Presentation Secondary School ~ ~ ~ Welcome you to Subject Choices for Second Years Miltown, Co. Kerry

Compulsory Subjects English Maths Irish Religious Education Science Spanish P.E. S.P.H.E. / Life Skills Option Subjects French / German Business Technical Graphics Art Music Woodwork Home Economics History Geography

Choices To Be Made Option Block Subject  Option 1 French German   German Business 2 History Geography 3 Music Technical Graphics Home Economics Woodwork Art 4

Business Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper Leaving Certificate: 100% Examination Paper Business divides into 3 subjects at Leaving Certificate 1. Accounting 2. Business 3. Economics Students will be permitted to take up any of the three Business subjects as a new subject at Leaving Certifcate. Business is not required for entry to any course at third level, including Business, Accounting or Economic courses.

French / German Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper   Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper Leaving Certificate: 25% Oral Examination (20% at Ordinary Level) Written Examination Paper 55% Reading Comprehension/Written Production 20% Aural - Listening Comprehension

History Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper Leaving Certificate: 20% Research Study ~ Topic of Students Choice (submitted before exam)

Geography Assessment Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper   Junior Certificate: 100% Examination Paper Leaving Certificate: 20% Geographical Investigation Report ~ Field Trip

Art Subject Description : Junior Certificate: 100% practical Leaving Certificate: 60% practical An Art Portfolio is required for particular careers. They include: Art & Design Courses Computer Graphic Design Courses Architecture in two colleges(UL & DIT) Interior Design @ DIT Photography @ DIT and Dun Laoghaire( DLIADT)

Music Assessment Junior Certificate Practical 25% Leaving Certificate Practical 50% ~ ~ ~ For entrance to music based courses both a written entrance examination and a performance may apply.

WoodWork (Construction St.) Assessment Junior Certificate: 50% Practical Leaving Certificate: 40% Practical Required for .... Furniture Design Courses at Letterfrack Galway-Mayo IT. Construction Teaching @ GMIT (Only 1 of Construction Studies or Technical Drawing required)

Technical Graphics (Design Communication Graphics) Assessment Junior Certificate 100% Drawings (Exam) Leaving Certificate 40% Practical 60% Drawings (Exam) Students should be mathematical/logical. Required for entry to Furniture making at @ GMIT Construction Teaching @ GMIT (Only 1 of Construction Studies or Technical Drawing required)

Home Economics Assessment Junior Certifcate 50% practical Leaving Certificate 20% practical Can take Home Economics up in 5th Year, even if didn’t study for Junior Certificate. Home Economics Teaching @ St. Angelas’ College, Sligo (Science will also be accepted )

Some Common Myths The following are unhelpful myths and therefore they are not true: I need Technical Graphics/Construction to be an Engineer or Architect Art Portfolio is required for many architecture course. I need Home Economics to study Childcare or Nursing I can’t do Business if I don’t have a Business subject. The above are NOT TRUE

3 Core Subjects At the end of First year students will be divided into higher and ordinary classes in 3 subjects based on their results. These subjects are 1. Irish 2. English 3. Maths Often students fall into a trap of only doing homework and they will probably study at ordinary level. I will often be told by students that they were very good at one of these core subjects in primary but they may not have applied a revision schedule in first year.

Changes in Second Year Students are no longer the newcomers in the school. This may be the most important year for students personally in determining the type of student they become – they often feel there is less focus on them and more space for them to define themselves.

Homework Vs Revision One of the major differences between primary and secondary is the expectation at secondary level that a student is largely responsible for their own preparation for end of year examinations. In primary school spelling and other tests were on material covered during the week.

Homework Vs Revision In second level the student must do: Written homework – ideally from their head and not using the book. All exams test material from the head and not transcribing answers from the book. Learning homework – students’ learning capacity is less than 10 minutes and therefore learning should be mixed throughout written. Revision/ Study – students need to revise material learned one week later, one month later and before exams.

Getting Ready For The Junior Cert Revision should form part of homework every night – 2nd year material won’t be revised before the Junior Cert mock exams. Homework and Revision should take approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours By the end of 2nd year students need to have all material summarised in the form of mind maps/ flash cards/ definitions copy/ notes folder.

How Can A Parent Help With Revision ? Each student needs a system and you could discuss this with them: 1. Where? Quiet place with no noise and definitely no technology. 2. Get a Revision Notes copy for each subject that they will keep for the three years. Some people prefer to use a folder system or postcards. 3. Reduce information by summarising, using mind maps, creating songs, postcards, mini white boards. 4. How much time? Add 10 minutes per subject per night or choose 4 subjects x 15 minutes per night.

Generation 21 To enable student to flourish in 21st century - to find myself. To know my strengths or particular intelligence. Social Entrepreneurs Our children live in a most stimulating Age. "A new form of slavery is to pith children into reaching maximum points for highest points course while wiping their imaginative capacities" (Dom Mark Patrick Hederman, Glenstal Abbey)

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