#HopeToCope: Learner Edition

Creative ways to help learners stay motivated, and continue learning, at home during COVID-19

• The South African COVID-19 lockdown, extended from April 16 to April 30 will significantly impact the school curriculum and academic year, creating much uncertainty for learners, parents and educators. 

• MRP Foundation has collated in-valuable online resources to assist home-based learning, which can be used by learners and parents. 

For most South Africans, the reality and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic dawned with the start of the nationwide lockdown which began on Friday, March 27. For the lockdown, President Cyril Ramaphosa requested that citizens adhere to strict laws enforced by the government in a bid to curb the pandemic.

While South Africans are highly social people and this temporary lockdown threatens to dampen spirits, many are searching for positives from this extreme situation. For many, the lockdown means being housebound, working from home, while spending quality time with loved ones, spring-cleaning, gardening or reflecting upon your inner self.

As per our State President, Cyril Ramaphosa’s initial directive, schools have been closed since Tuesday, March 17, with a further 2-week extension announced, which takes the lockdown until April 30.

Although this time of homeschooling has been challenging for many parents, the MRP Foundation team endeavours to continually share resources to make learning and teaching engaging and fun.

MRP Foundation’s holistic Schools Programme focuses on four key areas: School Leadership and Management, Teacher Development, Learner Development and parent and community involvement.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, MRP Foundation strongly encourages parents and caregivers to be actively involved with their children during the lockdown. This quality time spent with children can be used not only for academic home-schooling, but also for practical life skills like cooking, cleaning, baking, sewing, gardening, and DIY tasks like painting or learning how to wire a plug.

The guide below has been created with former educator and MRP Foundation’s Schools Programme Coordinator, Pain Mashingaidze,Pain has vast teaching experience in high school Mathematics and many other subjects, in both private and public schools in South Africa. He is also experienced in the Technology in Education programmes which focus on Numeracy, Literacy and Critical Thinking for Grades R-3, as well as the afterschool Khan Academy programme for Grades 4-7. He has facilitated numerous teacher development workshops focusing on Mathematics for both primary and high schools.

Please connect with us on Facebook for updates. And if you have suggestions to motivate learners to teach themselves then we’d love to hear from you on our social media channels, We welcome your enthusiasm and innovative ideas!

We understand that not everyone has access to data. Below is a list of zero-rated sites.

Vodacom Zero-rated sites
All content and resources on the website can be browsed and downloaded for free. The only requirement is that you have a positive balance on your account. The following educational websites are zero-rated by Vodacom:

1. Vodacom e-school https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/vodacom-e-school
2. There is a range of resources that the Department of Basic Education has uploaded for online learning as a response to the lockdown. https://www.education.gov.za/
3. The educational content for all grades offered by Mindset: https://learn.mindset.africa/
4. The Siyavula Everything Maths and Science textbooks. http://www.everythingmaths.co.za, http://www.everythingscience.co.zaNB: You need to sign up first in order to be able to access the resources on this zero rated vodacom channel.

MTN Zero-rated sites
MTN Zero rated sites educational resources/websites:

• CAPS Radio
• Khan Academy
• Khan Academy in isiXhosa
• Khan Academy in isiZulu
• Mindset Learn
• Tech Teachers
• Telkom e-Education
• University of KwaZulu-Natal Extended Learning
• Vodacom Digital Classroom
• WorksheetCloud Live Lessons
• Xander Language Applications
• https://www.mtn.co.za/Opentime/education/Pages/default.aspx#Resources

TELKOM Zero-rated sites
In addition to these sites, Telkom also has zero rated websites of universities, technical and vocational training colleges.

• http://www.everythingmaths.co.za
• http://www.everythingscience.co.za
• https://www.khanacademy.org
• https://learn.mindset.africa/

#LearningTogether
Learners have to be occupied at home, as well as keep up with the school syllabus. Although many schools handed out worksheets and guidelines at school prior to closing for the first term, parents, together with guidance from the teachers, need to assist learners in keeping up with school work. Self-efficacy and self-learning are being encouraged. Below is a potential way of occupying a child daily for the next few weeks. Create a daily schedule to create a routine. Here are examples of four daily schedules Gr R-3, Gr 4-7, Gr 8-9, Gr 10-12.

Child-focused Health and Safety Information and Resources

• Unicef: https://www.unicef.org/reports/key-messages-and-actions-coronavirus-disease-covid-19-prevention-and-control-schools

Literacy

• Books and videos to strengthen comprehension and verbal and written skills: https://www.storylineonline.net/
• Books: https://www.uniteforliteracy.com/
• Reading Materials and activities for Pre-School and Grade 1: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/
• Videos and Games based on Dr Seuss books: https://www.seussville.com/
• Multi-lingual stories to read or listen to. Nal’ibali also airs children’s stories on SABC radio stations.

Nal’ibali radio programming:

• Ukhozi FM (isiZulu) Wednesday: 9.20 a.m., Saturday: 8.50 a.m.
• Umhlobo Wenene FM (isiXhosa): Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 09.30 a.m.
• SA FM (English): Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1.50 p.m.
• RSG (Afrikaans): Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9.10 a.m.
• Munghana Loene FM: (Xitsonga) Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 09.35 a.m.
• Ligwalagwala FM: (SiSwati) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 09.10 a.m.
• Ikwekwezi FM (Ndebele): Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 09.45 a.m.
• Thobela FM: (87.6-92.1 FM) (Sepedi) Tuesday, Thursday: 2.50 p.m., Saturday: 09.20 a.m., Sunday: 7.50 a.m.
• Lesedi FM (Sesotho): Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 9.45 a.m.
• Phalaphala FM (Tshivenda): Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: 11.15 a.m.
• Motsweding FM (Setswana): Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 09.20 to 9.30 a.m.

Maths and Sciences

• High School Maths education with over 2000 mathematics learning videos taught by some of South Africa’s top maths educators: https://advantagelearn.com/covid-19-learn-maths-online-for-free/
• Free Maths Learning for learners. Great for educators too. https://advantagelearn.com/covid-19-learn-maths-online-for-free/
• Maths learning for Primary School learners: https://www.splashlearn.com/
• Maths games, lessons, quizzes and teasers: https://www.coolmath4kids.com/
• Maths resources up to Grade 7: http://www.mathgametime.com/
• The Kruger National Park is doing two game drives a day, which can be watched live on YouTube (5.30AM – 8.30AM and 3.30PM – 6.30PM): https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCV6HJBZD_hZcIX9JVJ3dCXQ/videos
• National Geographic content (natural sciences) created for children: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
• Games focused on learning about animals: https://www.switchzoo.com

Miscellaneous Content

• The Department of Basic Education has created a Learner Support Package, that is CAPS-aligned study material, resource material and multimedia for all grades: https://www.education.gov.za
• Channel 319 on DSTV is an educational channel and covers Grade 10, 11 and 12 content for Maths, Physical Sciences, English, Life Sciences they even have Home Languages and Grade 8 Maths etc…so for those with DSTV at home they may keep an eye on that channel. Mindset is an app available on Google Playstore: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mindset.learn.edu&hl=en_ZA
  https://learn.mindset.africa
• Khan Academy provides a daily schedule for learners, free resources: https://www.khanacademy.org
• Vodacom E-learning Site (no data required for Vodacom users): https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/vodacom-e-school?cid=PS_cbbr_9_kmrc_4529&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6sHzBRCbARIsAF8FMpV7Gdgd5I5tFIvQVbyJFQVC8qIxesDKo-_6uaiN81Ko4fnV3yj_dfAaAmxJEALw_wcB
• A free study printable study guides for learners from Grade R to 12 from News24: https://m.parent24.com/Learn/School-exams/print-it-free-study-guides-for-maths-science-languages-and-more-20181010
• Games and videos for children up to Grade 6: https://www.abcya.com/
• Games, videos and books for children up to Grade 8: https://www.funbrain.com/
• Educational and online games for children: https://www.turtlediary.com/
• Games for children: https://pbskids.org/
• Games, activities, content for children: https://www.highlightskids.com/
• 800+ online learning lessons: https://www.e-learningforkids.org/

Physical Education

• Stay active with #GiGyma home workouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onEXFrzSYG0&list=RDonEXFrzSYG0&start_radio=1