Kafanchan Nursery/Primary Teachers enhance teaching skills

6/4/2019

The literacy manual Recipe for Reading was used by Elaine Chagnon in a teaching seminar for the teachers of Kafanchan Nursery/Primary School. The aim of the seminar was to enhance the skills in teaching literacy to young students. Pads of special writing paper to go with the manual were also brought. These materials were purchased through a grant from Companions in Mission, Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. Recipe for Reading presents early literacy skills in a prescribed sequence and stresses sounds, visual cues, spelling, and correct formation of letters.

Knowing that teachers in Nigeria have a set curriculum, the seminar was not intended to replace or dictate methodology - just to share the materials to see if teachers found them useful.

In addition, copies of the Lesson Planning Handbook as a resource were given out. Teachers do have a set lesson plan template to help them; this book could serve as an additional guide and a resource.

Elaine admits, “I was a bit nervous about meeting my first group. After introductions and an explanation of the content of the seminar we proceeded with the class. There was some dialogue and we went through Recipe for Reading. The manual was a big hit, as was the Lesson Planning Handbook. Africa Education Partnership is thankful for the Companions in Mission Publishing grant that allowed Elaine to purchase enough copies to leave several at each school.

“I have such respect for these teachers who work very hard without any of the conveniences and teaching aides that we have,” Elaine reflected.