Teachers learn fun way to help kids read
The Gauteng Department of Education launched the Jolly Phonics pilot project to improve the learning outcomes of children across the province.
The Grade One teachers from Ekurhuleni north and south schools participated in a two-day Jolly Phonics training session (January 24 and 25) at the Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance.
The Gauteng Department of Education launched the Jolly Phonics pilot project to improve the learning outcomes of children across the province.
Jolly Phonics is a proven, fast-track English literacy scheme that teaches the 42 sounds of the alphabet in a fun, multi-sensory and child-centred manner.
Using songs, locally adapted learning materials and actions, primary school learners learn how to identify the sounds and blend them to make words.
It is based on the synthetic phonics method, shown by various academic reports to improve English literacy levels, especially for children for whom English is a second language.
The Grade One teachers received Jolly Phonics resources for their learners, donated by the publisher, Jolly Learning Ltd, as part of its philanthropic Jolly Futures programme.
After the initial training, teachers are supported weekly via online platforms and monitored by subject advisors and the school’s departmental head.
A Jolly Lessons app, free on the Google Play Store, is also provided for parents, teachers and officials.
The project is overseen by the NPO Universal Learning Solutions, which has now trained over 200 000 teachers in Jolly Phonics across Africa, making the project the largest literacy one on the continent.
Dr Daisy Reddy, Universal Learning Solutions’ country director, said, “We are grateful for this opportunity to support early-grade teachers in improving reading skills in English across Gauteng province. We believe this project will go a long way toward helping solve SA’s ongoing reading crisis.”
