New groups – Móðurmál

Everyone is welcome
to open new groups!

Classrooms

Do I need to find my own classrooms?

No. Móðurmál provides classrooms to all of its groups.

Would it be possible to have more than 1 classroom if we have 3 age groups?

Yes, it is possible.

Is it possible to leave some of the teaching material in the school or do we have to take everything with us always?

As is, you need to bring your material with you every time.

Finances

Would it be already possible to get some financial support or does the school have to be running for some time for it to be entitled the support?

That will be discussed in our meetings. It is possible to get a small grant from Móðurmál.

We assume that all the people involved in our school including teachers will work as volunteers, how is this handled in other schools?

Same. Sometimes teachers can get paid within their groups either from school fees or other grants.

Do parents in other schools usually participate with some financial support?

Some language groups charger the parents for materials and small teachers’ fee. For example, a semester can cost 5.000–10.000 krónur per child and then 50% sibling discounts. Parents can use their frístundakort if they live in Reykjavík. Other communities also support mother tongue classes as frístund. Móðurmál Samtök is in the frístundarkerfi.

Collaboration with Móðurmál

Are there any requirements from your side on how to run the mother tongue group?

Groups teach in accordance with the National Curriculum, the National Curriculum from their countries of origin, or a heritage language curriculum of their language. Currently Móðurmál is encouraging its member groups to see if their teaching is compatible with the National Curriculum Guide for Compulsory Schools. Groups/teachers make their own teaching plans. We require information from groups but don’t tell groups what and how to teach.

Are there any reports due? If so, how detailed and how often they have to be provided?

Twice a year you provide information about number of students plus your teaching plan, number of teachers, etc. Will be specified.

Are there any other requirements?

Signing a membership application where the new group agrees that it will respect the law and the Ethical Code of Móðurmál.
Taking part in cultural events, such as Vertu með in Gerduberg.
Attending monthly board meetings.
Updating information on the website.

What are the responsibilities of the group leader?

Organize mother tongue classes, teachers, plans, etc. – it depends on each group.
Attending board meetings, forwarding information to teachers, parents etc.
Taking part in Móðurmál projects as time allows.

Classes

What are the typical age groups in other schools?

It depends upon each language group. Some groups teach 0–2 years old, 3–5 yrs old or 4–6 yrs old, etc. It widely depends about the number of your students, their ages and the number of teachers.

How many kids per teacher there usually are?

It depends on every group. Usually around 3 to 15 kids.

Would be nice to discuss few examples on what is being taught / done in the classes in other groups, especially older age groups.

It would be a great idea to visit other groups and talk to other language group leaders to get some pointers. Also you can visit other groups.

Communication