Metro South Education District, Western Cape Department of Education

Supported by

Schools

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (February 2018)

What I love about the programme is that every learner will be able to interact with the teacher as well as with other learners.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (February 2018)

Basic Concepts is a language/method/ way of using words to teach concepts in Grade R and Grade 1.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (February 2018)

It was a fun, warm, friendly and collaborative learning experience. The teacher was engaging, interactive, approachable and attuned.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (November 2017)

The mediator does not assume that children know, she draws the child’s attention to detail and encourages independent thought.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (November 2017)

Basic Concepts is not just about learning about colours, shapes, numbers and letters. It expands vocabulary and assists to develop conceptual understanding.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (October 2017)

I feel very motivated to apply the knowledge learnt - it has motivated me to mediate and not just teach. The ideas for vocabulary extension were also very good.

Metro South Training: Western Cape Department of Education (October 2017)

A very informative and fantastic learning experience… I learnt about the complexities of basic concepts and the importance of language and questions.

Metro South Training, Western Cape Education Department, 2015

I really cannot wait to start- I want all my children to be Grade 1 ready at the end of this year.

Metro South Training, Western Cape Education Department, 2015

Very informative, well presented, engaging, coherent and thought provoking.

Metro South Training, Western Cape Education Department, 2015

Teachers use questions that evoke thinking and inquiry, so that the learners are able to discover and experience for themselves.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training, May 2014

I realize that children need to know their basic concepts so that they can develop understanding of the content of the curriculum.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training, May 2014

I understand now that teaching is not just standing in front of the class, but a discussion/ dialogue with your children.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training, May 2014

This was a fruitful, educational, informative, empowering, enjoyable, helpful, superb, well-planned, and inspiring experience.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training (February, 2014)

All that I learnt from Day One I was immediately able to apply in my class the following day… with remarkable results!

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training (February, 2014)

The training was very effective and informative … and gave us insight into how to teach and develop language. I wish there could be more of such training to develop ourselves further.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training (February, 2014)

Good work, keep it up and do the same for my colleagues. This work could help save the children of South Africa … and give them hope for a better future.

Metro South Education District: Training (January, 2013)

I am extremely grateful for being exposed to this programme … I'm always worried about those learners who are not progressing. The programme can support these learners in order to lay the foundation for academic progress. Practically my whole class needs this Foundation!!! How can I start with formal teaching if they do not know their Basics.

Metro South Education District: Training (January, 2013)

It helps learners to think and forms (the) foundation for reading, writing and mathematics.

Metro South Education District: Training (January, 2013)

I understand how I can assist my learners who need intervention. The BCP will boost the self-esteem and knowledge of weak learners. It definitely helps me to guide my learners, using the correct language applicable to the situation.

Metro South Education District: Teacher Training (January, 2013)

Before the workshop I thought (that) I knew how to teach or introduce my lessons, but now I know that I was not doing justice to my learners. I took them for granted ... as if (they would) very easily understand my instructions.

Events

News

Project Details

Start Date:

2002 to 2015

Status:

Current

No. of Learners:

11,865

No. of Teachers:

339 (Teachers, Learning Support Teachers, Learning Support Advisors)

No. of Sites:

Grade Level(s):

Grade R, Grade 1, Learning Support

Area of Intervention:

Metro South Education District

Description

The BCP was first implemented in the Metro South Education District in 2002 with a group of Learning Support Teachers. The success of the initial pilot project in the Metro created the impetus for its extension to other Learning Support Teachers. This initial phase of the BCP has been captured in the author's doctoral research. The BCP was thereafter extended into Grade R classes in the Metro.

Two groups of Grade R teachers were trained over two years in 2008 and 2009. The teachers received approximately 20 hours of training as well as regular on-site mentoring by the project coordinator during the first year of implementation.

The first group of Grade 1 teachers received training in January 2013. The teachers received 14 hours of training and will have regular on-site mentoring by the project coordinator from Metro South during the year.

Evaluation

The results of the project demonstrate its benefits for learners in the Metro-

86.5% of learners who participated in the programme in 2008 and 2009 were found to be school prepared
70% of the learners who participated in the programme in 2008 were found to be ready to cope with learning in Grade 2