How do we ensure that all children can read fluently by the end of Grade 3?

• That was the key question discussed by primary school principals, heads of the Foundation Phase, and Uitenhage Education officials at the ‘Leading for Reading’ Imbizo in Jeffreys Bay on 21 September.

In his keynote address, Professor Brahm Fleisch of Wits University, drew our attention to the evidence that a combination of  good teaching practice and appropriate resources improves learner performance.

 

Prof. Fleisch pointed out that the teaching of reading in the Foundation Phase requires professional, committed staff.  As a start, school leaders can prioritise early grade reading by

• placing their freshest, most committed, professional teachers in the Grade 1 class
• deciding to have smaller classes in the Foundation Phase.

After discussing the essential components of reading, and the core methods for teaching reading, delegates deliberated on what is working in their schools, the challenges they face, and plans for improving reading in the Foundation Phase.

The Imbizo was part of the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm Reading Coach programme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new National Integrated Early Childhood Development policy was up for discussion at the ECD Forum meeting on 19 July, 2016, which was co-hosted by the Network of  Early Childhood Training Agencies (NECTA).  The Forum Chairperson, Ms Michele Kay, gave an overview of the policy, after which participants explored the implications of the policy.  We identified some concerns, many opportunities, and began to map some proposed actions for ECD stakeholders.

Click on the pictures below to scroll through the gallery.

We were extremely proud of some of the primary schools we work with in the Kouga area in the  Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s Foundation Phase Reading Coach Programme.  Foundation Phase learners took part in a creative writing and art competition to mark Global Wind Day on 18 June.  

The newspaper cutting below shows learners and staff at Patensie Primary School with ITEC staff member, Mr Zukile Ningi.  Click on the picture to enlarge it. 

 

A very vibrant and participatory meeting of the Eastern Cape Early Childhood Development Forum was held on 13 April 2016 at ITEC.

We discussed the soon-to-be published National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy, which was approved by Cabinet in December 2016 and should be publicly available shortly.  The policy provides for a Comprehensive Package of services for all young children in the longer term, with Essential Components that must be provided in the short to medium term.  The Policy reflects the worldwide understanding that our experiences during our earliest years affect our future lives profoundly, and that positive experiences have the potential to transform society for the better.

We were also excited to be involved in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality’s development of their new Child and Youth Strategy.  For the first time, this will include a strong focus on the needs and rights of the youngest children.   May this be the start of putting young children first in every Municipality in the province!

The University of Fort Hare also had wonderful news to share.  In honour of the University’s centenary, the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education and Rural Development is holding a Children’s Festival that will focus our attention on children, education and our multilingual future.  Much of the Festival will focus on the language and literacy development of the youngest children.

The University is also making great strides in promoting development during early childhood. The UFH ECD Centre of Excellence has completed the first year of planning, and aims to provide a transdisciplinary focus for innovation, teaching and learning, research, and community engagement.

Documents from the meeting are available for download on our ECD Forum Meeting page.  The next meeting will be on 20 July, 2016.

 

 

Every year, World Read Aloud Day draws attention across the globe to the power and joy of literacy.  On 24 February this year, millions of people will be reading aloud or sharing stories with each other, and particularly with young children.

Anyone can do it – spend some time enjoying reading aloud to children, grandchildren, teens or adults.  Or persuade the children to read to parents or grandparents!