Gillian Corbally, Author at Teachers' Corner

Posted inin 1st to 2nd Class
3rd to 4th Class

Break out from the mundane. Make a maths Escape Room!

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
6 min

Escape rooms have become a popular activity for families and people of all ages, transforming problem-solving into a fun adventure. You can harness this excitement with your students. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to create your own maths escape room for your class.

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6 min

Posted inin 1st to 2nd Class
3rd to 4th Class

10 practical, plastic-free ideas for maths

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

While we may not be able to sort all the problems in the world from our classrooms, we can certainly do our bit for the environment. Embracing natural or sustainable materials in practical maths activities can immerse children in ideas about sustainability, recycling and our relationship with the natural world.

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4 min

Posted inin 1st to 2nd Class
3rd to 4th Class

Simple, fun filled maths approaches to try

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

The Maths curriculum does not change much of ‘what’ children learn, but it aims to improve ‘how’ children learn maths. This includes more learning through play and problem solving. It also provides more opportunities for children to be creative, take risks and be challenged. Here are ten ways you might put those ideas into action.

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4 min

Posted inin Mathematics
New Maths Curriculum

5 strategies to transform tricky maths into playful learning

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
3 min

Playful learning not only helps children to grasp complex ideas but also helps to foster a love for the subject. With the new focus on 'Maths Talk', key ideas and concepts can also be explored playfully in other topics and areas of the curriculum. Teacher author, Gillian, shares her ideas on making maths more playful.

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3 min

Posted inin 1st to 2nd Class
3rd to 4th Class

Story Prompts: Building a fun creative writing toolkit

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

Unlike story starters, which aim to provide a specific opening line, writing prompts offer broader themes or concepts for children to explore. Effective writing prompts are open-ended questions or statements that help make up a toolkit designed to inspire creative, persuasive or narrative writing.

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4 min

Posted inin 1st to 2nd Class
3rd to 4th Class

Using playful Story Starters to foster creativity and imagination

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
3 min

In the world of education, fostering creativity and imagination is just as important as teaching facts and figures. One of the most effective ways I have found to achieve this is through the use of playful story starters in the classroom. These tools not only stimulate children’s creativity but also enhance their writing skills, language and vocabulary, critical thinking and overall engagement.

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3 min

Posted inin 5th to 6th Class
Classroom Ideas

15 practical & playful ideas for your senior primary classroom

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

These activities and ideas can help turn your classroom into a dynamic space where learning feels like play, play feels like learning and where engagement, attainment, creativity and collaboration are boosted and celebrated!

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4 min

Posted inin 3rd to 4th Class
5th to 6th Class

Winter? Time to let loose the Tinfoil Skiers!

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

January can be a particularly challenging month due to shorter daylight hours and colder weather, which may impact energy levels and motivation. Thankfully, playful activities can help to stimulate energy and curiosity, countering those mid-winter doldrums and helping to kick start a new year.

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4 min

Posted inin Assessment for learning
Curriculum

Assessing and documenting ‘Playful Learning’

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
4 min

Assessing and evaluating play can sometimes be challenging because it often involves unconventional learning experiences that are less structured than traditional methods. However, much like using a less traditional method of teaching, assessment methods can take many forms and include a variety of techniques.

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4 min

Posted inin Curriculum
Play and playful learning

Creating a playful learning environment in senior classes

Posted byby Gillian Corbally
3 min

Successfully integrating playful learning into teaching involves creating an environment where both teachers and children can engage with content in an interactive, enjoyable and hands-on way. Here are some of the approaches I have been exploring with my senior classes.

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3 min