Down Teachers Go Back To School

Department of Education Coaches, Ciaran Murtagh, Garreth Thornton and Macartan McKenna held a GAA Foundation Award on Thursday 24 February 2011, for Down Primary School Teachers.

The aim of the day was to develop teacher’s skills and develop their confidence in delivering Physical Literacy and Gaelic Games within their school. Twenty teachers participated from schools across South Down and the surrounding areas.

The morning session was part theory and part practical. Each teacher was given a task card to organise progressive activities to develop the physical literacy skills (A, B, C, etc) appropriate to Gaelic Games and deliver it to the rest of the group.

All teachers helped in organizing a programme of games and skills appropriate to Gaelic Football with each teacher being able to ‘Spot and Fix’ correct technique within the skill being taught. By the end of the session all teachers were able to organize progressive activities (drills and fun games) to develop skill that was being taught.

The day was thoroughly enjoyable for both the department coaches and the teachers involved. It was very interactive with teachers sharing ideas about their own experiences and providing excellent demonstration and feedback to their colleagues when coaching a skill.

Many thanks to Saval GAC, for use of their hall and facilities. To Conor O’Toole (Down Games Development Manager) for helping organize the day and provide lunch for the teachers on behalf of Down GAA.

Lastly many thanks to all teachers who participated on the day, who will helped make the whole experience so worthwhile and enjoyable and will hopefully help promote the future of Gaelic Games within Down Primary Schools.