Adapted Vocabulary Enrichment Programme

Course Information

This is a one and a half day course for Special Education teachers and English teachers (with first year classes). This course provides comprehensive training for the implementation of an evidenced-based vocabulary programme. The NCSE Adapted Vocabulary Enrichment Programme (VEP) is a school-based teacher-led intervention. It can be delivered at whole-class level (within English subject teaching), with individual students or in a small group format. This programme is also highly suitable for use with students presenting with Special Education needs (e.g. language, literacy and/or learning difficulties). The one day seminar will be followed up by a half day cluster support meeting. The cluster meeting will be an interactive session and will be an opportunity for teachers to discuss the Adapted VEP that they have implemented with students. It will also be an opportunity for teachers to make links with other teachers and create a support network to problem solve any issues that may have arisen when working with the programme.

The adapted VEP has a strong evidence base supporting its use with first year English classes. Research conducted by the National Behaviour Support Service (2014) demonstrated significant improvements on students’ overall vocabulary development following this receipt of this programme. Teachers who attend this course will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to deliver this programme with their students. The course will also provide teachers with extensive knowledge around the importance of vocabulary skills in the post-primary setting and its link with literacy development. All materials needed to run the VEP will be provided to teachers at the training. It is a prerequisite that teachers attend this training prior to delivery of the Adapted Vocabulary Development Programme with students.

Expected Outcomes

Participants will:

• Understand the importance of vocabulary skills in adolescents in terms of their engagement in school and in accessing the post-primary curriculum across all subjects.
• Understand the background, research and rationale for the programme.
• Understand the underlying aims of the programme.
• Be very familiar with the content, structure and running of the programme.
• Be introduced to the materials and activities within each lesson of the programme.

Course Content

• Explore vocabulary development and look at the impact of vocabulary difficulties on students’ participation in school and accessing curricula.
• Outline the overall language aims of the programme including specific learning objectives within each lesson. Explain the research conducted on this programme and how it has evolved.
• Identify the links between this programme and the new Junior Certificate English Curriculum.
• Examine the content of the programme and run through resources and activities within the lessons (all resources and programme content is supplied in the training).
• Identify ways in which students’ learning can be extended using the programme and identify methods of differentiating the content of the programme to meet students’ learning needs.
• Introduce methods of identifying and prioritising students who would benefit from this programme in targeted intervention groups and individually.
• Look at efficient and the most effective ways of running this programme with different student groupings.

Information for Applicants

This course is open to:

• English teachers with working with First Year classes
• Subject teachers working with students with a special education need
• Full-time Special Education Teachers who are currently working with students with special education needs
• Participants will require permission from the Board of Management to attend. Typically, substitution for this seminar will only be allowed to classroom teachers with primary responsibility for pupils with a special educational need and if it is deemed absolutely essential by the Principal
• Typically substitution will only be allocated to non-substitute teachers
• Payment is not available to teachers in a substitute capacity

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.