Matthew Fitt said it in his column the ither wik, the 3-18 Literacy an English Review said it in April (see fir yersels: read Review here) an the ither Education Scotland Scots Language Co-ordinators an I hiv said it mony times: Scots is nae jist fir Burns Nicht – it shid be fir aw the year.
Bit Scots is celebrated mair aroon Januar, an aye will be, likely. So fit hiv scuils, dominies, bairns an weans been daein in Scots iss last filie?
Weel, A hid a graan time at Fyvie Scuil in Aiberdeenshire on the 25th itsel. Mrs McNab’s P3/4 his been studyin their local Doric, comparin it tae mair general Scots and Orcadian Scots. Their focus, gin ye hinnae jaloused it, his been The Gruffalo, an some o the owersettins we noo hiv. The bairns his been doon in the widds, biggin hoosies fir a wheen o different beasties, an scrievin aboot it in bonnie Scots. We hid an affa fine lesson redraftin their scrievins an learnin mair names fir ither craiturs.
That wis the foreneen. In the aifterneen, A wis at Dales Park Scuil in Peterheid fir their Scots event. A wheen o affa talented bairns recitit poetry in Scots fir a panel o judges. There wis music, singin and dancin, fine maet an guid cheer. Fitin fine!
The fun stertit the wik afore at Kirktonholme Scuil in Sooth Lanarkshire. They invitit the first Scots Scriever, Hamish MacDonald, in tae wirk wi their weans. Ye can read mair aboot fit gied on here Scriever in Daily Record.
Poet Stuart Paterson wis at Udston Primary in Sooth Lanarkshire on the Widinsday o Burns Wikk tae wirk wi fower classes on Scots. ‘It was braw,’ he telt ma.
Puckles o scuils hiv risen tae the Weans Wurds challenge. Some o them hiv been postin wordles an word leets on oor Scots Learners’ site on Glow. Hae a lookie at fit they hiv been daein in Mrs Gallagher’s class at Cargenbridge in Dumfries an Gallowa and Mrs Hampton’s class at Kingswells in Aiberdeen.
At Banff Primary, they yaised numeracy an Scots tae draaw a haggis tae the roll o the dice. Ye can find Haggis Drive resources on the Scots Learners’ site and inno The Blether.
Mr Lind’s class at Newhill Primary in Perth and Kinross his been comparin Scots wi Inglis an French. Ye can see some o the links they fund onno The Blether. St Michael’s Primary Scuil in Dumfries an Gallowa hiv taen this a thochtie farrer wi their Auld Alliance Day. Iss wis a hale day o activities aboot Scots an French an the links atween them. Vive la difference!
St Pius Primary in Dundee spent the hale o Burns wikk gaitherin performances tae pit on fir parents an freens the follaein wikk. A Scots extravaganza!
Matthew Fitt said it in his column the other week, The Literacy and English Review said it in April (see for yourself: read Review here) and the other Education Scotland Scots Language Co-ordinators and I have often said it: Scots is not just for Burns Night – should be for all year.
But Scots is celebrated more around January, and probably always will be. So what have schools, teachers and learners been doing in Scots over the last little while?
Well, I had a wonderful time at Fyvie School in Aberdeenshire on the 25th itself. Mrs McNab’s P3/4 has been studying their local Doric and comparing it with more general Scots and with Orcadian Scots. Their focus, if you have not guessed, has been The Gruffalo and some of the translations now available. The learners have been visiting the woods, building homes for a variety of different animals, and writing about it in beautiful Scots. We had a lovley lesson redraftin their writing and learning more names for other creatures.
That was in the morning. In the afternoon, I visited Dales Park School in Peterhead for their Scots event. A large group of very talented youngsters recited poetry in Scots for a panel of judges. There was music, singing and dancing, good food and good cheer. How lovely!
The fun started the week before at Kirktonholme School in South Lanarkshire. They invited the first Scots Scriever, Hamish MacDonald, to work with their learners. You can read more about what happened here Scriever in Daily Record.
Poet Stuart Paterson was at Udston Primary in South Lanarkshire on the Wednesday of Burns Week to work with four classes on Scots. ‘It was braw,’ he told me.
Several schools have risen to the ‘Weans Wurds’ challenge. Some have posted wordles and word lists on our Scots Learners’ site on Glow. Have a look at what they have been doing in Mrs Gallagher’s class at Cargenbridge in Dumfries and Galloway and Mrs Hampton’s class at Kingswells in Aberdeen.
At Banff Primary, they used numeracy and Scots to draw a haggis at the roll of the dice. You can find Haggis Drive resources on the Scots Learners’ site and in The Blether.
Mr Lind’’s class at Newhill Primary in Perth and Kinross has been comparing Scots with English and French. You can see some of the links they discovered on The Blether. St Michael’s Primary School in Dumfries and Galloway have gone a bit further with this with their Auld Alliance Day. This was a whole day of activities about Scots and French and the links between them. Vive la difference!
St Pius Primary in Dundee spent the whole of Burns week gathering performances to put on for parents and friends the following week. A Scots extravaganza!
