Earlier this year, when the coronavirus pandemic led to schools across the country shutting their doors, parents were being left to home school their children. In order to lend a helping hand, RTÉ and Macalla Teo, with support from Mary Immaculate College, collaborated to deliver a cross-platform teaching initiative for primary school kids.
Every morning at 11am, teachers on the Home School Hub present three short class segments aimed at 1st and 2nd class, 3rd and 4th class and 5th and 6th class. Classes play on television for an hour before directing the kids to fun content and projects on rte.ie/learn and the RTÉ Player.
Here's the schedule for #RTEHomeSchool this week on @RTE2! Don't forget, school's out tomorrow! #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/G4dZy9bjZn
— RTÉjr (@RTEjr) May 31, 2020
This week, to celebrate the magic of books, the Home School Hub is welcoming an author to the classroom each day, to read an excerpt from one of their books, answer questions, and to give children tips on how to write stories at home.
To kick things off, Ryan Tubridy will visit the classroom today to discuss his love of books and how there's a book out there for every child to fall in love with. Seamus the dog will ask the Toy Show presenter about his book The First Christmas Jumper (and the Sheep Who Changed Everything).
Guess who'll be on #RTEHomeSchool Hub tomorrow for Story Week?! Join us at 11am on @RTE2, it's gonna be lots of fun. @RyanTubridyShow @RTELateLateShow @RTEOne @rte @MacallaTeo #fansabhaile pic.twitter.com/GGV2hduW6Q
— RTÉjr (@RTEjr) June 1, 2020
On Wednesday, Eoin Colfer will read from Artemis Fowl and talk about the progression of the book from the page to the big screen - the Artemis Fowl movie is coming to Disney + on 12th June, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Colin Farrel, Judi Dench, Josh Gad and Lara McDonnell.
Gordon D’Arcy will read from Gordon’s Game, which he co-wrote with Paul Howard. The book is inspired by his rugby-playing years and went straight to Children’s No. 1 in Ireland last October. The second book in the series will be published in October 2020.
Sarah Webb will read from Blazing a Trail: Irish Women Who Changed the World and Dare to Dream: Irish People Who Took On The World (And Won!). She will introduce the audience to some of the Irish historical figures who changed the world we live in today.
Marita Conlon-McKenna will read from her classic famine story, Under the Hawthorn Tree. She will teach kids at home how to build tension by writing with all your senses.
The Irish publishers involved along with RTÉ and Easons hope this initiative will encourage children at home to get carried away with a good book during this challenging time.
