Latest news with #JuniorCert
Irish Examiner
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Julie Jay: We must teach children that nothing in life is guaranteed
This week, there was a bit of a furore among parents, students, and teachers about a short story appearing as a question in studied texts on the higher level Junior Cert. Teachers with a social media presence did their best to assuage the fears of students who had been caught short when asked to write about a short story they had studied, an option which, though part of the syllabus, hadn't previously featured on the Junior cert exam. 'I just wrote about Of Mice and Men, is that okay?' asked one Junior Cert commentator. Another student said they had written about the movie ET, while another referred to The Merchant of Venice. The answer to all of the above is a firm 'no', with teachers expressing as much to students who reached out online. Of course, they cushioned the blow with a reminder that exams, much less questions worth 15 marks, were not something to be sweating over, especially the Junior Cert, which will no doubt be the first thing consigned to the scrap heap of history when robots take over the world. But as a parent, the big lesson I hope kids, and indeed their respective parents, will take away from this mini-controversy is that nothing is guaranteed in life. Exams can be arbitrary, and even unfair, because life itself is often arbitrary and unfair. The most important thing we can do for our small people (and ourselves) is to help build their resilience. On the subject of resilience, Number One is facing his last week of naíonara before big school next year, and I can scarcely believe it. I could throw out all the clichés here, because they all apply: it seems like only yesterday we were sending him off to naíonara for his induction day, how the last two years have been the fastest of my life. As I approach the end of this phase, I can't help but be a little emotional about it all, which, given my comedy persona, is very much a sad clown, is pretty on brand for me. The last two years have been wonderful for Number One, although I'm not saying we've aced all aspects. We still find it hard to wait our turn to go in the morning, pushing through the queue and jumping up and down at the front door, much like a 45-year-old dad pushes through the crowds to get to the mosh pit of a Stereophonics concert, and with a similar disregard for innocent bystanders. What I can categorically state though is that Number One is definitely a little more resilient than he was starting two years ago, a resilience which comes with age, of course, but also comes with having to take turns with the Lego and being patient and work with others, even when they insist on eating egg sandwiches at lunch. Above all, I hope he is kind. And if he encounters a lack of kindness in others, he will stand his ground a little and accept that things don't always go your way. A few weeks back, when chatting with his teacher, she professed as much: that Number One was much better at sticking up for himself now, a bit stronger in standing his ground, and a little slower always to outsource the handling of a minor conflict to a teacher. While we want them to know when to ask for help, we also don't want them to be running to the múinteoir with trivialities like 'Timmy has the green marker' and 'Jamie just said my T-shirt is pink and it's red.' (Although to be fair, this is annoying). Resilience is understanding that sometimes things will go wrong and being able to adjust our expectations accordingly. Much like when the orange jumpsuit you purchased online arrives looking less boho-casual and more Guantanamo Bay casual, these little curveballs in life are a reminder that we just have to make the best of things. But it's not just kids who learn resilience through schooling, it's parents too. Because part of being a parent is knowing that things will go wrong and keeping these plot twists right-sized. There have been many moments over the last two years when I've had a wobble and questioned what kind of parent I am. I have forgotten coats, and World Book Days, and on occasion even forgotten a lunch (I look forward to the day I take up my role as President of Ireland and Number One's ham sandwich gets a garda escort to school). But it's all about bouncing back, because that's what we're also trying to instil in them. What I hope is that Number One is a little tougher than he was bounding into the naíonara in September 2023. Because while we never want them to lose their softness, life will demand that they have to be strong. They have to be able to roll with the punches, without throwing any. Reading about parents getting upset about the curveball Junior Cert question this week, we need to remember to keep it all in perspective. One of the most important things we can do as parents is to help our kids deal with life's little red herrings. Because when it comes to it, as Forrest Gump nearly said, life is like an English Junior Cert paper — you never know what you're going to get. Read More Julie Jay: Give parents a break and let them take children on holiday in term time
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Science
- BreakingNews.ie
Junior Cert science exam 'accessible and reasonably fair'
A teacher has said the Junior Cert science exam was "an accessible and reasonably fair paper". Studyclix subject expert Liam Hennelly, a science teacher at Belvedere College SJ in Dublin, said: 'The content of the questions in Section A was very fair and accessible. It would have allowed students to settle into the paper and to pick up a lot of marks. Four of 10 question were Chemistry questions. There were three questions on Biology and two questions on Physics with one question on Earth and Space in this section. Advertisement 'Section B of the paper was more challenging. In a change from previous years, Section B contained just four questions, Q11 was worth 30 marks and Q12-14 were worth 60 marks each. A recurring theme was that topics from the different strands of the specifications were interwoven into the questions." Mr Hennelly added: "Question 11 was on Electricity and the question was about circuits and mainly focused on resistance provided by a thermistor. Question 12 was an accessible question on Rates of Reaction from the Chemical World Strand with a really nice question on how reduced surface area of villi in the small intestine can lead to malnourishment. 'Question 13 was on the Earth & Space and Physics strands. Students had to be able to interpret data from a table provided, work out whether a diagram was showing a solar or lunar eclipse and discuss a technological application of physics in terms of scientific, societal and environmental impact." Mr Hennelly said the lack of choice in the paper and lack of challenge for "more able students" continues to be an issue.
BreakingNews.ie
5 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Junior Cert: Teacher analyses Junior Cert Irish papers
A teacher has given their initial reaction to Junior Cert Irish papers for higher and ordinary level which students completed on Thursday. Studyclix subject expert Stephen Doyle of Moyle Park College in Dublin said the higher level paper was fair and well-balanced. 'The 2025 Junior Cycle Irish Higher Level paper was fair and covered relatable topics for students. The reading comprehension, for example, was about climate change and young environmental activists, something that matters to students. Advertisement "Question H on the reading comprehension may have challenged less prepared students but, overall, the listening and reading sections were very manageable. The grammar section was also straightforward and not too complicated compared to previous years 'This year saw a change with the Drama question being paired with a short film question. "This meant students needed to have both Drama and Novel prepared, as the Novel became a stand-alone question. All the literature sections questioned students on how the events, emotions or images made them feel. Students' opinions and insights were very important throughout this exam. "Overall, the literature questions would have been welcomed by students as they were of the same standard as previous years with no major surprises. Advertisement 'Question 6, the essay-style question, had more choices this year which students will appreciate. It asked students to write for the school magazine about either a big event in Ireland or abroad, or a birthday party or day out in the city. This 50-mark question should have left students feeling confident. 'This was a fair paper that rewarded students who prepared well and should have been manageable for confident students. This paper was well-balanced and most students who studied hard would have been able to show their Irish skills well.' Verdict on JC Irish T2 (Ordinary) Speaking about the ordinary level paper, Stephen Doyle said: 'It was easy to approach and covered the basic language skills students need. "Short reading questions were about everyday things like cooking class and a visit to a concert and a disco with friend topics that students could understand easily. Overall, the paper was well set out and friendly for students, giving them different ways to do well while keeping to the right level for this level.'
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- General
- Extra.ie
Nervous Irish parents take to social media as Leaving Cert 2025 starts
A record number of students are sitting down to take their Leaving or Junior Cert exams today. Over 800 schools across the country are full with over 140,000 anxious students, inside silent examination halls, all heads down, concentrating hard. The Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, said that while students should work hard at their exams, there are always other options. 'Really this is an important time for young people. However, it is also important that they understand there are numerous avenues and pathways available for them to achieve their ultimate goals.' But what about the thousands of anxious parents who dropped off their nervous teens at the school gates this morning, no doubt wishing they could take this stress away from them, even imagining sitting the exams for them. Parents took to social media this morning to share their thoughts about the exams and their kids, with one parent posting on Reddit – I'm so nervous I was in the toilet three times this morning… and I am not even the one sitting the exams.' Pic: Shutterstock While another anxious mum posted 'I don't know about you, but I woke up this morning with a massive feeling of nostalgia. I remembered his first day of junior infants and how scared he was. I remembered how I wanted to hug away the fear and protect him from everything. Fast forward 14 years and today is the day he starts his Leaving Cert. I'm still the same worried mum. I still want to hug away the fear.' As always others had fun remarks when it comes to this time of year, one reader quipped 'Ah.. that explains the nice weather.' Funny how it's become known as 'Leaving cert weather' if we get fine sunny days in June. Perhaps the last word should go to a parent who posted, 'I'm so proud of my kid heading off this morning, regardless of outcome. Just watching them all as I drove away, I realised, they were in 1st year when covid hit and had two years of chaos, online schooling, lockdowns etc.'
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Leaving Cert begins with record 140,000 students to sit State exams
The number of students sitting State exams has passed 140,000 for the first time. Students from over 800 post primary schools will sit down to English Paper One from 9.30am this morning. Advertisement The number of candidates is up by 3 per cent on last year's figure of 136,000 across Leaving Cert, Junior Cert and Leaving Cert Applied (LCA). Minister for Education Helen McEntee said while students should work hard at their exams, there are always other options. "Really this is an important times for young people. But at the same time it is important that they know there are so many different avenus and routes and pathways for them to achieve, ultimately whatever it is they want to achieve at the end of the day. "I just want to wish the many thousands of students who will be doing their exams the best of luck." Taoiseach Micheál Martin also had a message for all those starting their exams today. He said: "I want to wish all of the students participating in the exams the very best of success. "They've worked hard... and just to keep it in perspective and do the very best they can. The country is with them as they go about what is a very important exam for them." This year's exams will run until Tuesday, June 24th for Leaving Cert and Monday, June 16th for Junior Cert.
