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, will kick off on Tuesday 16 May, at St Patrick’s School in Humansdorp and continue until the end of 2017.
Explaining the motivation behind this education programme, Marion Green-Thompson, Economic Development Director of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm said, “Evidence clearly shows how important oral language and literacy foundations are for all school learning. Children who have more developed language and literacy capabilities when they start Grade 1 go on to become betters readers and writers. STELLAR provides theoretical and practical ideas to help Grade R teachers work with young children to build crucial skills in a fun, story-based, activity-rich programme,”
The STELLAR Programme, which stands for ‘strengthening teaching of early language and literacy in Grade R’ is designed to support Grade R teachers to develop the knowledge and skills they need to teach oral language and emergent literacy effectively.
Teachers participating in the programme will be required to attend reflective workshops and training sessions over the course of a year. Teachers implement the programme between workshops and share their experiences and learning with each other as the course progresses. Participants receive a file of user-friendly materials that enables them to continue delivering the programme after the training has ended. The materials include stories, big books, puppets, sequence pictures, activity guidelines, tips and ideas, resources and much more. What’s more, materials are available in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, making it ideal for schools in the Eastern Cape.
This programme is very comprehensive and supportive, as STELLAR trainers work alongside Grade R teachers for a period of six months. They facilitate interactive learning through hands-on activities, report-back and group discussions, and a non-judgmental environment designed to build confidence in the instructors and their students.
The Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s funding supports the programme at schools within a 20-50km radius of the Wind Farm. These schools include: Chigwell Primary School, Gamtoosvalley Primary School, Graslaagte Primary School, Kruisfontein Primary School, Masisebenze Primary School, Mzingisi Primary School, Patensie Primary School, Quagga Primary School, St Patricks EC Primary School, Vukani Primary School, Weston Primary School and Sea Vista Primary School.
STELLAR was developed by Wordorks, for further information, visit: www.wordworks.org.za.
May 2017
