Training Update from ELA in The Gambia

Last month, we shared how eager we were to roll out our new English Language Arts curriculum to educators in The Gambia. Our team was in The Gambia from April 8 until April 21, 2017 and conducted training over a period of 10 days. A total of 50 educators attended the training, including 45 upper basic/senior secondary teachers and 5 supervisors.

Specifically, materials for grade 7, grade 10, and pedagogy were taught. In grades 7 and 10, eight units encompassing language study, writing, and reading strategies were shared. Pedagogy included lessons about social constructivism, student engagement, lesson planning and time management, formative assessment, adjusting instruction for student needs, information organization strategies such as using graphic organizers, classroom management and organization, and instructional technology support.

Educators from The Gambia responded very positively to our materials, and we are so excited to keep working with them. At the conclusion of this April training, Gambian educator Israel Okoro expressed gratitude for the “team of experts with their huge stock of knowledge who shared their experience and know-how.”  To a flurry of applause from the educators and our team who were gathered, he added, “The teachers [...] have benefited immensely from this program through interactive learning, simplified teaching methodologies, and teaching tools, [and] we have become better teachers today than we were when the program started.”