as a starting point.  As they get older this will mean that they are more relaxed when writing with a lot less neck, shoulder and wrist discomfort when writing essays or in exams.  They won’t be digging into the paper because the grip will be secure and they will writing with better flow.

Cursive writing will also become easier and as cursive writing aids the flow of thoughts, having the correct handwriting grip is vital.

Trish went back to Dublin and on my recommendation started to use the pom-pom with her Montessori students – the results were astounding – here’s the text she sent me:

“OMG what a difference the humble pom-pom makes! The pencil holding and letter formation with the children who were struggling has improved by 100%!  Thank you…thank you.”

Have you noticed how your child holds their pen & pencil? For more information contact me at elaine@hummingbirdlearning.com

6 Easy Tips for Back to School but with a Study Plan in Place!

The New Year always brings with it New Year Resolutions.  Those guilt laden promises we make to ourselves each year where we are going to do so much and do it better than before!  We tend to bite off more than we can chew though and then remonstrate ourselves when we can’t keep our resolutions.  We get totally overwhelmed and demoralised and, rather than feel like that, it is so much easier to give up.

Students facing into a new term can also feel overwhelmed.  Going back to school after Christmas, they are full of good intentions regarding their study, especially if they are in a big exam year. Elaborate study plans are drawn up, colour co-ordinated and printed out.  They are going to spend hours studying and it’s going to be so easy – until the first wobble comes. Suddenly they are overwhelmed, annoyed with themselves for not sticking to the plan and it goes by the wayside.

But it don’t have to be like that.  With a little more thought, a really successful and flexible study plan can be put in place.

Here are my 6 easy tips:

#1 Set your Objectives: There is no point on setting out on a journey without knowing where you want to arrive at! Write down the reasons why you are creating the study plan (yes, ‘because I was made to’ is a reason) and then write down the goals you want to achieve. Imagine yourself achieving those goals, feel how good you feel having achieved those goals, see yourself beaming from ear to ear and hear everyone congratulating you on your success. Make it as real as possible and ensure that your goals are true to you and what you want to achieve. Review them regularly to make sure that you are staying true to your plan.

#2 Get your Props Ready: Preparation is key so to make planning really easy gather your props in advance.  I recommend the following

• Timer / Clock
• Multi-coloured markers / pens
• Good study lamp
• Cookbook stand to prop textbooks on
• Computer / Laptop / Tablet
• Paper Diary

Study Tip No 3 use an Online Diary

#3 Online Diary: This is really important because I like to use a combination of an Online and Paper diary.  The Online Diary is for the big picture stuff while the paper diary is for the detail.  Let me explain; set up Google Calendar and block off chunks of time, using different colours e.g. Green for School. Firstly block off time for School, travel, eating, TV, breaks, Sports etc.  It is really important to schedule in downtime and sports as these help the body and brain relax, switch off and regenerate, making us more alert. After that add in the time blocks for study periods.  This visual representation will make it really easy to see how efficient you need to be with your study time. It can also be accessed on a smartphone, avoiding scheduling conflicts. Set up reminders or alerts on your phone to take breaks & when to start studying. Technology makes all of this so easy.

#4 Paper Diary:Once you have created the Big Picture, you will know how much study time you have each day. Now it’s time to get down into the detail.  I recommend breaking time down into units of 30 minutes – 25 minutes studying, 5 minutes on a break.  This optimises the concentration levels for the brain. Consider your subjects and break them down into units – e.g. one chapter = 1 unit.  Now decide how many time units each chapter unit will need.  So if your history course has 25 chapters and it takes 1 hour to study / revise each chapter then you will need 50 time units to cover the course.  This very quickly allows the student realise how much time they need per subject and how efficient they need to be with their time. As soon as they have this, they then use the paper diary to fill in the time units in their study blocks with the subjects. Writing things down adds a kinaesthetic element to the plan and studies show that we are more inclined to do things when they are written down.

#5 Spreadsheets: Set up spreadsheets to track the chapter units that you need to do. This way you know what has been covered and when you revised it.  It also quickly shows what still needs to be done and will allow you to amend your time units if needed to ensure everything gets covered/revised sufficiently.

#6 Miscellaneous: This tip is kind of a catch all but I didn’t want to have more than 6 tips, otherwise setting up the Study Plan would have been too overwhelming when in fact it is really easy. These mini-tips are short and are the icing on the cake.

• Get loads of Sleep – burning the midnight oil is counter-productive. Sleep is vital.
• Eat well – avoid too many fatty and carb laden foods, they make us sluggish. Eat lots of good protein and salads

• Stay hydrated – our brain needs to be hydrated to work well so sip away on water throughout the day
• Be social – Get out and meet your friends. Schedule your meet ups, that way you won’t feel guilty when meeting them. Social interaction is really important, it brings balance and perspective.
• Treats – reward yourself when you reach your objectives – you deserve it!

 

Elaine Sparling Founder & CEO Hummingbird Learning Centre®

Elaine Sparling is the CEO of the award winning Hummingbird Learning Centre®. Based in Adare, Co Limerick and Tralee, Co Kerry, she works with clients on a one to one basis and can be contacted on 087-2996054 or through their website www.hummingbirdlearning.com. They have also launched the online version of their popular workshop The Secrets to Successful Spelling™ which is available here: The Secrets to Successful Spelling Online Course

Interpreting STEN & Drumcondra Test Results

This time of year is not just the ‘season to be jolly’ but also parent/teacher meetings season, so I thought I’d write again about STEN & Drumcondra tests. Parents often contact me regarding their child’s ‘Drumcondras’ or STEN results because they are not exactly sure what they mean.

The first thing to remember is that it is a test rather than an exam. It is just an information gathering exercise by the Department of Education,to see how children are performing against their peers throughout the school system. Schools are required to use standardised tests at three identified stages during your child’s time at primary school:

• English-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in English reading and maths during the period May/June for all children in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes with effect from 2012 onwards
• Irish-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in Irish reading, English reading and Mathematics during the period May/June for all children in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes with effect from 2012 onwards.

However many schools use standardised tests in other classes too. It is used as a tool to help the teacher assess whether additional teaching resources are required or if your child is gifted in the subjects tested.  It is really important to remember that it is just those subjects above that are tested. Nothing else.  If your child is fantastic at history or sport, those subjects are not tested.  If your child is not good at history or sport, those subjects are not tested.  It does not take into account emotional intelligence, common sense or how kind and loving your child is.  What I’m trying to say is; it is a very narrow examination of your child’s abilities, based on a certain set of questions and your child’s answers at a particular time, on a particular day, which is now in the past.

Interpreting the results of these tests can be done in various ways and some schools inform parents of the results giving the Standard score and STen score from these tests, while others just use the STen scores.  Standard scores usually range from 55 to 145 with the average score being 100.  STen scores are derived from Standard scores and give a ten point scale with 1 representing the lowest category and 10 the highest.

The following tables explain these:

 Interpreting Standard Scores:

Standard Score Range	Descriptor	Coverage
130 and above	Well above average	2% of   pupils
120-129	Above average	7% of   pupils
110-119	High average	16% of  pupils
90-109	Average	50% of  pupils
80-89	Low average	16% of  pupils
70-79	Below average	2% of    pupils
Below 70	Well below average	2% of   pupils

 

Interpreting STEN Scores:

Standard Score  Range	STEN Score Range	Descriptor	Coverage
116 and above	8-10	Well above average	Top 1/6 of pupils
108-114	7	High average	1/6 of pupils
93-107	5-6	average	Middle 1/3 of pupils
85-92	4	Low average	1/6 of pupils
84 and below	1-3	Well below average	Bottom 1/6 of pupils

It’s really important to remember that children may not always perform as well as expected in these tests for a variety of reasons e.g. exam fright, illness or off form on the day or difficulty of working on their own for a long period.

While important, the results from Standardised tests should not be taken in isolation and should be understood in conjunction with teacher observations, teacher designed tasks and tests and the child’s general progress.

Here is a text we got from a mum;

“Just wanted to let you know that we got J’s school report today and we are delighted with his results! His English STEN went up to 7 this year from 4 last year and his Maths STEN went up to 6 from 4 last year and his teacher said she saw a great improvement in his reading.  So as you can see we are delighted and want to convey our thanks for all your help. Great results from Hummingbird.  Thanks again R & J”

 

Elaine Sparling is the CEO of the award winning Hummingbird Learning Centre®. Based in Adare, Co Limerick and Tralee, Co Kerry, she works with clients on a one to one basis and can be contacted on 087-2996054 or through their website www.hummingbirdlearning.com. They have also launched the online version of their popular workshop The Secrets to Successful Spelling™ which is available through their website and Facebook page

 

#4 Tips on How to create a Homework Station that works

If I had my way, I would drastically reduce or even ban homework! Radical I know, but seeing as how Hummingbird Learning world domination is a while off (yet), homework is something that everyone with school going children has to cope with.

Creating a dedicated spot in your home for them to complete their work can help improve their focus and develop proper study habits.  A really good place to go for inspiration is the Ikea or Argos catalogue. A study nook doesn’t have to a staid serious place.  In fact a fun, quirky desk can make studying a far more pleasurable event; simply because it becomes a place you like and want to be.

To achieve this, here are some tips to create that Dr Sheldon Cooper (Big Bang Theory) Spot:

#1 Location

• Lighting: Good light is essential.  A good desk lamp coupled with softer overhead lighting works really well.
• Heat: The study nook needs to be warm but take care not to overheat the room as this can make the student drowsy
• Ventilation: Fresh air is really important. If possible, open the windows for a while when the kids are at school.  A good supply of oxygen will help the brain remain focused for longer.
• Quiet: While our brain becomes really good at blocking out continuous background sounds over time, it is important to create a calm, quiet study area
• Sockets: When deciding on a great location be sure to consider where the plug points are. You are going to need lots!

 #2 Fixtures & Fittings

• Plants: Plants lift the sterile look of a desk, brings actual life to the table and if you use a plant such as a Peace Lily or Spider plant, even increases the oxygen levels in the room, making plants an aid to studying.
• Desk: It is really important to get a desk that suits the child. It doesn’t have to be an office type desk.  Have a look in Ikea & Argos for ideas.
• Good Chair: This is vital.  Your child is going to be sitting for a long time & needs to have good posture to prevent back problems in the future and also to maximise oxygen intake.  If they are young, put a step under the desk for them to rest their feet on.  It also helps them be more grounded.
• Notice Boards: These are great for keeping reminders, notes & personal items close at hand.
• Storage boxes: Keep everything tidy in cool storage boxes or tins.  Catalogues are full of ideas.  Convert old boxes or tins you have already into something bespoke to reflect your child’s personality.
• Clock: A silent one – no ticking but an alarm can be handy!  It will help to train your child to work within time segments – vital when doing exams.
• Book shelves: Great for keeping a desk tidy& having reference books & stationery to hand

#3 Technology

• Computer: There is no way of getting around this one – computers have become part & parcel of a student’s life.  I recommend using a laptop though, that way it can be taken away to stop it becoming a distraction.  There are loads of applications, such as Net Nanny, available block or limit access to websites, especially social media ones!
• Printer: Set up the printer at the homework station for ease of access.
• WiFi: Be sure to have good internet access at the homework station.  If the signal is poor invest in a booster. It will repay itself over and over in hours saved from listening to moaning about bad wifi!

#4 Stationery supplies

• Dictionaries: We may be in the digital age, but I still think old school is best when it comes to dictionaries.  Make sure to have ones for foreign language classes’ and invest in a really good thesaurus dictionary.  Nothing beats a thesaurus for vocabulary expansion.
• Timetable: This is where the cork board comes in handy.  Have the corkboard on the wall in front of the desk and pin the timetable to it.  No excuses for not knowing what classes you have tomorrow.
• Calendar: Use a type of calendar that has space for writing and fill in the school events, holidays, exam weeks etc. This forward planning means that you are organised for the year ahead
• Store Supplies: Be prepared! Avoid late night panics when supplies run out and have all of the following in a storage box; tape, staples, paperclips, pencils, biros, paper punch, poly pockets, spare folders / files, printer paper, spare copy books, writing pads & notebooks, Art supplies – glue, glitter, felt-tip pens.
• Desk Supplies: Calculator, maths set, stapler, paperclips, pens, ruler, correction ink. Folder to keep completed work / ongoing projects

Having a defined space to study creates a pattern in your brain.  Just as picking up your car keys brings you into a type of automation for driving ( for example, without thinking you automatically go to the driver’s side), sitting at your homework spot immediately tells your brain I’m going studying and I need to focus.

Now, before the kids go back to school, is the perfect time to create that perfect spot.

Elaine Sparling is the creator of the Hummingbird Learning Method® and is about to launch online the popular Secrets to Successful Spelling™ workshop at the end of August. Based in Adare, Co Limerick, where she works with clients on a one to one basis, she can be contacted on 087-2996054 or through their website http://www.hummingbirdlearning.com

Why Meaning is So Important for Spelling

When my boys were in primary school, they had an English book that was used for reading and spelling.  It was different to the type of reader that I had in school (who is old enough to remember the Maura, Seán and Rusty books).  Their English book was more of a workbook.  Along the left hand side were random words chosen simply because they were phonetically similar. Spelling homework was to learn off the words.  It was pretty easy to remember them, in the short term, because they all had the same sound.

Understanding what the word meant wasn’t really part of the process, but without meaning, learning how to spell the word is worthless.  Being able to use the word again, in the appropriate context, is an essential part of learning to spell. It is also an important aid in reading and composition. Why else would we need to do it?

In order to understand what a word means you have to either make a visual still image of it or create a contextual mini movie in your memory.  Creating this means that in the future when reading the word, for a fraction of a nano-second, that image pops back into your head and you have understanding.

This skill allows you to expand your vocabulary and comprehension.  It allows you learn new languages quickly and easily. Like all skills it must be learned and honed.  Controlling your images for spelling and comprehension is essential.  It is easy to make an image for nouns.  Imagine a dog – easy.  For abstract words it is more complicated but once mastered it too becomes easy.  This is where internal mini movies come into their own.

A good Thesaurus dictionary is a vital item in every home.  I think they are a wonderful way to connect words of similar meaning to the same internal image. If you come across a new word to spell and are unsure of the meaning, look it up in the Thesaurus.  Chances are that you already have an internal picture of another word that has a similar meaning to the new word.  Now all you do is tag the new word on to the same image.

Some skills are learned to do something that lasts for a short period of time.  Learning how to put meaning behind every word is a skill that will make spelling easy for the rest of your life.

Elaine Sparling is the creator of the Hummingbird Learning Method® and is about to launch the popular Secrets to Successful Spelling™ workshop, online, at the end of August. Based in Adare, Co Limerick, where she works with clients on a one to one basis, she can be contacted on 087-2996054 or through their website http://www.hummingbirdlearning.com

Use Your Brain For a Change

One of my favourite quotes is by Dr Richard Bandler and it is “When you want new results, it requires new thinking”.  Thinking is just something we do.  We are always thinking about something.  Even when we are asleep our brain is still working.

We are born with this amazing inbuilt computer but unfortunately it didn’t come with a set of instructions.  We have to learn how to use it as we go along and mostly we use it out of habits we have formed from watching and listening to others, so if we want to change those habits we have to think differently and to think differently we have to use our brain to get that change.

Your Brain

There is a lot of talk about people being right-brained and left-brained.  You might have taken one of those quizzes online to determine which you are.  The assumption is that a person who is ‘left-brained’ is more logical, analytical and objective and suitable for jobs such as accountant, solicitor or programmer.  The ‘right-brained’ person is said to be more creative, intuitive, thoughtful and subjective and might want to be an actor, graphic designer or therapist.

The reality is that people are not one or the other, they are not ‘right-brained’ or ‘left-brained’.  The theory grew out of the work of Nobel Prize winner Roger W Sperry.  He discovered that cutting the corpus callosum, the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, reduced or eliminated seizures in people with epilepsy.

However, patients who had undergone the procedure also had new symptoms after the communication pathway between the two sides of the brain was cut. Some patients found that they could no longer name objects that were processed by the right side of the brain, yet they could still name objects processed by the left side of the brain. This led Sperry to suggest that language was controlled by the left side of the brain.

However, later research has shown that the brain is not nearly as neatly divided as this. The brain actually works best when both sides of the brain are engaged at the same time. Neuroscientists have found that the two sides of the brain work together to perform a wide variety of tasks and the two sides communicate through the corpus callosum.

In a study of over 1000 participants by the University of Utah, it was revealed that while activity was sometimes higher on one side or the other in certain critical regions, on average both sides of the brain were essentially equal in their activity. Dr Jeff Anderson, the study’s lead researcher explains “It’s absolutely true that some brain functions occur in one or other side of the brain. Language tends to be on the left, attention more to the right, but people don’t tend to have a stronger left or right sided brain network.  It seems to be determined more connection by connection”.

This makes the corpus callosum key in using our brain to evoke and strengthen new thinking.  Mid line exercises help to make those connections.  We need both sides of our brain working together to create strong neuropathways, making focus and recall much better and easier.

So the next time you take one of those quizzes, know that it’s just a bit of fun. Now I must go and check my horoscope.

Understanding STEN and Drumcondra Test Results & What they Mean for your Child

Parents often contact me regarding their child’s ‘Drumcondras’ or STEN results because they are not exactly sure what they mean.  The kids can be a bit uptight about them but because there is nothing to study, parents are unsure as to what to do!!

The first thing to remember is that it is a test rather than an exam. It is just an information gathering exercise to see how children are performing against their peers throughout the school system. Schools are required to use standardised tests at three identified stages during your child’s time at primary school:

• English-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in English reading and maths during the period May/June for all children in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes with effect from 2012 onwards.

• Irish-medium schools are required to implement standardised testing in Irish reading,

English reading and Mathematics during the period May/June for all children in 2nd, 4th and 6th classes with effect from 2012 onwards.

Even Wise Old Owls go to Hummingbird Learning Centre

However many schools use standardised tests in other classes too. It is used as a tool to help the teacher assess whether additional teaching resources are required or if your child is gifted in the subjects tested.  It is really important to remember that it is just those subjects above that are tested. Nothing else.  If your child is fantastic at history or sport, those subjects are not tested.  If your child is not good at history or sport, those subjects are not tested.  It does not take into account emotional intelligence, common sense or how kind and loving your child is.  What I’m trying to say is; it is a very narrow examination of your child’s abilities, based on a certain set of questions and your child’s answers at a particular time, on a particular day, which is now in the past.

Your child may find some parts of the test challenging, and that is perfectly normal and is to be expected.  By explaining this to the child before and afterwards you can reassure them that it’s ok if parts of it didn’t go so well.  I like to say to them, “parts of it will be familiar and parts of it might be new, and I’m just curious to see how well you apply yourself to them all”.  Practice saying this, because it is a really powerful sentence.  You have my full permission to use it all the time, whenever something new comes up! It’s not just for the Drumcondras.

Interpreting the results of these tests can be done in various ways and some schools inform parents of the results giving the Standard score and STen score from these tests, while others just use the STen scores.  Standard scores usually range from 55 to 145 with the average score being 100.  STen scores are derived from Standard scores and give a ten point scale with 1 representing the lowest category and 10 the highest.

The following tables explain these:

Interpreting Standard Scores:

Standard Score Range	Descriptor	Coverage
130 and above	Well above average	2% of   pupils
120-129	Above average	7% of   pupils
110-119	High average	16% of  pupils
90-109	Average	50% of  pupils
80-89	Low average	16% of  pupils
70-79	Below average	2% of    pupils
Below 70	Well below average	2% of   pupils

Interpreting STEN Scores:

Standard Score Range	STEN Score Range	Descriptor	Coverage
116 and above	8-10	Well above average	Top 1/6 of pupils
108-114	7	High average	1/6 of pupils
93-107	5-6	average	Middle 1/3 of pupils
85-92	4	Low average	1/6 of pupils
84 and below	1-3	Well below average	Bottom 1/6 of pupils

It’s really important to remember that children may not always perform as well as expected in these tests for a variety of reasons e.g. exam fright, illness or off form on the day or difficulty of working on their own for a long period.

While important, the results from Standardised tests should not be taken in isolation and should be understood in conjunction with teacher observations, teacher designed tasks and tests, and the child’s general progress.

Last week I got a text from a mum;

Hummingbird Learning Centre

“Just wanted to let you know that we got Jim’s school report today and we are delighted with his results! His English STEN went up to 7 this year from 4 last year and his Maths STEN went up to 6 from 4 last year and his teacher said she saw a great improvement in his reading.  So as you can see we are delighted and want to convey our thanks for all your help. Great results from Hummingbird.  Thanks again R & J”

5 Tips to make Exams Stress Free

Just for a moment imagine that sitting an exam was the easiest thing in the world to do. What would have had to have happened in order for it to be so? Is it possible that it would look like this?

1. You are Prepared

Be Prepared

In the week before the exam you would have gotten a lot of sleep.  You would have listen to non-lyrical music and perhaps even a guided meditation to reduce your stress levels and take you into deep, revitalising sleep. You would have prepared all of the tools that you needed to bring into the test centre; pens of varying colours, pencils, erasers, correction fluid, calculator, rulers and other equipment.  You keep them all together & bring them into every exam, that way you know that you have all the resources that you need.

Your bedroom is tidy and an oasis of calm.  Your study area is structured and free from clutter, someone, the exam fairy, has kept it like this for you in the lead up to and during your exams, allowing you to focus. When you are organised and tidy you feel powerful and you brought that feeling with you as you studied and aced the exams.

This fairy has also ensured that you are eating correctly, a satisfying breakfast, nutritious snacks like nuts and a tantalising, tasty lunch & dinner awaits you every day. Wholesome, good food that fills you up and keeps your energy levels constant.  You drink plenty of water but sip it throughout the day, keeping the body and brain hydrated.

2. You are Relaxed

You practiced relaxing. You know that our greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.  You know that when you felt overwhelmed in the past, you were able to stop and back up and you broke everything into smaller manageable chunks.  This is what you did when you were studying.  You shift your state into one of calm assurance by choosing to focus on controlling your breathing – in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, out for 8 seconds.  You keep your feet firmly on the floor and push down.

You took lots of breaks, by studying in blocks of 25 minutes and then walking away from it and doing something else for 5 minutes.  You were sure to avoid distractions like social media, TV and your phone and kept them away from your study area.

You exercised.  You continued with your sports albeit perhaps not quiet at the same intensity for the final weeks but you kept playing or simply took a regular energetic walk, run or cycle. Whatever you did, it got oxygen into your lungs, got the blood pumping and cleared your head, making you so relaxed.

3. You Visualised the Exam Going Well

Like an elite athlete, you regularly imagined yourself doing your exam and it going really well.  You saw yourself doing every single thing from getting up in the morning, eating breakfast, arriving at the exam hall, doing the exam, leaving and returning home.  You saw this in vivid detail, with you relaxed and happy and in control during the exam.  This created a type of muscle memory so that when you actually went in to the real exam, your brain felt it was just running a familiar pattern and so it simply continued to replicate that pattern.

4. You had an Exam Routine

Again, like an elite athlete, you had a pre-match routine and a plan of action.  As part of your pre-exam routine you distanced yourself from your pals for the 10 minutes before the exam.  This kept you from being infected with any jitters that they may have had.  You did your breathing exercises and went through your visualisations.  Once in the exam hall, you set aside a section in your answer sheets for rough work and clearly marked it as rough work.  You read every question slowly and carefully.  You then put down your paper, looked up and away & thought of something completely different for 30 seconds. Then you re-read the paper and chose the questions that you were going to answer.  You wrote down your buzzwords and ran your movies of the answers.  Only when you were confident that you had all that you needed, you began to write.  You knew that your sub-conscious mind was working on the other questions at the same time.

5. You had a Post Exam Plan.

You avoided the post-mortem by having a plan for straight after the exam. You focused on the upcoming exams rather than dissecting the exam you had just finished and therefore could no longer control.   You ate well after the test and took some light exercise to release the tension & fatigue in your body. You did some light revision, confident that the next exam, like the others were going to be a breeze.

Elaine Sparling is the CEO of the Hummingbird Learning Centre who help adults and children maximise their learning potential.  Based in Adare, Co Limerick, she can be contacted on 087-2996054, through their website www.hummingbirdlearning.com or on Facebook