Imagine a world where children are confined to desks, memorising facts without understanding their real-world applications. The anxiety of test scores and the pressure to conform stifle their creativity and critical thinking. Now, contrast this with an environment where learning is an adventure, where curiosity is the driving force and where children are encouraged to […]
Embracing the New Coding and Robotics Curriculum: A Guide for South African Teachers
Embracing the New Coding and Robotics Curriculum: A Guide for South African Teachers
Imagine our beloved gogos (grandmothers), who are just getting the hang of setting up their WhatsApp accounts, now being roped into helping with coding and robotics homework. It’s a funny image, but it highlights an important point: the digital revolution is touching all generations, and our role as educators is to bridge these gaps with […]
Embracing Language Diversity in Education: The Heart of Our Children’s Future
Embracing Language Diversity in Education: The Heart of Our Children’s Future
Imagine your child feeling a surge of pride and connection every time they speak their mother tongue. This is the power of integrating indigenous languages into education – it not only bridges the gap between learning and cultural identity but also enriches the cognitive and emotional development of our children. Sadly, ours is a continent […]
The Game of Chance and Logic: Why Board Games are the Perfect Introduction to Coding for Kids
The Game of Chance and Logic: Why Board Games are the Perfect Introduction to Coding for Kids
Board games and puzzles are not only fun activities for children, but they also provide valuable learning opportunities that can help them develop various skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, perseverance, and teamwork. Snakes and Ladders is one of the most popular board games among children, and it can be an excellent way to […]
PBL: A game-changer in overcoming math anxiety
PBL: A game-changer in overcoming math anxiety
Mathematics is a crucial subject that permeates our daily lives – from managing finances to solving complex problems in various fields, mathematics is everywhere. However, for many of us the thought of dealing with mathematical concepts can trigger feelings of dread and anxiety. This phenomenon is commonly known as math anxiety. Fortunately, one effective approach […]
Unlocking literacy: 5 simple strategies parents can use to give pre-schoolers a head start
Unlocking literacy: 5 simple strategies parents can use to give pre-schoolers a head start
South Africa faces a significant literacy crisis in children under the age of 10. Despite efforts to improve educational outcomes, a new report from the 2030 Reading Panel has found that most children leave grade one without knowing the alphabet, while 82% of children cannot read for meaning by the time they reach Grade 4. […]
Solving SA’s literacy crisis with a unique approach to teaching and learning
Solving SA’s literacy crisis with a unique approach to teaching and learning
Literacy rates in South Africa are going backwards. That is the finding of the 2023 Reading Panel background report, written by education economist Nic Spaull on behalf of a panel of specialists convened by former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. The report, published earlier this month, reveals that a shocking 82% of grade 4 children cannot […]
AI’s impact on education: Why parents and teachers need to leverage AI for our children’s sake
AI’s impact on education: Why parents and teachers need to leverage AI for our children’s sake
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industry in unprecedented knots. Education is no exception. And while the use of AI technologies like ChatGPT has the potential to improve the quality of learning, increase teaching efficiencies and provide personalised experiences for students in the classroom, it is vital that parents and teachers learn to navigate what AI […]