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Parts of this section are based on 'Making Links With Your
Partner Primary School In Europe' - produced by Humberside County Council
and reproduced with kind permission. Additions and revisions by EPSA.
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Guidance On Making
Primary School Partnerships
Why Do We Need A Partner School _
Links with schools in other countries can bring a whole new dimension into
the work of a school and into the lives of its pupils and teachers. Pupils
today are increasingly aware of the wider world through using the Internet, through faster and more accessible communications, holidays abroad,
and more opportunities for learning languages. They are naturally fascinated by
other people and other places, and as they grow older they become more aware
of current affairs and places in the news. |
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One of our roles as teachers is to educate young people for citizenship,
including European and World citizenship. We want children to overcome cultural
and language barriers, to feel confident in other countries whilst not assuming
any superiority in their own language and culture and, above all, to enjoy
sharing experiences and learning about the similarities and differences which
make us all unique and special.
Linking with a partner school abroad is the ideal means for
the whole school to become involved in a joint project. A successful link can
grow and flourish from a foundation of broad and regular communication across
the whole school. Visits and exchanges should be seen as a possible result, and
not the sole purpose, of such communication, stemming from a genuine desire to
get to know each other better. |
Choose partners which enable you to fulfil your mutual aims for class to class links. The most successful links are those which are supported by
the whole staff, which can be developed through a range of curriculum activities and which are
equally supported by both partner schools. A carefully constructed link could
endure for more than a year, through class / teacher exchanges, enhancing the
curriculum and broadening pupils' horizons throughout their school life.
[Finding a partner school]
How Do We Plan The Link _
Consider carefully what you want to gain from the link. Do
you want to establish a link that will last for just a year, or for longer_ Do
you want to emphasise a particular project or subject, or will it be a general
exchange_ Consider who will be involved - staff and children. When will the link
work be carried out - as part of the curriculum, or maybe an after-school club.......
Some htmlects need to be decided before entering a partnership, for example :
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if
you wish to use ICT based exchanges - what is your school policy_
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do you need e-mail / Internet permission
forms to be agreed by parents_
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if
you wish to develop a particular project, will it require funding_
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is
a visit by teachers / children feasible_ If so, will staff release time be
available for arranging this_
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Following the initial approaches, (perhaps sending an
introductory pack and
letter of introduction - see later), you will need to
negotiate the basic ground rules for developing the link with your partner
teacher. These should include what sort of materials will be exchanged, how
often and by what method.
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Exchanges of materials might take place once a term. Each pupil,
or group of pupils, might also like
to have an individual/group correspondent to send messages and perhaps one or
two extra things such as a postcard, stamp or sweet. Group mail is often
preferable to avoid situations where some children receive messages while
others do not. Sometimes the whole class
might prepare and send something to their partner class - for example a project,
a film, some artwork..... There are lots of ideas
for exchange materials later in these guidance notes and in the
Shell/EPSA activities. |
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Other issues to discuss while planning the link may include:
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are there likely to
be language / technological differences / other difficulties_ It may be possible to
use the local community as a resource to help with translation, (the local
secondary school for instance). If language is going to prove a barrier, plan
to make communications mainly oral and visual, (graphs and numbers as well as
pictures), using only a few words each time you exchange materials. See
"Questionnaire" and 'This
Is Me' for some ideas in different languages. |
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can audio, video
cassettes or ICT media be exchanged easily_ Audio tapes are universal, VHS
players in some countries may use a different system. Agree the format to be
used for electronic photos. Pupils will enjoy seeing their new friends 'in the
flesh' and the personal contact will greatly increase their motivation! |
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are pupils involved
in selecting, editing, annotating and presenting their work to their link
class - in both directions_ This may involve you in an interesting exchange of
information about your aims and approaches in producing pupil materials. |
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will there be a
balance over the year between exchanged materials which relate directly to the
pupils and their personal interests on the one hand and to the local, (or
directly experienced) environment or cultures of their own area or country on
the other_ |
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N.B. If materials are sent by post - acknowledge receipt
of materials by a card, letter, e-mail or fax. Your partner school will be
anxiously awaiting your first impressions, even if your material isn't quite
ready to send - although you could indicate when and what the response is
likely to be. |
What Sort Of Linking Activities Shall We Do _
We hope that the exchange activities suggested in the
following pages will be seen as starting points from which you will generate
your own ideas.
Ideally, activities will start with consideration of
similarities between pupils of different cultures and countries and then move on to celebrate the differences.
As activities will relate to pupils' own experiences, observations, environment
and life style, comparisons should help to counteract misunderstandings, erode
prejudice and diminish ignorance - and establish tolerance and understanding.
Everyone involved in such a link can gain great benefit, not
only from an educational, but also from a social point of view. So now it's up to
you - TAKE YOUR PARTNER !
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