Early Grade Reading Activity: Maziko a Kuwerenga Reading Intervention Program

The program aims to improve early grade literacy among learners in primary schools by implementing an early grade reading intervention in 11 education districts. This intervention focuses on developing basic literacy skills and knowledge, including letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, syllable reading, word reading, and oral reading fluency, as well as listening and reading comprehension. The program introduces foundational skills that learners must learn in order to read, such as letter knowledge, phonemic awareness, syllable reading, word reading, and oral reading fluency. These skills and knowledge, along with effective practices, form a package of training for early grade teachers. The program also focuses on effective practices that teachers use in teaching reading, but that can be used to teach any subject matter. This manual contains a variety of activities for both teachers and learners for the development of literacy skills. The manual, titled "Maziko a Kuwerenga" or "Foundations of Reading," is a scientifically valid understanding of the specific obstacles to literacy attainment facing students in the primary grades. The program uses evidence-based data to address these obstacles. The manual is the product of collaboration among a community of government officials from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST), scholars, practitioners, and education development professionals. Each is dedicated to improving early grade literacy and has been proactive in the drive to improve learning outcomes for all children in Malawi. The program is implemented in partnership with the Malawi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MoEST) and the Government of Malawi through the Malawi Institute of Education. The program extends a special appreciation to senior officials of MoEST, including the Secretary for Education, Science and Technology, Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Directors, and staff of the Department of Inspectorate and Advisory Services (DIAS); Department of Teacher Education and Development (DTED); Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), Centre for Language Studies, Centre for Educational Research and Training, and Teacher Training Colleges and Kasungu Teacher's College. The program also acknowledges the efforts of the teachers, students, and families from Chimweta and Kambwiri schools in Salima district who participated in the trial testing of lessons in this textbook. The manual is divided into six units, each focusing on a specific aspect of reading instruction. Unit 1, titled "Kuzindikira liwu la lembo" or "Learning the Sound of a Letter," introduces learners to the sound of a letter and how to identify it. The unit includes activities for both teachers and learners to develop literacy skills. The manual also includes a variety of activities for both teachers and learners for the development of literacy skills, including matching games, word recognition, and reading comprehension exercises.