It has been almost two weeks since we (Nova Pioneer teachers) parted ways with students. I am glad to report that school closures didn’t dampen our commitment to teaching and neither did they put a halt in our students’ learning. Joy of Learning remains a priority.
The work behind the work
Our school leaders, learning design team and teachers have worked tirelessly to curate learning material which caters to the holistic needs of our students. The lesson plans have also been adapted to accommodate learning to occur in the home environment.
The learning packs were designed to keep our Novaneers immersed and active throughout the day. The lessons range from using beans or pasta as counting materials for our young ones to writing an engaging newspaper article about the impact of the COVID-19 for our more dynamic grade six students. In an effort to not lose the Joy of Learning, all packs also included fun games and easy-to-do at home physical activities.
Learning through digital platforms
Thanks to great strides in tech innovations, and together with the help of parents, we have been able to facilitate remote learning and serve our students. From day one of the national school closure, our students have had the opportunity to engage in e-learning programmes from the comfort of their home. Teachers have been able to continually monitor progress and ready to provide timely feedback to the both students and their parents.
Building inquisitive, enquiring minds
Even with the social distancing, our teaching methods stay the same. Our expectations of our students also don’t change. Our students are still encouraged to not only absorb the information presented to them but also to engage with it. They are encouraged to ask questions which will lead to them creating connections between their learning materials and real-life experiences.We are confident that they have been equipped with the skills and tools to take the lead in their own learning.
Parents getting in on the action
Parents and teachers have begun to share pictures of their amazing work of facilitating from home. We can not ignore the huge contribution of our parent-teacher relationships in the success of this remote learning programme. Our teachers continue to serve as support structures to both learners and parents telephonically as well as through email.
Teamwork makes the dreamwork
During this time, we have found real joy in being Greater Together and probably taken the culture principle to the next level. This is a reflection of the work our school does to equip learners with the ICT skills they will need now and in the future for independence and empowerment. Not even COVID-19 could stand in the way of our Joy of Learning spirit.
Here’s what some of our teachers had to say:
“Working remotely does not prevent us from providing maximum support to our learners. We strive to ensure that they still experience the Joy of Learning even at home.” – Khensani Mabona, Grade 6 Teacher Ormonde
“Nothing beats starting my day with meditation – similar to how we start off each day with mindfulness activities with our Novaneers. – Roxanne Prem, Grade 3 Teacher Ormonde
“Joy of Learning means taking regular outdoor reading breaks between my work so I can provide 100% support to learners and parents” – Katlego Thwane – Grade 7 Humanities Teacher Ormonde
Head over to our social media pages for updates on how our teachers, parents and students continue to live up to our mission – to develop generations of innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.
Instagram: @novapioneer_sa
Twitter: @novapioneer_sa
Facebook: Nova Pioneer South Africa
