Practice Brief Series

READ SMART CINYANJA!

During COVID-19, Impact Network piloted an innovative project to improve early literacy outcomes called “Read Smart”. This program is a literacy intervention for early grade learning based on the use of phonetic charts – essentially speech movement pictures that show the way the mouth moves to make certain sounds.

This program was conducted in partnership with Ursula Rickli who has proven results and experience building local language phonics approaches in a variety of contexts. We are the only ones we know using this method in Zambia to teach children how to read – the majority of Zambian children are taught how to read by memorization.

The pilot was conducted in 2021 at two schools in Eastern Province of Zambia, targeted at Grade 1-2 students. In 2022, we implemented across eight schools, reaching over 900 students.

Importantly, standardized assessment data from the USAID-funded Let’s Read Zambia project allows us to compare pilot schools with a national dataset. Across the nation, the proportion of first grade students at “desirable” or “outstanding” levels was 32-34%, compared to 75% at the pilot schools. 

TEACHER TRAINING & COACHING

Implementing a systematic plan to support teacher training and coaching is a crucial part of the Impact Network eSchool 360 model. Because teacher quality is a key metric in developing high performing learners and schools, we have invested more than eight years into developing, implementing and continuously improving a model of teacher development that improves teaching and learning in rural community schools. This model for teacher development includes three main components: ongoing teacher training, frequent monitoring, and regular observation and coaching sessions.

REFLECTIONS FROM GRADE 7 STUDENT SURVEY

During Term 1 of 2022, all Grade 7 students were surveyed by the School Support Officer at their schools regarding their family background, living conditions, and future educational plans. This survey is specifically conducted with Grade 7 students in order to better understand what factors may contribute to or diminish school success for students in their final year of primary school and determine if there are school-wide or individual needs which could be met by Impact Network in order to improve the transition of Impact Network graduates to secondary school programs.