Guidance for ALL

3rd September 2020

Eighteen lessons of Guidance Related Learning for Junior Cycle students have been developed. 
Each lesson contains a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation, a detailed lesson plan and student worksheet. 
These lessons are suitable for use both in the classroom and if students are learning remotely.
This webinar introduced all aspects of these newly developed resources for Junior Cycle Guidance.

You can access the accompanying presentation below and view the webinar recording on Vimeo by clicking the 'Resource Link'

More information and the resources themselves are available directly under this post.

NCGE and CareersPortal.ie are delighted to announce that a suite of innovative and integrated Junior Cycle Guidance Related Learning and teaching resources are NOW available.

• This content provides three units of learning: a unit for first year, second year and third year (six classes for each year group)

• Each unit of learning has six lessons.

• Each lesson includes a lesson plan, presentation and student worksheet and are available in English and Irish.

These new resources have been developed in response to the needs expressed by Guidance Counsellors working in post-primary school. 
The content and structure of these resources has been strongly influenced by stakeholder voice through student and Guidance Counsellor focus groups and engagement on the topic.

Class content includes a focus on 'developing myself,' 'developing my learning' and 'developing my career path' in line with the Whole School Guidance Framework (NCGE, 2017).

Topics presented in the units of learning include (but are not limited to):

• My School Year
• My Supports
• My Goals
• My Values
• My Study Skills 
• My Pathways

You can access these resources directly below. An additional 'Guide to Accessing and Using the Resources' is also provided.
There are 3 x units, one for each Year, contained in individual 'Zip' files. Each file contains 2 x separate folders for the English and Irish content.
Within each language format the resources for the 6 x lessons are provided in separate folders.
If you need any instructions on 'extracting' these files for saving to your computer / device, please click HERE (please note - it may take up to 1 minute to download each file)

If you need any additional support with regard accessing or using these resources please e-mail ncgeinfo@ncge.ie GRL

The purpose of this resource is to help guidance counsellors to deal with many of the issues presented by students who wish to improve their study skills and habits.
Clearly, while it lists and seeks to address many issues, it provides only a framework on which to explore some of the concerns of students. It does not provide any details or underlying theory about the issues.

The resource is provided in word format and contains 3 x Sections

• INFORMATION FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
• INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
• INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS (including 'checklists' under the below headings)

THE EFFECTIVE STUDENT
ORGANISE YOUR STUDY
MEMORY
READING
TAKING NOTES

You may find it convenient to seperate out the sections in this document and provide digitally or in printed form to students and parents.

This resource is designed as a brief guide to students who are in the process of opting for subjects in the Junior Cycle.
​This resource can be used to support student learning regarding their interests and aptitudes and can be applied in a classroom setting by presenting to students for completion, followed by discussion of their choices in small groups. 

The resource is provided in Word Document format and contains 5 x Sections:

• INFORMATION FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
• INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
• INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
• 'UNDERSTANDING YOUR INTERESTS'
• 'CAREER STATE INVENTORY (CSI)'

You may find it convenient to seperate out the sections in this document and provide digitally or in printed form to parents / students.

The resource outlines a number of helpful tips for students applying for work experience including how to identify what to apply for and how to prepare a CV and cover letter.

​This resource can be used to support student learning regarding their interests and aptitudes and can be applied in a classroom setting by presenting to students for completion, followed by discussion of their choices in small groups.

The resource is provided in word format and contains 3 x Sections

• INFORMATION FOR GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
• INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
• 'UNDERSTANDNG YOUR INTERESTS'

You may find it convenient to seperate out the sections in this document and provide digitally or in printed form to students.

This Framework is intended to be a resource for schools to support the planning, design and delivery of the whole school guidance programme in line with the requirements of The Education Act (1998), that schools provide students with “access to appropriate guidance to assist them in their educational and career choices” (section 9c). A continuum of support model for the school guidance programme, similar to the school support model of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS), is presented in the Framework – guidance for all, guidance for some and guidance for a few.The continuum comprises a whole school approach to guidance through guidance-related learning to individualised supports for students.The Framework identifies three areas of learning to facilitate students’ development in eight areas of competence. The areas of learning include: learning relating to oneself (personal/social development), educational opportunities (educational development) and career decision making (career development).

In keeping with professional good practice in guidance; records should be kept of all meetings with students.
Examples of simple, one-page templates for use during an educational/career guidance one-to-one meeting and a personal guidance counselling one-to-one meeting with students can be accessed below.
It may be helpful to print and photocopy these (completed) documents after each meeting with a student so both the Guidance Counsellor and student share the same record of the meeting.

The below downloadable template may be helpful in supporting students to reflect on their guidance needs and inform the planning of the school guidance programme during the current Covid-19 pandemic. In using this, or any other self-report measures, it is important to remember their limitations and to remember that guidance is a process and a lifelong journey. The purpose of this tool is to support student reflection of their guidance needs and to inform the school’s provision of guidance over the short term. Please feel free to amend / adapt this questionnaire to meet the needs of the students in your school.

NCGE have developed this ‘Points of Reflection' / Tips Sheet for 6th year students in response to a request from Guidance Counsellors in our May 2020 webinars.Guidance Counsellors can use this resource as a template and amend the content / structure to best meet the needs of the students in their own schools. Please feel free to amend / adapt this sheet to meet the needs of the students in your school.