In the media
Education Day: dedicated NGOs need help creating a bright literacy future for SA – Cape Times, January 2020
A total of 78% of Grade 3 pupils can’t read for meaning, while more than 30% are illiterate. These are damning statistics – especially since R351 billion was spent on education in 2018.
Fortunately, on International Education Day, it’s heartening to know there are several NGOs and non-profit companies – which need constant public support, monetary and otherwise – that are on a mission to end the illiteracy epidemic in South Africa.
Read more about NGOs, including Wordworks, making a difference.
Mother-tongue early language and literacy training empowers children and parents – Social TV, October 2019
“Following an eight week literacy training programme which commenced in August this year, twenty Loeriesfontein parents proudly graduated. This is a massive boost for literacy in this rural Northern Cape town as it not only builds confidence amongst parents but will have a direct impact on foundation learning, as literacy is a key driver for both language and mathematics.”
Parents Graduate – Southern Mail, June 2019
Wordworks – Southern Mail, May 2019
Developing kids’ language – Peoples Post, April 2019
“We teach children from Grade R through to Grade 3. By focusing on the younger grades we hope to eradicate problems that might arise later on. A child cannot successfully complete their school career unless they are first able to read and write,” says Tina Harcourt-Wood, the Wordworks facilitator at Capricorn Primary School.
Training programme – Southern Mail, April 2019
Reading Begins at Home – Safair Inflight Magazine, February 2019
‘Children who learn to read and write successfully don’t only have good teachers at school, they also tend to be those who have benefited from critical early learning experiences from birth to five years…Research has shown that skilled reading and writing depends on oral language abilities that begin developing from the earliest days in a child’s life. Through nurturing relationships, critical brain connections are made that support a child’s language development from birth.’
Shelley O’Carroll
How you can be part of the solution to our literacy crisis – Mail&Guardian
Why should YOU help to solve our literacy crisis?
You may think, ‘Why is this my problem? I pay my taxes and education is government’s responsibility. Isn’t this the work of NGO’s, philanthropists and CSI departments? How will I know my money will be well used?’ In this article, on Giving Tuesday, Wordworks Director Shelley O’Carroll responds to these questions and provides some practical ways for you to contribute. She challenges all South Africans to become part of the solution, and talks about why giving is important for those who give.
‘Early literacy and numeracy starts in the womb’ – Worcester Standard
More than 30 students were awarded certificates for successfully completing an Every Word Counts course in early numeracy and literacy…The course was presented by the Foundation for Community Works (FCW) in collaboration with Wordworks and the Do More Foundation.
Words that make sense – City Vision
“Friday was a day to remember for Grade R learners at Noluthando School for the Deaf in Khayelitsha, as they were taken through their graduation paces during a ceremony at the school. The eight learners, all seven-years-old, were joined by a group of parents who also graduated after completing an eight week course, designed to offer support to their deaf children, who are learners at the school.”
Inkwenkwezi Society looks up – Grocotts Mail
The Inkwenkwezi Society aims to implement change through the use of preventative resources provided by national NGOs – such as Wordworks and Shine, to enhance the individual strengths of pupils as well as promote their mental well-being and resilience in schools around Grahamstown…at the end of a child’s programme, there is a notable difference in their self-esteem in that the students are more capable and confident in reading, writing and speaking in English. In addition, the programme has had a positive impact on each child’s sense of self-worth as they feel they have role to play in the classroom and want to be there.
‘Ready Steady Read Write’ helps Kranshoek kids – CXPRESS
‘The ‘Ready Steady Read Write’ programme has been piloted at Kranshoek Primary to selected Grade R and Grade 1 learners during this year’s first two terms… (Bitou10 Foundation) expresses sincere gratitude to Wordworks for making a life-changing impact on the development of learners and teachers in Bitou.
Square Hill Parent Graduation – Southern Mail
Proud parents from Square Hill Primary School completed the eight-week Home-School Partnerships (HSP) Programme . The programme was conducted by facilitators who are teachers at the school. The HSP is being conducted across many schools across the Western Cape.
Pupils struggle to read in their mother tongue – Cape Argus
“O’Carroll said there was a need for investment in resources and books for children in African languages, so that children had opportunities brought to them in their own home language. She also said we had to resource teachers and help them to teach well in both languages. “There are many issues where teaching reading in African languages is concerned. Some are related to methodology and how reading is being taught, and some concern a lack of resources.”
Hout Bay pupils benefit from tutoring programme – Sentinal News
‘In 2008, a group of women from Hout Bay who were passionate about making a difference, offered their time to support Grade 1 pupils at the Oranjekloof Moravian School, using the Ready Steady Read Write (RSRW) tutoring programme developed by the Wordworks NPO.’
Empowering parents of ECD kids – Boland Gazette
‘A parent is a child’s first teacher.’ Parents in the Langeberg are being encouraged by their children’s ECD teachers to create informal learning opportunities with their young children at home, using the Wordworks Home-School Partnerships Programme.”
Project fosters good relations – City Press
‘Parent Thabisa Mathebula said the programmes not only helps her to effectively assist her child, but strengthened their relationship. “Through this course, I(have) learnt how much we as parents neglect our children. I have a new born baby and sometimes I would brush off my child because I am busy with the baby. This has helped me identify those things and be more involved in her school work,” she said. She said she has also learnt to take the child’s opinions into account and be more considerate.’
In the media
Home-School Partnerships parent graduation at Plantation Primary School- Southern Mail
Many of the parents that have been attending our Home-School Partnerships Programme workshops across the Peninsula have been graduating. Follow our Facebook page for more of these stories.
World Read Aloud Day at Monty’s – Southern Mail
”Fourteen pupils were chosen to read aloud to the school as part of the programme on Thursday February 1. Eight of the pupils read in Afrikaans and six in English, while principal Reginald Gabriel joined the activities to play the part of a father in a story.’15 South African children’s books to bring calm during the holidays – Parent24
Here is a list of holiday reading for young children, in South African languages, compiled by Wordworks. Happy reading, with and to your young ones!
Literacy must start at infancy – Mail&Guardian
Wordworks Director Shelley O’ Carroll’s opinion piece in the Mail & Guardian is a response to the recent PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) report. South Africa was placed at the bottom of 50 participating countries in reading, with 78% of Grade 4 students not being able to read for meaning.
Reading assistance – Southern Mail
Year-end celebrations for learners and volunteer tutors at Montague Gift Primary School.
Literacy course for adults brings dad closer to son – Cape Times
34 parents from two of Mellon Educate’s community schools graduated this week with Mellon Educate SA and Wordworks. These joyous parents from Kuyasa and Ummangaliso primary schools in Khayelitsha completed the eight-week Wordworks early literacy course known as the Home-School Partnerships Programme. This was coordinated and facilitated by Mellon Educate, and supported by Wordworks mentors.
Children’s books galore, thanks to collaborative initiative – Cape Times
‘Much has been said about the great need to make quality local books available and affordable, especially for young children.
During literacy month in September, we are celebrating a collaborative initiative that is making it possible for many more children to have beautiful books in their own language.
Through an initiative between NGOs and publishers, 16 organisations have been able to purchase 12 402 children’s books in six languages for an average of R21 per title!
This project was initiated by Biblionef, Wordworks, Smartstart, Blue Door ECE and Nal’ibali, who selected titles, sent out a call for interest to NGOs and worked with publishers to co-ordinate bulk printing orders.’
Masi parents get awards – False Bay Echo
A parents’ programme (Wordworks Home- School Partnerships), running every Wednesday for eight weeks by Wordworks, was held recently at Masi library, with the 10 parents who completed the course, graduating.
Locals donate libraries to dream of – People’s Post
In June, Ready Steady Read Write (RSRW) tutors assisted the Rotary Club of Wynberg to select books and set up the fully stocked Library Corners that Rotary has sponsored for each foundation phase classroom at Montagu’s Gift Primary School.
Strengthening teaching of early language and literacy in Grade R – Jeffreys Bay Courant
Twenty-five Grade R teachers, who form part of the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s Literacy Programmes, are set to benefit from an early language and literacy programme. The programme, which is fully compliant with CAPS, kicked off on Tuesday 16 May, at St Patrick’s School in Humansdorp and will continue until the end of 2017.
In the media
Parents part of kids’ learning – People’s Post
Kannemeyer Primary School is one of many primary schools across the Western Cape running the Wordworks Home-School Partnerships Programme: “Since we started, parents have shown tremendous interest and there has been a marked increase in the annual systemic tests for maths and literacy at our school.”Collop adds that the programme also plays a part in bringing a family closer together. “Evidence also shows that communication between child and parent improves as the parent develops more patience with their children. Parents are introduced to different games that helps counting as well as reading and the best part is that learning takes place by having fun.”
Lions Club adopts school – Southern Suburbs Tatler
Extract: Ms Israel said Wordworks, an early literacy programme, use the library to assist pupils who have challenges. “We just had an assessment done, and they have improved so much,” a proud Ms Israel said. Mr Lewis said they want to make the school a space where children want to be – hence he is always looking at ways to improve the environment.
Spine Road High pupils master maths – Plainsman
Extract: Ms Baker (Principal of Westville Primary School) said on weekends they have sessions with parents where they teach them how to help their children. They also have a home-school partnership programme, called Wordworks, aimed at working with the Grade 1 pupils at the school.
Learners get book boost – News 24
Resource Centre to break learning barriers – Athlone News
Extract: The project partners include Ikamva Ubomi, the Department of Social Development, Sisters 4 Sisters, the City of Cape Town, Wordworks, Goldstar Entertainers and the neighbourhood watch. Ward 49 councillor, Rashid Adams, said the resource centre was ideally placed, which made partnerships with other organisations and institutions easier.
Wordworks grows from strength to strength – Southern Mail
Learning Programme – Southern Mail
Wordworks does the job – Southern Mail
Helping young children – Plainsman
Working with words – Plainsman
In the media
Parents learn to help children with reading – Sentinel News
Learning through play introduced – Worcester Standard
Literacy boost for proud parents – News 24
Parents take the lead in education – Vukani
Quality is the key to Grade R
This article for the Cape Times looks at the importance of quality provision in Grade R. It describes how our STELLAR programme is helping to achieve just this by improving the teaching of early language and literacy in Grade R.
Curriculum misses the mark
This article for the Mail&Guardian discusses the draft Birth to Four Curriculum Framework and urges government to invest more time in the development of the curriculum to ensure that it reflects best practice in ECD and is accessible to those who will be using it.
Schooling alone won’t fix illiteracy
An article for the Mail&Guardian discussing the problems with the report by the National Education Evaluation and Development Unit (NEEDU) on literacy teaching in Grades 1-3.
Simple activities have a huge impact
An article for the Cape Times looking at the main recommendations of the Narrowing the Literacy Gap report.