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Original poster

Gaidhlig School Mums, can i ask for some advice?

19 replies

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2010 19:19

i want to get dd some more story books, especially ones that i can read in english as well, so it helps both of us to spot conventions etc. i'm looking at katie morag books on amazon, but it has also occurred to me that there MUST be some parents whose kids are old enough to want to get rid of some books...

so where do they sell them/pass them on? does the school do a sale or anything?

also, any recommendations? cheers!

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Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 16/11/2010 12:04

bump

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Leodhasach · 17/11/2010 10:22

You could try Acair books: www.acairbooks.com/

I'm in Inverness (daughter goes to BSGI) and there's usually a stall there with books that a local lady sells at Parent Evenings and events hosted at the school. I can't for the life of me remember what her company name is though!

We've probably got a fair few still that R doesn't read anymore. I'll have a wee look when I get home.

Leodhasach · 17/11/2010 11:20

We had this series, they're bilingual and ideal if you're a parent learning Gaelic.

lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbooks.org/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=15_34&products_id=563

cozyjumper · 17/11/2010 21:52

lsh507.securepod.com/gaelicbooks.org/merchantmanager/

Link to Gaelic Books Council, unfortunately not second hand books but a great resource.

Which books depends on the age of child, the Maisie books are pretty good, but there are books like 'The Gruffalo' and 'Peter Rabbit', 'Pheadair Rabaid', which you can also get on CD.

Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 18/11/2010 12:21

cheers, ladies, i will look at these later and report back. Wink
apparently there is a book stall at the christmas fair but very few wee kids books there. the gaidhlig bookstore isn't far from here but i frankly baulk at the expense given that i am SURE that there must be heaps of second hand ones somewhere...

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Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 18/11/2010 12:23

must scoot but leod, your link isn't working, it goes to the front page.

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kirmcc · 19/11/2010 15:52

well we may be leaving gaelic education so if we do you can have all the gaelic books we have floating about here:)

Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 19/11/2010 16:26

oh no kirmcc, really? what's happened? i thought dd was so happy there. (my dd ADORES her, i think yours still keeps an eye out for mine in the playground). are you serious?

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kirmcc · 19/11/2010 21:48

yep:( past month or so shes not been that happy and with ds starting next year- hes showing no interest in it at all:(

her optician also thinks shes showing signs of visual stress- colours where theres no colours, blurred writing etc- is a symptom of dyslexia but can exist alone!

just trying to figure out whats best- i'm fed up of the politics of the school and i'm fed up of seeing my dd come out of school looking sad:(

went to catchment area school- they can help her catch up with english reading writing level before it shuts to form new hillhead

i'm just so confused :(

Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 19/11/2010 23:26

oh no, i'm so gutted for you, kir. what's the school saying about it? are they willing to help or still worried about her uniform?

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kirmcc · 21/11/2010 08:55

tbh i think i gave up on the school a long time ago:( i haven't talked about moving her with them.

Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 21/11/2010 09:42

why do you think she is unhappy? i thought she was doing really well.

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Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 21/11/2010 09:43

(but i can see that if she looks like she has dyslexia maybe one language might be best).

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darleneconnor · 21/11/2010 09:57

kirmcc- why have you given up on the school? What is it about the politics? As a prospective parent I'd be really interested to know.

kirmcc · 21/11/2010 11:05

her teacher and the learning support have looked at her work and both agree that theres no signs of dyslexia, so if she does have the visual stress its just that.

one of the issues is her friendships she has within the school- because they mix the classes up every year, shes not managed to develop any close bonds with people as everytime she gets close they get put into different classes.

to me (and some other parents) it feels like if you are not a native gaelic speaker you get treated like a second class citizen, some parents won't even give you the time of day. and it feels like if your child is having problems and they don't fit in just right then you don't seem to get the help your child needs.
i know i am not alone in feeling like this there is a group of parents particularly of p3 parents that are considering pulling their child out however i do know plenty of parents and children who are happy with the school.

i think another additional factor is that the language is hard to learn and since dd starting school my circumstances have changed and by the time my ds goes into p1 next year i don't think i am going to be able to have the time to get the level of fluency i believe is needed to put your child through gme. but saying that i do know people who don't have the language and the children are doing well so being fluent in the language is not necessary or them:) i just don't know how they do it!it takes me good hour to go through her homework each night:(

i had my doubts before we sent her to the school but she loved the language and wanted to keep on learning it so we put her there. now i wish i listened to myself more- so i guess i would say to any prospective parent, think about it very carefully and in my book, don't underestimate the amount of dedication to learning the language you could need!

darleneconnor · 21/11/2010 11:49

I would be worried about the amount of gaelic me/DP would have to learn. I found languages vv hard at school, despite being a grade a student otherwise. So I dont think I'd be able to help much with homework- would this be a big issue?

At DS's school he doesn;t even get any homework- I take it this isn't the case at the gaelic school?

If the non-gaelic speaking parents are in the majority then wont this counter the gaelic-speaking minority? Or is it that they are resentful about the influx of non-native speakers into their 'community'?

kirmcc · 21/11/2010 12:08

they get homework every night pretty much from p1, up to now i have been doing ok - in p1 and 2 it had an english translation :) now its gaelic and i can pick up the odd words but i do have to translate alot of it with the help of my dictionary of course.

i think with me its maybe not just the non gaelic side- i'm a single mum who never married the kids dad who has tattoos etc i don't fit into the mould, i'm not of the right stock perhaps:) obviously not everyone is the same i have met lovely parents but i feel like neither me or my child has a voice in that school:(

but again this is just how i perceive the situation, i'm guessing aitch will maybe have a more positive view of the school and another mum on here weegiemum- her kids go there aswell she might be able to give you her opinion on the school so you get a better idea

Original poster
AitchTwoOh · 21/11/2010 12:15

well i can't say much yet because dd hasn't even completed a term but yes, my impression is so far very positive. this year the saturday club thing is over-subscribed, as i understand it, so i think that suggests that the ratio of non-speakers is on the rise.

you know that to me you look exactly the same as everyone else, kir. (except rather prettier around the eyes). this isn't a confidence thing, is it?

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kirmcc · 26/11/2010 20:30

nah its just i;m fed up of it all:)

dd is going to local primary school on monday to see what she thinks of it and if she likes it then dd will be out of there soon!

did find out today that i am not the only one removing their kids. a fellow mum said she knows of at least 5 kids that are going!

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