Stories from the field

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Uniting for Change: Little Stars Graduation Celebration with Sanlam in Gauteng

At Wordworks, we are dedicated to promoting meaningful collaboration with partners across various sectors, particularly in the early learning space. Our partnership with Sanlam and the Gauteng Department of Education exemplifies this commitment. Together, we aim to address the literacy crisis in South Africa, as highlighted by the PIRLS report, and create impactful change in our communities. This initiative is already making significant strides in Gauteng, and we are excited about the positive outcomes we are witnessing.Read More

Recently, two of our Early Literacy Specialists visited ECD centres in Gauteng where the Little Stars programme is being implemented. This visit was not just an ordinary check-in; the team travelled to the province to celebrate the graduation of ECD practitioners who had completed the eight-session Little Stars programme. As the graduates prepared to receive their certificates, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and pride. The walls showcased proud displays of their achievements, and innovative learning resources were on display as everyone celebrated the practitioners’ achievements.

By empowering ECD practitioners, we are making a significant impact on the literacy development of the children in their care. The Little Stars programme demonstrates how dedicated and intentional teaching can shape young minds and encourage a love for learning. Speaking on her journey, this is what Niesl van Rensberg, a teacher at Syringa Pre-Primary School had to say, “The programme has enhanced my confidence in my teaching approach. It has given me structure while also allowing room for creativity. My learners enjoy the role playing component of the programme, as it has really encouraged them to showcase their personalities and creativity.”

Collaboration among government, corporate partners, and NGOs is essential for achieving progress in early literacy. Wordworks has a long-standing history of working alongside provincial education departments, and we believe that these partnerships yield valuable insights and positive outcomes. We are committed to maintaining this trajectory of collaboration and growth.

“This year we trained the ECD practitioners on the EWC and Little Stars programmes. As trainers, we’ve shared a lot of new information with the practitioners but we’ve also learnt so much from each of them. The information we learned from them helped us understand how we can further support and mentor the practitioners.” Natasha Rosen, Wordworks Early Literacy Specialist.

The impact of the Little Stars programme on both ECD practitioners and the children in these centres is evident. It shows the significant difference that dedicated teaching and intentionality can make in shaping young minds. We would like to thank the Sanlam Foundation and the Gauteng Department of Education for making the implementation of this programme possible, and we anticipate its continued growth in the province. We are also excited about its continued growth and impact in the Western Cape with the Western Cape Department of Education.

Together, through partnerships like the Little Stars programme, we can build a brighter future for our children and lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

*The Little Stars programme is for pre-Grade R teachers working with 4–5 year old children. The programme is designed to strengthen language and emergent literacy in pre-Grade R classrooms. It is interactive, activity-rich, NCF-aligned and is built around a 2-week story-based framework. To find out more about the programme: https://www.wordworks.org.za/our-early-literacy-programmes/

We’re thrilled to share that one of our partners, Zero2Five, recently hosted a two-day Little Stars training with practitioners from Ntabamhlophe, Winterton, and Loskop areas in KZN.

It’s heartening to see this initiative taking shape. The 30 trainers participated in a two-day training session where they explored the Little Stars content and created engaging resources that are part of the programme. Witnessing the commitment and passion these practitioners bring to their work is truly inspiring.
This initiative is supported by the Truworths Social Involvement Trust and is carried out in collaboration with Wordworks partners. The Zero2Five Trust has been selected as one of these partners to train trainers for rolling out Wordworks’ Little Stars programme, aimed at building early language and literacy skills in selected rural ECDs in the Eastern Cape (EC) and KwaZulu Natal (KZN).
To learn more about Little Stars and other Wordworks programmes: www.wordworks.co.za

Wordworks recently had the pleasure of attending the National ECD Alliance (NECDA) Conference & AGM held in Johannesburg.

This year’s theme was: UNITY IN DIVERSITY UNDER AFRICAN SKIES: Strengthening Partnerships for a Professionalised Skills Sector,
Speaking about her experience at the conference, Early Literacy Specialist Faith Shabangu, who represented Wordworks, said, “It was wonderful to hear Wordworks mentioned by our partners at the NECDA conference. Wordworks’ name kept coming up in several of the presentations, highlighting the impact of our collaborative efforts and the strong relationships we have built within the sector.”
Faith further noted, “The conference was a valuable opportunity to engage with other professionals, share insights, and explore new strategies for advancing early childhood development. We are excited to continue working together to strengthen our partnerships and enhance the quality of education for young learners.”
Thank you to NECDA for having us!

More Home-School Partnerships (HSP) graduations!

It is wonderful to see so many graduates from our Home-School Partnerships (HSP) programme. We are incredibly proud of our latest graduates at Muhammedeyah PS.
Parents dedicate 2½ hours per week to attend 8 sessions, where they learn about best practices they can implement at home, in a fun and informal way to support their children’s educational journey.
Muhammadeyah has been implementing HSP in their school for a number of years, and it is such a joy for us to see the school going from strength to strength in their quest to change lives through literacy. Here’s to many more successful years to come!
Our Home-School Partnerships programme is designed for Foundation Phase and Learning Support teachers to facilitate a space for parents in which to share knowledge and ideas about children’s language and early literacy development. The programme builds co-operation between families and schools, and encourages parents and caregivers in their role as their children’s first teachers.
To find out more about HSP and other Wordworks programmes, please visit: www.wordworks.org.za

Think Equal brings joyful emotional insights to Spine View Primary

Our Early Literacy Specialist, Faheema Hassiem, recently visited Spineview Primary School to observe a Think Equal activity. The learners were engaged in the Think Equal lesson titled “The Weather Inside Me.”
“It was a joy to watch these students express their feelings, and I was delighted to see more suns than clouds in their emotional reflections,” said Faheema.
It is heartwarming for Wordworks to see the Think Equal activities taking shape in the classrooms, following the teachers’ completion of the online Think Equal course.
*Think Equal is a story-based global programme that teaches 25 vital social and emotional learning skills and competencies to help children aged three to six through their early childhood education to increase positive life outcomes. The programme, in partnership with Wordworks, is being taught by Grade R teachers in selected schools in the Western Cape.
If you would like to know more about Think Equal and its global partnerships, please visit the link below: https://thinkequal.org/.
To learn more about Wordworks programmes, please visit: wordworks.org.za

Congratulations to our latest Home-School Partnerships(HSP) graduates from Silversands Primary School, who have completed the Wordworks 8-session programme.

We are incredibly proud of your dedication and contributions to our mission of changing lives through literacy. Your efforts to actively support your children’s education from the very beginning have not gone unnoticed. We look forward to hearing more about how you continue to positively influence your children’s lives at home and support their success in school. Congratulations on reaching this milestone!
*Our Home-School Partnerships programme is designed for Foundation Phase and Learning Support teachers to facilitate a space for parents in which to share knowledge and ideas about children’s language and early literacy development. The programme builds co-operation between families and schools, and encourages parents and caregivers in their role as their children’s first teachers.
To find out more about HSP and other Wordworks programmes, please visit:

www.wordworks.org.za

A massive congratulations to the graduates of our Home-School Partnerships (HSP) Programme Kleinberg Primary School

Kleinberg Primary, a long-time participant in our programmes, proudly took part in the 2024 HSP programme. The graduation ceremony was a heartwarming event, filled with radiant smiles of pride and accomplishment. Judy from Shine Literacy delivered an inspiring speech, honouring the parents and teachers for their remarkable achievement in successfully completing the course.
Gaynor, one of Wordworks’ Early Literacy Specialists, shared her thoughts: “The facilitators worked hard to make the event a success, what a beautiful occasion it was.”
Our Home-School Partnerships programme is designed for Foundation Phase and Learning Support teachers to facilitate a space for parents in which to share knowledge and ideas about children’s language and early literacy development. The programme builds co-operation between families and schools, and encourages parents and caregivers in their role as their children’s first teachers.
If you are interested in our HSP or other Wordworks programmes, please visit our website: