Careers Project
Primary School Teaching
Top Three Interests are: S E A (Social, Enterprising, Administrative)
On my career interest profiler I scored highest as Social, Enterprising and
Administrative.
Social : social people like working with people. They prefer to be in direct
contact, maybe helping, teaching or discussing things.
Enterprising : Enterprising people like work that allows them to take charge and
make important choices. They also like helping other people make decisions.
Administrative : Administrative people like work that involves looking after and
organising information and things. They like to be well organised, follow routines
and instructions and enjoy checking facts and figures.
Personality Self Assessment
On my personality self assessment I scored highest in stabiliser and idealist.
Idealist: Idealists are concerned with personal growth, and want their life to be
meaningful and significant. They like being with people, sharing with them, and
encouraging them. This is the most philosophical of the four Temperaments, and
they place a high value on being true and honest with themselves and others.
They like to see people grow and develop, and are always ready to help out
when a friend needs them.
Interests: Idealists tend to study the humanities. They seek careers facilitating
the personal growth of others, whether through education, counselling, or other
pursuits that promote the happiness and fulfillment of individuals and society.
Stabiliser: Stabilisers value law and order. They like when there are clear rules
and guidelines and are driven by a strong motivation to serve our society’s
needs. They respect authority and the chain of command. They are bound by a
sense of duty to do the right thing, which tends to make them reliable,
dependable and responsible.
Interests: In their education and careers, their primary interest is likely to be in
business and commerce, with an eye toward practical applications in
management.
My Career
The top three careers suggested to my by the careers interest profiler were
Managing Director, School Principal and a Primary School Teacher.
I have chosen to do my project on Primary School Teaching as it is something
that I have always been interested in.
Career Outline and Description
Primary school teachers, also known as national school teachers, are involved in
the social, intellectual, physical and moral development of pupils in their class.
They teach young children in the first years of school from approximately age 5
to age 12. A teacher works with one single class for an entire academic year and
is responsible for teaching a wide range of subjects on the National Curriculum.
Depending on school size, teachers may have responsibility for more than one
curriculum class group and as such will have to divide their time, presenting
different material on different subjects to students at different levels within a
single classroom.
The teacher plans and delivers lessons, sets and marks assignments, works as a
team-member within the wider school staff, and communicates with parents and
other relevant individuals such as educational psychologists.
Teachers at primary level generally teach all areas of the primary curriculum.
They are generalist rather than specialist teachers, as the primary curriculum is
an integrated curriculum. They have a large responsibility of the class and with
their teaching techniques.
Out of school hours they are expected to prepare lessons, and keep up with new
developments in specific subjects or in education as a whole. Teaching can be a
quite stressful job but also quite rewarding.
Tasks and activities for this occupation:
1. Instruct students individually and in groups, adapting teaching methods to meet
students' varying needs and interests.
2. Teach basic skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal
hygiene, and social skills.
3. Observe and evaluate children's performance, behavior, social development, and
physical health.
4. Establish and enforce rules for behavior, and policies and procedures to maintain
order among students.
5. Demonstrate activities to children
6. Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate,
and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
7. Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
8. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate
those objectives to children.
9. Prepare materials, classrooms, and other indoor and outdoor spaces to facilitate
creative play, learning and motor-skill activities, and safety.
10. Identify children showing signs of emotional, developmental, or health-related
problems, and discuss them with supervisors, parents or guardians, and child
development specialists.
Work activities in this occupation
1. Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing
constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining
them over time.
2. Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas,
relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
3. Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans
to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
4. Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others
and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge
or skills.
5. Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to
work together to accomplish tasks.
6. Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others,
developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or
instructing others.
7. Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and
applying new knowledge to your job.
8. Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information
to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form,
e-mail, or in person.
9. Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating
results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
10. Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect,
and cooperation among team members.
Courses
Course name College Level Duration Points
Education & Mary 8 4 years 552
Psychology - Immaculate
Primary College
Teaching
Marino 8 4 years 462
Education - Institute of
Primary Education
Teaching
Dublin City 8 4 years 464
Education - University
Primary (DCU)
Teaching
Mary 8 4 years 474
Education - Immaculate
Primary College
Teaching
Course content
Education and Psychology - Primary Teaching, MIC
4 years full time
Education
The Education component of the programme seeks to equip participants with the ability
to teach all levels of primary school (4-12 year olds). The teacher is required to have a
mastery and competence in all the curricular areas of the primary school, inclusive of
Art, Drama, English, Gaeilge, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Religious
Education and Social and Environmental Studies (Geography, History and Science).
The foundation studies, professional studies, the school placement and the subject
disciplines are carefully planned in light of changing understandings of the nature of
learning and the theory-practice relationship. There is an appropriate balance in the
programme provision for these areas and their interrelationship is made explicit.
Psychology
Psychology is studied throughout the four years. Modules will include Social
Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Research Methodology, Personality & Individual
Differences, Information Technology & Psychology, Biological Basis of Psychology, the
Psychology of Special Educational Needs and Abnormal Psychology. Students are also
required to undertake an undergraduate dissertation in Psychology in their final year.
Career Opportunities
As the Education component of this programme retains all of the key elements of the
main Bachelor of Education, graduates of this programme will be eligible to practise as
primary school teachers in the normal way. Additionally, in view of their joint
specialisation, graduates of this programme will have the option of pursuing
postgraduate studies in Psychology.
Course content
Education - Primary Teaching, MIC
4 years full time
Year 1 - Learner
During Year 1 of the programme the student will undertake a core programme of study
designed around the theme of Learner. The student will be introduced to academic life
and will be enabled to fully engage in third level education through a specific
programme of study that complements the first suite of academic modules. This year
comprises of on campus study and professional placement.
Year 2 - Teacher
During Year 2 of the programme the student will undertake a core programme of study
designed around the theme of Teacher. During this year a broad range of subject areas
and disciplines will be explored by the student including the study of Inclusive Education
for Children with Special Educational Needs. The student will also complete the first of
their Liberal Arts modules. This year comprises on campus study and professional
placement.
Year 3 - Researcher
During Year 3 of the programme the student will become more responsible for the
direction of core elements of the degree. In this year the student will have the
responsibility of choosing electives in both Education and Liberal Arts. In Year 3 a broad
range of subject areas and disciplines will be explored by the student including the
study of Early Childhood Education.
Year 4 - Leader
This final year comprises on campus study and extended school placement. The
student will spend the first semester on school placement engaged in a wide variety of
activities, including being responsible for teaching various class groupings for prolonged
periods of time, bringing a particular curricular focus to host schools and learning about
aspects of school life outside of the classroom. Students will engage with the infant
classes and a class of his/her choice. During this year, the student will compile a
portfolio showcasing samples of work completed over the course of the degree to date.
The student will complete a dissertation or a final suite of elective modules together with
capstone modules that include a focus on Leadership and Policy in Education.
Course Content
Education - Primary Teaching, Marino Institute of Education
4 years
In the foundation studies you will study how children learn, what factors influence their
learning and how our understanding of this has changed over time. Advance your own
knowledge of curriculum subjects and learn specific methods for teaching all primary
school subjects.
You will have the opportunity to study for a certificate in Catholic Religious Education in
preparation for teaching in schools under the patronage of the Catholic Church and/or a
certificate in Multi-belief and Ethical curricula in Diverse School Contexts.
School placement
During the four years of the Bachelor in Education (Primary Teaching) course, you will
have opportunities to experience placements in urban and rural schools, single sex and
co-educational schools, multi-grade and single class situations, DEIS schools and
scoileanna lán- Ghaeilge nó Scoileanna Gaeltachta. You will also engage in a Special
Educational placement in the second year of your course. This provides you with the
opportunity to experience school life in a variety of contexts.
Gaeltacht
As part of the Bachelor in Education (Primary Teaching) course you must spend time,
typically two two-week periods, in the Gaeltacht to develop your knowledge of the Irish
language and culture. Students pay this fee directly to the Gaeltacht College.
Course Content
Education - Primary Teaching, DCU
4 years
This course is designed to help you become a skilled and creative teacher. All students
study Education modules, complete 30 weeks School Placement and visit the Gaeltacht
for four weeks. You will also study specialisms relevant to teaching. You’ll be part of a
small study group and this will give you a chance to share your experiences of school
placement and your thoughts on course content.
Students spend time in schools in each year, with extended full-semester placements in
each of Years Three and Four. You will start by observing the class teacher and will
build up gradually to teaching all day. Throughout your placements, you will be
supported by both faculty and school staff. The majority of placements will be in schools
under Church of Ireland, Methodist, Presbyterian and Society of Friends patronage with
a particular focus on developing the experience and skills for teaching multi-grade
classes in small schools.
In Years One and Two, students cover the basics needed for teaching. You will come to
understand how children think and learn in active ways. Your curriculum courses will
prepare you to teach all the subjects of the primary curriculum using approaches that
develop children’s understanding and motivation. You will also take modules in
Psychology, Philosophy Sociology of Education and History of Education.
In Year Three, you will review what you have learned to date and will apply it in different
situations. You will deepen your understanding of classroom contexts and of how to
plan for rich learning experiences. You will learn how to work with children in ways that
are democratic and enable them to engage in an ethical way with the world.
Year Four focuses on deepening your expertise. It will provide you with opportunities to
think about big ideas in education such as social justice, inclusion and working in a
school community. You will also undertake a research project.
Students can also specialise in key areas of learning.
Leaving Cert Subjects
My preferred course would be Education & Psychology - Primary Teaching at
Mary Immaculate College.
The entry requirements for this are:
Gaeilge - Grade H5
Mathematics - O6 or H7
English - O5 or H7
Points History
Year Points
2018 552
2017 552
2016 545
My current leaving cert subjects are : Maths, English, Irish, French, Geography,
Business and Biology.
I do higher Level in each of these subjects.
In my leaving cert I plan on attaining 4 H1’s and 3 H2’s. This will give me 576
points, exceeding the points requirements for this course.
Skills and qualities suited to this occupation:
1. Highly committed to the highest standards of professional services.
2. Excellent communication and organisational skills.
3. Patient, caring and motivated by the best interests of your students.
4. Enthusiasm for the subject material to foster a love of learning by students.
5. Willing to engage in ongoing professional development.
6. Relates well to students of different ages and ability levels.
7. Creativity, self-belief and the ability to maintain discipline.
8. Team player who can collaborate with colleagues.
Family Influences
History of Occupations:
My father studied Engineering in college. He did a lot of work in industrial design
and robotics before starting his own business in mobile app development. My
mother studied Management Science and Industrial Systems Studies in college.
She worked as a project manager in a multinational firm. Her specific areas of
work were in localisation and quality control. Having discussed their career
choices I feel that neither of these career paths are for me. I have relations who
are involved in banking, the law, conservation and manufacturing. Again, after
discussion on their careers, I do not want to follow any of these roles. My choice
of career stems from a love of learning and the possibility of being involved in
improving education for all and a chance to influence young people and instill a
love of learning in them.
Career and Employment Trends
Salary Range:
€ 31K > 60K per year
Work conditions:
A typical working day for a primary school teacher lasts five and a half hours. As
well as classroom time this may also include time spent in schoolyard
supervision. Additional time outside of the standard working day is required for
preparation of teaching materials and the marking of assignments submitted by
pupils. While the classroom-based aspect aspect of a primary teacher's day may
appear short, this work is extremely intensive requiring constant concentration as
well as immense creativity and energy. Working with younger children can be
challenging and yet very rewarding. Teachers will often become involved in
extra-curricular as well.
Employers:
State national schools and non-state aided independent junior schools.
Career development:
Promotion to positions such as special duties teachers and assistant principals
can be achieved at an early stage though a current moratorium on promotion
exists.
Summary And Conclusions
Becoming a Primary School Teacher has always been something that I have
been interested in doing. I would love to work with young children to help them
learn and develop. I would really enjoy influencing and guiding young minds. I
feel that I have a lot of energy to bring to this career. I love that fact that I would
be studying and teaching many different subjects rather than narrowing my
choice to a single subject. When in Primary school I found that some of the years
were dominated by teachers who liked music but didn’t like sport or liked sport
but didn’t like Irish. I feel that I would have an advantage as I am equally
interested in all of my subjects. I feel that these would really add to my success
as a teacher.
The course that interests me most is Education and Psychology - Primary
Teaching at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. Apart from the Primary
Teaching aspect I think I would find learning about psychology very interesting. I
think I would enjoy this course. I think that the study of the psychology of
education would be fascinating and might reveal new insights into both myself
and others.
By Róisín Farrell
Module Review
During this module, we were given websites that gave us lots of information
about different college courses, such as careersportal.ie. We could find out
what points you need to get into a certain course, the length of the course and
subject requirements etc. We also had to complete a project on a possible
career that we would like to pursue in the future. I did my project on primary
school teaching. I think that this module is extremely important as it gave me
so much information on college courses and careers. It gave me a better idea
of what career I would like to pursue and it helped me to make a more
informed subject choice.
