OTB Author Fiona Forman and Graphic Designer Andrea Heron have designed a free booklet to assist teachers in helping newly-arrived children from the Ukraine to feel safe, calm, hopeful and connected, as well as providing them with ways to cope.

This free booklet has been rigorously reviewed and subsequently amended by senior educational psychologists and also by Educational Psychotherapist Marie Delaney. Marie has extensive experience working with students who have been affected by traumatic experiences and is the founder of trauma-ed.com.

NB: Marie has advised that teachers using this booklet should refer to the accompanying TEACHER NOTES to accompany the Welcome to Ireland Booklet.

The booklet – Welcome to Ireland – Classroom Activities for Newly Arrived Students – is dual language (English and Ukrainian) and is available as a free download or in printed format, free from Outside the Box.

The activities in the booklet aim to give children the opportunity to reflect on and share their strengths, likes and hobbies with their new teacher (and classmates, if they wish to). The activities are aimed at children aged approximately 8-10 but can be used for older or younger at the teacher’s discretion.

FREE COPIES: Schools may order actual printed copies of the booklet for their Ukrainian children at no charge by completing the Free Booklet Request Form HERE or by emailing: ukraine-support@otb.ie

Teacher Notes

(Please Read Before Using Booklet)

FREE TEACHER NOTES DOWNLOAD: Click HERE
PRINTED COPIES WILL BE SENT IF BOOKLETS ARE ORDERED

Free Booklet from OTB: Classroom Activities for Newly Arrived Students

FREE BOOKLET DOWNLOAD: Click HERE
FREE PRINTED COPIES: Click HERE

Free Posters to Download from Creative Mindfulness & OTB

Free Communication Boards & Resources for Ukrainian Children

IPTCA: Ukranian-English Communication Boards

The IPTCA (Irish Play Therapy Community Association) has produced a free colourful Ukranian-English Communication Board for use by Children, Teachers and Families. Click on the image above to access the download. It is recommended that you print it back-to-back, laminate it and distribute it to the children.

Communication resources for Ukraine refugees by tobi-dynavox

UK specialist publisher tobi-dynavox brings you a wide range of free, printable resources in Ukrainian and several key languages to support refugees from Ukraine in need of a quick way to communicate basic needs, feelings and medical information. Click on the image above to access their ‘Resources for Ukraine Refugees’ page.

SmartBox: Ukrainian-English Communication Boards

UK specialist publisher Smartbox has engaged their Content Team to create these six communication boards to help people quickly talk about their needs and health, using symbolised core words and medical vocabulary. Click on the image above to access the download.

Irish Government Support Services

You can find out about the Irish Government’s support services on:

Irish Government’s Response to the situation in Ukraine

The DES and NEPS have published the following two documents ‘Supporting the Wellbeing of Children from Ukraine in Your School‘ (Primary) and ‘Supporting the Wellbeing of Young People from Ukraine in Your School’ (Post-primary). These documents can be accessed here by clicking on either of the document covers below.

DES & NEPS: Guidance for Primary Schools

DES & NEPS: Guidance for Post-Primary Schools

Useful Websites

TUSLA - Child & Family Agency (Ireland)

TUSLA - Ukraine Response

FÁILTE ISTEACH

Welcoming Migrants through Conversational English Classes

National Autistic Society (UK) - Ukrainian Refugees

Information for Ukrainian refugees and for families hosting Ukrainian refugees

UNHCR UKRAINE

The UN Refugee Agency

News Articles

Irish Times

English language classes planned for Ukrainian refugees

RTE

Extra volunteers recruited to teach Ukrainians English language

Useful Resources - EAL (English as an Additional Language)

English Language Essentials

25.00

The English Language Essentials series offers a wide range of resources for ESOL teachers and teacher aides – it is especially helpful for teachers who are new to ESOL or don’t have time to plan a lesson. Teachers with English-speaking students who are less confident with English grammar will also find many of the activities helpful.

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English Language Toolkit

25.00135.00

A structured learning programme for students who have a language background other than English.

Click on Choose an Option to LOOK INSIDE:

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Everyday English

20.0055.00

Introducing English for Speakers of Other Languages

20.00

This ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) resource provides both written and oral exercises that are designed to provide natural learning experiences to expand and extend English vocabulary.

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Sale!

Newell Literacy Programme (Revised Edition – 2023)

19.95240.00

The fully revised Newell Literacy Programme is a multi-sensory, phonetic, sequential and success-orientated programme to help improve child and adult literacy skills in reading, writing and spelling. Choose an individual book from the dropdown menu to LOOK INSIDE.

Sale!

Off We Go: Social Storybooks for Children with Communication Difficulties

7.9585.00

Off We Go books are beautifully illustrated, engaging social storybooks for children that explain ‘what comes next’ on an outing. They are designed to help children to get through the task sequentially making it easier for them. The colourful books are very suitable for children with autism or other social communication difficulties and indeed as an EAL resource.

Sale!

Reading Dialogues

20.0035.00

Each book in the Reading Dialogues series contains a series of ‘dialogues’ or short plays which are intended to be read aloud in small groups, and then discussed. The dialogues are tailored to different language levels in both books and are interesting, challenging and above all, fun.

Choose an individual book to LOOK INSIDE.

Speak Easy

20.00

This is a collection of activities that help to promote oral language in students who are very new to English.

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Studentspeak

20.00

Studentspeak is a New Zealand resource and draws on the stories of 8 teenage international students to provide a basis for a range of ESOL learning activities.

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Talking In Pictures

30.00

Counselling Techniques for Children and Adolescents who find it Difficulty to Talk

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Word Puzzles for Speakers of Other Languages

20.00

The 50 crosswords and word searches in this photocopiable book provide new speakers of English with opportunities to practise and reinforce new words and phrases.

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Writing Workbook for Speakers of Other Languages

20.00

For many students, presenting their own ideas and discussing issues have not been significant in their first language education. This workbook has been developed to help teachers address this challenge.

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Useful Resources - Well-Being for Pupils

Building Resilience

30.00

This comprehensive resource offers a proactive, preventative approach within an educational paradigm that is based on the premise that resilience can be taught and that factors can be altered to facilitate resiliency among at-risk students.

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Building Resiliency in Schools

25.00

This handbook shows that resiliency-based schools give young people the ability and opportunity to redirect their energies towards achieving success.

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Building Resiliency in Youth

25.00

This book provides specific activities to use with young people that will help build their resiliency.

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Calm Cards for Tweens: Cards & Posters

14.9519.95

The Calm Cards for Tweens Cards and/or Posters consist of ten beautiful, full-colour illustrations.

Sale!

Developing a Positive Sense of Self

20.0035.00

– Teaching and Learning about Personal Well-Being at Middle Primary Level

The two books in this series are full of ideas and activities that teachers can use to help students feel good about themselves while, at the same time, create a classroom environment where mutual support and caring are an everyday occurrence.

Choose a single title from the Dropdown Menu to Look Inside.

 

Sale!

Fí na Folláine – Paca Tosaigh

140.00

Is é Fí na Folláine an chéad chlár den chineál seo, atá deartha in Éirinn, don mheabhairshláinte dhearfach. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gclár cur le folláine na bpáistí ó 8 – 12 bhliain d’aois laistigh de chreat an churaclaim OSPS.

Fí na Folláine: Paca Tosaigh – Comhdhéanta de: Leabhar áiseanna an mhúinteora x 5 agus Leabhrán an dalta x 5

Sale!

Helpful Handbooks for Parents, Carers and Professionals

7.9565.00

This contemporary series of 10 handbooks (A5) covers a range of topics about the social and emotional challenges that a young person may encounter. Select an individual book from the dropdown menu to LOOK INSIDE.

I Can Do

15.0020.00
Sale!

Just Being Me

20.0035.00

Just Being Me is a two book resource series that provides support material for teachers and students in the area of mental health and well-being.

Sale!

Kindfully Me Books

9.9526.85

The ‘Kindfully Me’ series consists of three colourfully illustrated children’s books that introduce children to practices of mindfulness, kindness, compassion and gratitude.

Kindfully Me Posters

19.95

The Kindfully Me Poster set consists of ten beautifully illustrated A3-size classroom Kindness posters based on the “Kindfully Me” series of books.

Magic Word: Cards & Posters

14.9519.95

The Magic Word set of cards and/or Posters consist of ten beautiful illustrations, designed to be highly appealing to children.

Managing Anxiety at School

20.00

This book contains a series of 18 topics that can be used to support students in developing a repertoire of responses for managing feelings of anxiety and fear before they get out of control.

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Mindful Heart, The

49.95

The Mindful Heart is a practical and easy-to-follow guide for teachers which simplifies introducing mindfulness to the classroom.
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Mindful School Communities

40.95

Build a thriving school community that creates healthy, resilient and successful students.

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Mindfulness Practices

40.95

In Mindfulness Practices, the authors passionately convey the scientifically proven healing that mindfulness brings to students who suffer from trauma or stress.

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My Multicultural Classroom

20.00

– Learning About and Understanding our Multicultural Society
My Multicultural Classroom is an essential tool in helping children work through their own belief systems and recognise their classmates from different cultures have something to offer.
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Positively Me: A Self-Esteem Programme for Teachers and Students

25.0045.00

Work side by side with Positively Me – this self-esteem programme for teachers and students encourages a high degree of active participation from both. It provides teachers with activities and games that help students develop an understanding of self-esteem.

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Quiet Times: A Safety Valve for Student Stress

20.00

Quiet Times will not only get students thinking about what is important to them but will also allow them a welcome chance to recharge and refresh in the midst of busy and often stressful day-to-day classroom learning.

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Self-Kindness for Kids: Whizzo-Voice to the Rescue!

7.95

This little book will help children to engage in positive self-talk and be kind to themselves.
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Stop Think Do

9.95225.00
Sale!

Teaching Values Through Fairy Tales

15.0055.00

Teaching Values through Fairytales – photocopiable teacher resource books for use with children aged 7 to 10.

Understanding Feelings

25.00

Understanding Feelings is all about equipping young people with the self-esteem, resilience and strategies they need to cope with the stresses of our increasingly complex and demanding world.
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Weaving Well-Being Poster Set

19.95

Enhance your school’s Weaving Well-Being lessons with this set of full-colour A3 posters.

Sale!

Welcome to Well-Being: Starter Kit (Lower Primary – Junior Infants to 1st Class / Ages: 4-7+)

89.50140.00

The Welcome to Well-Being programme is a multi-year programme for children from Junior Infants to First Class (Ages: 4-7+). It is designed to enhance children’s well-being across all dimensions – social, emotional, spiritual, physical and mental. The theme of the programme is that two small, gender-neutral aliens called Mo and Ko arrive from the planet called Zo to help children feel happy, strong, kind and brave, loving and well. The characters Mo & Ko are gender-neutral – to order a gender-specific version, please click HERE.

Where I Belong

20.00

Where I Belong is a well-organised resource to promote a sense of belonging for children and their families.

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Who’s Visiting Now? Cards & Posters

14.9519.95

The Who’s Visiting Now Cards and/or Posters each consist of ten beautiful illustrations.  The illustrations are designed to help children explore different emotions.

Sale!

Wired for Well-Being: Starter Kit (Secondary – 1st Year to 3rd Year / Ages: 12-15)

89.50140.00

Wired for Well-Being aims to introduce young people to skills and strategies from the fields of Positive Psychology and Neuroscience to empower them to become active participants in understanding, creating and maintaining their well-being and resilience. In doing so, it aims to help young people to reach their potential, to flourish and to become thriving citizens.

Useful Resources - Well-Being for Educators

180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators

35.95

Rely on 180 Days of Self-Care for Busy Educators to help you lead a happier, healthier, more fulfilled life inside and outside of the classroom.
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HEART!

43.95199.95

Mentor Teacher Guide, A

29.95

Supporting beginning and experienced teachers to be effective practitioners
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SOUL!

43.95

In SOUL!, author Timothy D. Kanold shares his own reflections and anecdotes, as well as wisdom and research from various teachers and leaders, to inspire and guide educators through their professional journeys.

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Taking Care of You

25.00

Reducing Stress and Burnout for Teachers and Educators
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