Early Literacy in the spotlight!
“Concerns have been raised by early childhood organisations regarding the development of children who are six and younger.”
Innovation Edge has launched a campaign to find and fund products or services that aim to improve pre-school teachers’ support of early literacy development for 4- to 6-year-olds in South Africa’s impoverished communities.
Read more about what Wordworks, the Centre for Early Childhood Development, and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) have to say in response to early childhood challenges in South Africa.
To read the full article, please click on the link below:
Local making it big!
Square Hill Primary School held a certification event on the 21st of May for parents and caregivers that completed the Home-School Partnerships (HSP) programme! The celebration was filled with enthusiasm and pride, but what boosted this feeling was a feature in the Southern Mail newspaper!
The article shines light on the amazing work that this school did with the Wordworks HSP programme.
To read the full article, click here.
Education Day: dedicated NGOs need help creating a bright literacy future for SA
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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
Mother-tongue early language and literacy training empowers children and parents
“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.”
To read the full article, click on the link below:
Developing kids’ language
“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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://www.news24.com/News24/developing-kids-language-20190422
Reading Begins at Home
‘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
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://www.wordworks.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/SAFair-Inflight-article-0219.pdf
How you can be part of the solution to our literacy crisis
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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://mg.co.za/article/2018-11-26-how-you-can-be-part-of-the-solution-to-our-literacy-crisis/
‘Early literacy and numeracy starts in the womb’
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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://www.netwerk24.com/Netwerk24/early-literacy-and-numeracy-starts-in-womb-20181121-2
Inkwenkwezi Society looks up
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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://grocotts.ru.ac.za/2018/08/01/inkwenkwezi-society-looks-up/
‘Ready Steady Read Write’ helps Kranshoek kids
‘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.
To read the full article, click on the link below:
Empowering parents of ECD kids
‘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.”
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://www.netwerk24.com/Netwerk24/empowering-parents-of-ecd-kids-20180521-2
Project fosters good relations
‘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.’
To read the full article, click on the link below:
https://www.news24.com/News24/project-fosters-good-relations-20180425
