Students participate in a wide range of learning strategies which are active and experiential and which help them to develop a range of transferable critical thinking and creative problem solving skills. At Riversdale a careful blend of academic and non-academic subject groups and modules enables students to prepare for the Leaving Certificate while developing maturity, social awareness, general and vocational skills.
There are four classes in Transition Year this year with a total of 76 pupils. A number of changes have been included in this year’s programme as the programme is constantly updated and improved in accordance with the needs and goals of the students.
Leaving Certificate Subjects:
It is important that students be allowed to try the subjects they feel they may be interested in studying for their Leaving Cert. To this end, this year’s Transition Year students studied four Leaving Cert. subjects modules before Christmas and are studying four different subjects between Christmas and June. They will choose their Leaving Cert. subjects from the modules they have studied. This means that students should be able to make more informed choices regarding the subject they like and which will have benefit to them with regard to their chosen career.
Wednesdays – Special Learning Days:
The Wednesday – Special Learning Day timetable has been designed to allow students to experience non-academic subjects which will add to their overall educational experience and help them develop social, personal and vocational skills. Subjects such as Typing, Computers, Drama, Health and Fitness, Development Education, Cultural Studies and Outdoor Education are timetabled for Wednesdays. The Cultural studies module involves a course of study in Traditional Irish Music during which students learn to play the Tin Whistle and the Bodhran. The success of this module was evident when a group of Transition Year students performed at this year’s Music For All concert just before Christmas. The Development Education module is a new addition to the programme and involves the study of different cultures and issues such as those involving refugees. The Health and Fitness module involves education in the areas of health ad fitness. The Transition Year students were involved in the organisation of the very successful Health and Fitness Day for senior students held at the end of February. Extracts from a project by Transition years can be seen below. Outdoor Education is one of the most popular parts of the course details of which are given in the accompanying article. In all, the Wednesday modules are extremely important in the overall development of the student.
Ms. P. Deane.
Visit the links below for more information on Transition Year.
TRANSITION YEAR OUTDOOR EDUCATION
WORK EXPERIENCE
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