By Eliza Munson | Project Leader
September 9 GlobalGiving Report
We Are Edu Fun!
Volunteer Chenape and a grade 2 learner find a quiet place outside of the classroom to read for an hour every Tuesday morning.
Teaching Children in Diepsloot, South Africa to Read
We partner with the Diepsloot Combined School (DCS) located in the informal settlement of Diepsloot, an economically disadvantaged informal settlement in Northern Johannesburg. Diepsloot is home to approximately 250,000-500,000 people many of whom live in shacks without electricity or indoor plumbing. We are a volunteer led organisation and our mission is to improve English literacy for grade 2 and 3 students at DCS. None of our work would be possible without our generous donors. Thank you for supporting Edu Fun!
Learning to Read Builds Confidence
Meet Anile, she’s a grade 3 student at DCS. We asked her about learning to read and she said, “every day I am reading, on blue team!” You can see her excitement! https://youtu.be/7SH1rO-gDdM
How We Teach
We utilise the Phono-Graphix method, a straightforward reading and spelling method developed in America. The method educates learners that letters are pictures of sounds, sounds can be represented by more than one letter or combinations of letters and that combinations of letters can also represent multiple sounds. Edu Fun volunteers are invited to attend Phono-Graphix training sessions throughout the year but anyone who is literate in English is encouraged to join us as anytime as a volunteer at DCS! Our work is making an impact! Last year student reading skills improved by 60% and spelling skills by 73%. Teachers at DCS are also trained in the Phono-Graphix method.
Class sizes at the school are very large and English is not the first language of the students or their teachers. To help address these challenges, we work closely with school administrators, teachers and students and help to teach reading, reading comprehension, spelling and writing in smaller group settings our pink, blue, green, purple and orange groups. We aim to provide learners with individualized attention and customised lessons appropriate to each learner's ability.
Preparations Underway For Literacy Week 2018
International Literacy Day is September 8. Throughout the week, we will be celebrating with the learners at DCS through a specially developed lesson featuring a favorite book, The Hungry Caterpillar. Each child in grade 2 and grade 3 will also receive brand new books to take home thanks to an anonymous donor and an organisation called Book Dash.
Saturday School Resumes This Week
Last year an Edu Fun volunteer organised Saturday lessons to provide support for DCS students struggling to learn to read. The programme resumed earlier this year and will begin again for the term on Saturday 8 September. Twenty grade two learners have been identified and invited to participate. The kids will receive help learning three and four sound words in a group setting. Teachers from DCS will run the programme with support from Edu Fun.
Photos from Saturday School lessons
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