Weekly Grinds for 1st Year Students
Enrol in our 1st Year Weekly Grinds and get the extra support students need to achieve success in their Junior Cycle Exams.
Our weekly grinds will provide:
- Access to expert teachers
- Answers to their questions
- Exam focused notes
- Exam strategies & examiner insights
- Recordings of all live classes to rewatch right up to the end of the 2024 Junior Cycle exams
(The school data policy is available here.)
Weekly Grinds Locations
Our Weekly Grinds courses are available as Online Classes. For more information please click below.
Can’t make it to our onsite classes? Join our online Weekly Grinds classes. Get the additional support students need with our live online grinds classes. These are specific online classes that enable students to learn from and interact with the teachers during every class.
Every class is recorded live, so students can rewatch and revise as they prepare for their exams.
Our commitment to you: When you join this course, you can be assured that the outcome will be exceptional whether you join our online or onsite classes.
We look forward to you joining our Weekly Grinds and becoming a part of our Learning Community, as we help you to Junior Cycle success.
Please note:
Login details for online classes will be issued to students by email before the start of the course.
To learn more about what will be covered in each course, please select from the subject list below:
Irish (C)
This course will provide first year students with essential skills to develop their Irish language at the early stages of the Junior Cycle. The course will focus on all of the key language skills – reading, writing, listening and oral. This course will also cover literature which is a central aspect of the new Junior Cycle Irish course.
The course will also have a strong focus on grammar which is a key component in being able to produce written pieces. Grammar covered will include sentence structure, the primary tenses, questions, negatives, the saorbhriathar, the séimhiú and urú, numbers, the possessive adjective and prepositions. By the end of the course, students will feel more confident in writing their own sentences in Irish.
To complement the class notes, students will also have access to videos to reinforce course material.
Maths (C)
This course will cover all the main topics from the 1st Year Maths curriculum.
Topics Include:
- The Number System + BOMDAS – Natural Numbers, Integers, Real Numbers (Fractions, decimals, percentages)
- Introduction to Algebra
- Introduction to Basic Equations
- Sets
- Probability
- Ratio and Proportion
- Distance, Speed and Time
- Statistics
- Representing Data (graphs)
- Perimeter, Area and Volume
- Geometry – Points and Angles, Lines and Triangles
- Patterns and Transformation Geometry
Science (C)
This course is structured to give the students the knowledge to achieve their potential. This is the first of three years in the Junior Cycle and an important one in forming the foundations needed for success.
- Introduction to Science
- Nature of Science
- Laboratory Rules
- Equipment
- Types of Data
- CBA Guidelines
- Biology
- Nutrition + Health
- The Digestive System
- Microorganisms
- Respiration and the Breathing System
- Chemistry
- The Periodic Table
- Compounds and Mixtures
- Ionic and Covalent Bonding
- Chemical Reactions
- Physics
- Measurements
- Distance/Speed/TimeForces
- Earth and Space
- Interactions between Earth/Moon/Sun
- Recycling of Nutrients in Nature
English (C)
This course will aim to give first year students the essential skills to improve at the early stages of their Junior Cert cycle.
Topics Include:
- Writing Skills and Paragraphing
- Poetry Skills
- Personal Writing and Short Story Skills
- Media Studies
- Language skills (story writing, functional writing, and comprehension)
Below are the timetables for each of our weekly grinds locations for the Academic Year 2023/24.
NOTE: All classes are 60 minutes in duration.
*Students may join at any stage throughout the year, subject to availability.
Weekly schedule
| Week | Week Commencing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4th Sept 2023 | First Week |
| 2 | 11th Sept 2023 | |
| 3 | 18th Sept 2023 | |
| 4 | 25th Sept 2023 | |
| 5 | 2nd Oct 2023 | |
| 6 | 9th Oct 2023 | |
| 7 | 16th Oct 2023 | |
| 8 | 23rd Oct 2023 | |
| No Classes | 30th Oct 2023 | Mid-Term |
| 9 | 6th Nov 2023 | |
| 10 | 13th Nov 2023 | |
| 11 | 20th Nov 2023 | |
| 12 | 27th Nov 2023 | |
| 13 | 4th Dec 2023 | |
| 14 | 11th Dec 2023 | |
| No Classes | 18th Dec 2023 | Christmas |
| No Classes | 25th Dec 2023 | Christmas |
| No Classes | 1st Jan 2024 | Christmas |
| 15 | 8th Jan 2024 | |
| 16 | 15th Jan 2024 | |
| 17 | 22nd Jan 2024 | |
| 18 | 29th Jan 2024 | |
| 19 | 5th Feb 2024 | St. Brigid's Bank Holiday* |
| No Classes | 12th Feb 2024 | Mid-Term |
| 20 | 19th Feb 2024 | |
| 21 | 26th Feb 2024 | |
| 22 | 4th March 2024 | |
| 23 | 11th March 2024 | |
| 24 | 18th March 2024 | |
| No Classes | 25th March 2024 | Easter |
| No Classes | 1st April 2024 | Easter |
| 25 | 8th April 2024 | |
| 26 | 15th April 2024 | |
| 27 | 22nd April 2024 | |
| 28 | 29th April 2024 | |
| 29 | 6th May 2024 | **May Bank Holiday. No classes Mon 6th May. Classes as normal Tuesday 7th to Saturday 11th May. |
*Classes will be taught on Bank Holiday Monday 5th Feb ’24.
**Classes will not be taught on Bank Monday 6th May’24. These classes will be taught on Monday 13th May’24.
Online Timetable
| Day | Time | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 17:30 | Irish (Common) |
| Tuesday | 17:30 | Maths (Common) |
| Wednesday | 17:30 | English (Common) |
| Thursday | 17:30 | Science (Common) |
| Number of Subjects | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 Subject | €675 |
| 2 Subjects | €1,155 |
| 3 Subjects | €1,480 |
| 4 Subjects | €1,805 |
| 5 Subjects | €2,130 |
| 6 Subjects | €2,460 |
| Each Subsequent Subject | €325 |
Onsite and online fees are the same.
All students joining our weekly classes now will receive access to recordings of all the classes for which they have enrolled. In addition, they will have access to recordings of the classes that have already taken place since the start of the course. This is an invaluable aid when it comes to revision. Class recordings are available to the end of State Exams 2024.
Please note:
- Card payments accepted.
- 10% reduction for the second and subsequent members of the same family, attending the same courses. Please contact our office to avail of this discount.
- Fees are non-transferable.
Weekly Grinds FAQs
Click on each question for the answer>>
Q: What subjects are available Online?A: Please click here to view the timetable of subjects on offer online.
Q: How do I access my online grinds classes?
A: Students enrolled on the course will receive an email from us containing their unique login details and link to access their chosen subjects through our online student platform, Moodle. Login credentials will be sent in advance of the course start date. Only those details sent to you will enable you to successfully access classes online.
Q: How are the online classes hosted?
A: All online classes are hosted live on Microsoft Teams. The links to the weekly classes are accessed via Moodle. Students must sign into both Moodle and MS Teams with the @instituteofeducation.ie login credentials sent to the student.
Q: Are the online grinds pre-recorded?
A: Each online class is taught live with the teacher and class group as per the timetable. Recordings of each class will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid until the end of June 2023.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. All classes are also recorded live. You will be able to re-watch, pause and rewind the class recordings as often as you wish, making them an invaluable revision aid. The live recordings will be available until the end of the state exams in 2023.
Q: Are there any specific requirements for attending online classes?
A: We advise that all students enrolling in our online classes have access to the following:
-
- Access to a reliable Wi-Fi service
- Access to a PC, Laptop, Tablet or similar device (We would recommend not to use a mobile phone)
- Headphone/Earphones
Q: If I'm attending the online grinds will I have access to the notes?
A: Yes, students enrolled in online grinds will receive a monthly delivery of notes for each chosen subject. Please allow five working days for delivery from the time of booking.
Q: If I enrol in an online class, can I also avail of classes at Leeson Street?
Q: How do I access my online grinds classes?
A: Students enrolled on the course will receive an email from us containing their unique login details and links to access their chosen subjects. Login credentials will be sent in advance of course start date. Only those details sent to you will enable you to successfully access classes online.
Q: Are the online grinds pre-recorded?
A: No, each online grinds class is streamed live as per the timetable. Recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid.
Q: Will I have access to recordings of the live grinds classes?
A: Yes, recordings of classes will be available after each live class is completed. These can then be replayed as a revision aid. These will be available up until the end of the State exams 2023.
Q: Are the class notes available online?
A: No, a hard copy will be posted out to each student for the subjects they enrol in, on a monthly basis.
Q: If I am doing weekly grinds, can I change my choice of subject or class-time during the year?
A: Yes, we will allow class changes up to Easter, subject to available places. Please contact our office to arrange any changes on 01-661 3511
Q: How long is each weekly grinds class?
A: Each class lasts 60 minutes.
Q: How much is the fee per subject?
A: This depends on the number of subjects taken. Please refer to the fees table to see a list of fees.
Q: How many weeks of tuition are there in the weekly grinds course?
A: There are 29 weeks of tuition (29 classes) between September and May. Students will have 1 class per subject booked per week.
Q: If I start weekly grinds later in the year, will this be reflected in the fees I pay?
A: Yes, fees are reduced 3 times throughout the year. The website always displays the most current and up-to-date pricing.
Q: Is attendance at weekly grinds and part-time courses monitored?
A: Yes, attendance is monitored for each class attended. The Institute however accepts no responsibility for students who fail to attend class.
Q: What style are the classes conducted in? Can students ask questions?
A:
- Our classes run in a more lecture style than most students might be used to in school, but they are also interactive, and teachers will use a variety of methods to ensure that students can learn and understand and feel comfortable asking questions and contributing to the class.
Q: For weekly grinds, does the beginning of a new term mean the start of a new course?
A: No, in the weekly classes each subject commences in September and runs through to the end of the academic year in May. Students can catch up on what they have missed by reviewing the previous class recordings and notes.
Q: If I want to join weekly grinds during the year, can you tell me what remains to be covered on the course and what the student has missed?
A: Yes, teachers have their own individual teaching plan for the year, and should be able to advise on this.
Q: My son/daughter cannot attend the course. Can we buy the notes?
A: No. Teaching is a central part of all our courses. The notes are to facilitate recall and revision of the day’s work covered by the teacher.
My daughter attended classes at the Institute. She found the lessons to be excellent; well-structured and focused. The teachers were top-class and provided excellent advice and encouragement. The lecture notes are superb!
– Grainne (Parent)
I liked how interactive it was and how comprehensively all the material was covered. I thought the teacher was excellent.
– Ava, 5th Year Student
It was like being in the classroom even though I was at home. The course was very useful and the notes are incredible!
– Brian, 6th Year Student