N3TC’s recent sponsorship enabled Lusa Community Chest to facilitate the Gr8Start Early Childhood Development Program at Siphiliswe Day Care Centre at Sedaven, Heidelberg
Effective teaching requires education and care to be integrated; with learning, development, and experiences for children inter-related. Well-developed ECD programs such as the Gr8Start program provides just such integrated learning.
The program explores activities that equip teachers to stimulate, develop and test the social, emotional and physical intelligence of young children. It enables teachers to monitor and evaluate motor development, hearing and listening skills, eye movements and visual processes as well as the gross motor and fine motor skills in pre-school children to prepare for and ensure school readiness. In addition the program assists the early childhood educators to change educational practice, beliefs, understanding, and attitudes with regards to the vital role they play in developing well balanced, school ready children by creating an environment conducive to learning.
The facilitation of the Gr8Start Program occurred over 3 days as a hands-on, practical and interactive course during which early childhood educators are up-skilled with the tools and techniques required to implement and manage an effective ECD program.
- The educators are taught how to use recyclable materials to prepare teaching aids and testing instruments for use in their lessons as well as to enhance their classroom environment to create a stimulating surrounding that awakens creativity and learning.
- The educators are also taught ways to show the children how to use recyclables for their learning activities such as skipping ropes, aprons and so forth.
- The Teachers each received their own learner manual and a basic start-up kit of materials required to create all the essential teaching and evaluation aids.
What the Educators had to say about the Gr8Start Program:
Sindile said: “The Gr8Start Training has enabled us to set targets and do short and long term planning within different themes to keep it interesting. We have learned how to be more creative without lots of money.
We feel motivated, empowered and skilled. We will be able to teach happy children. My attitude towards the children will change. I will be able to identify problems in the children because I can now see them as different and unique human beings.”
Selina said: “I have experienced respect and love from the presenter and this will help me to develop and handle the children with love and respect. I know also how to solve problems.”
Eva said: “We feel like we were blank, without colour and it felt dark but this training brought colour to our world to see all the light and colour in what we can do. We are so happy! We hope to see more of Lusa Community Chest and N3TC. Thank you NT3C”
