ONLINE SALES HAVE NOW ENDED FOR THIS EVENT. A NUMBER OF TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT REGISTRATION IN THE MORNING.

The theme for this years conference is 'Moving Forward: Physical Education for the future' and will have a strong focus on the upcoming review of the Irish primary curriculum. Attention will be given to potential future developments within primary PE through practical workshops relating to Gymnastics, Athletics, Dance, Games and outdoor and adventure, as well through two short addresses from guest speakers.

Conference Schedule:

9.00 – 9.45: Registration, Tea/Coffee

09.45 - 09.55. Welcome from IPPEA Chairperson

09.55 - 10.05 Address 1: Iain Burns 'How best to advocate for PE in a redeveloped curriculum'

Participants choose one workshop (subject to availability) from each time slot.

Session 1: 10.10 – 11.10

Gruffalo Gymnastics

Back to basic for a better future

Ar mhaith leat damhsa?

Teaching for learning in physical education

Orienteers run the country

Session 2: 11.20 – 12.20

Gruffalo Gymnastics

Back to basic for a better future

Ar mhaith leat damhsa?

Teaching for learning in physical education

Orienteers run the country

12.20 – 12.50 Lunch

12.50 – 1.20 AGM

1.20 – 1.40 Address 2: Gerard McHugh Director of Dublin West Education Centre

Session 3: 1.50– 2.50

Move like this

Yoga - Balance for body and mind

Teacher/ Artist Partnership in the context of dance

Strategies to Manage Conflict and Behaviour during PE Class

Hop, skip and jump into athletics

Session 4: 3.00 – 4.00

Move like this

Yoga - Balance for body and mind

Teacher/ Artist Partnership in the context of dance

Strategies to Manage Conflict and Behaviour during PE Class

Hop, skip and jump into athletics

Workshop Descriptions

Strategies to Manage Conflict and Behaviour during PE Class

Jason Byrne, Scoil Chroi Iosa Galway

Have you ever had to interrupt a PE lesson to solve conflict between children? Have you had a particular student who couldn't help but get into a row during a game? This workshop will delve into some practical strategies we can teach our students of all ages, to help them better manage their emotions, and lessen incidences of conflict during games. These strategies can be applied as a whole school approach on the yard at break-times or to a single class doing a PE lesson.

Gruffalo Gymnastics! Combining movement and story-telling in primary PE

Dr Elaine Murtagh, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick

This workshop will provide participants with exciting ideas for how to use popular children’s stories as the stimulus for physical education. With a focus on gymnastics, the stories and characters in books such as “The Gruffalo” and “Stickman” will be used to explore key fundamental movement skills. This workshop is based on research carried out by Prof Mike Duncan at Coventry University that demonstrated that combining both movement and story-telling offer synergistic benefits in relation to physical and communication development.

Hop, Skip and Jump into Athletics

Caitríona Cosgrave (secretary IPPEA and Scoil Áine GNS, Raheny, Dublin)

Pauric Bolton (IPPEA executive member and St Fiacc’s N.S, Graiguecullen, Carlow)

This workshop will focus on promoting the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) of hopping, skipping and jumping within Athletics lessons. Activities for all ability levels will be explored and we will utilise resources from the ‘Move Well, Move Often’ Physical Literacy pack.

‘Move Like This’ Gymnastics Senior End

Sandra McNulty, Our Lady of Mercy Primary School Sligo

This workshop aims to celebrate movement by providing teachers with a variety of games and ideas to support children’s mobility, flexibility, strength, agility and balance. The workshop is fun, practical, and is based around the development of animal movements within lessons. These ideas can be implemented throughout any of the strands of the curriculum as starters or indeed can be used to support the teaching of Gymnastics more specifically.

Back to basic for a better future. Fundamental movement skills to fundamental movement of sport, through Children’s Games.

Jason Craughwell, Programme Coordinator, Galway Sports Partnership

Katie Codyre, Sports Development Officer, Galway Sports Partnership

Galway Sports Partnership (GSP) presents a workshop on games element of the primary curriculum. The workshop will look at fundamental movements and development of these into fundamental movement of sport. GSP presenters will look at the basic movements of sport and how to introduce them to children of all ages. Expanding on the simple tasks and building them in to fun games based activities that are adaptable across ability levels.

Teacher/ Artist Partnership (T/AP) in the context of DANCE

Marie O'Connell, Ardfert National School Kerry

Maria Svensson, Dance Artist

This workshop will introduce teachers to the exciting national development that is Teacher/ Artist Partnership (T/A P) as a model of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with particular reference to DANCE education. This initiative has provided 27 Teacher/ Artist Partnership Facilitators based locally & regionally in Education Centres throughout Ireland. T/A P Residency Programmes are currently taking place in eighty primary schools nationwide. Presenters will use their experience of Teacher/ Artist Partnership Residency in the context of DANCE education to inform participants on the practical application of this model in the classroom –the opportunities, challenges and benefits for teacher, artist, pupil and school community.

Not to be missed when we consider the importance of physical activity such as DANCE to ensuring we have a society that is WELL!

Orienteers run the country.

Conchúr Ó Muimhneacháin

This workshop supports the engagement of children with maps and with physical activity through the medium of orienteering. You will be introduced to a number of progressive steps in nurturing map-reading skills and promoting healthy outdoor activity as part of a broad-based quality physical education programme.

Ar mhaith leat damhsa?

Ita Seoighe ( Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Tuam & PDST) and Mairéad Seoighe (St. Oliver Plunket NS, Newcastle)

Join us for a lively and practical workshop exploring Folk Dance in the context of the Primary School PE Curriculum. Participants will learn some Irish dances and dances from other cultures suitable for teaching to children from 1st to 6th class. There will be an introduction to Seanós dancing with some of the basic steps taught and a short performance choreographed. Ideal preparation for the Céilí Mór le linn Seachtain na Gaeilge. Bígí linn!!

Teaching for Learning in Physical Education: What does it look like?

Missy Parker (IPPEA executive commitee and University of Limerick), Jessican Manigone (University of Limerick) Suzy Macken (Marino institute of Education)

We talk of learning in physical education, but is it just rhetoric? What does learning in physical education look like in reality? What kinds of teaching skills are used to develop this kind of learning? The purpose of this workshop is to provide a practical experience in teaching physical education in a meaningful and enjoyable manner. Participants will experience the development of fundamental movement skills in a setting that allows for learning of the skills, knowledge and dispositions necessary for future engagement in physical activity.

Yoga – Balance for Body and Mind

Presenter: Ciara Delaney, IPPEA Committee Member, Yoga Teacher, PDST PE Advisor

This workshop will invite participants to explore an integrated approach to balance through yoga activities which can be applied to the Dance or Gymnastics Strands. Participants will learn how to incorporate both static and dynamic balancing into sequences and a special focus will be placed on teaching children how to transfer their weight from one body part to another – arm balancing, headstands, and handstands, etc. The workshop will conclude with relaxation activities, where participants will experience how yoga can be used to bring about a balanced state of mind; leaving children calm, alert and ready to learn.