Facilitator’s Training Manual: Effective Teaching Practices for Early Grade Reading Intervention in Malawi

The project aims to improve the quality of education in Malawi by supporting the MoEST in various endeavors, including the implementation of the New Primary Curriculum, Continuous Professional Development, Information Management Systems, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Policy Implementation. One of the core objectives of MTPDS is to improve early grade literacy and numeracy among learners in primary schools. To achieve this objective, MTPDS and MoEST are implementing an early grade reading intervention in seven districts, which focuses on developing basic literacy skills and knowledge. The program provides training to teachers, head teachers, and Primary Education Advisors on how to effectively teach reading in the early grades in Chichewa. The training manual, which is the product of collaboration among government officials, scholars, practitioners, and education development professionals, uses evidence-based data to address the obstacles to literacy attainment facing students in the primary grades. The manual focuses on effective practices that teachers use in teaching reading, which can be applied to teach any subject. The training manual is designed to equip teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve early grade literacy and numeracy. The manual is structured around a facilitator's training program, which includes a series of modules that cover various topics related to effective teaching practices. The modules are designed to be delivered over a period of two days, with each day consisting of a series of sessions that cover specific topics. The sessions are designed to be interactive, with opportunities for participants to engage in discussions, activities, and reflections. The first day of the training program focuses on introducing the manual, reviewing the workshop and learning objectives, and providing an overview of the previous training. The sessions also cover the instructional cycle, introducing a new skill or strategy, practicing the lesson, generalizing the lesson, and the lesson cycle. The second day of the training program focuses on planning instruction, writing instructional objectives, determining the lesson activity and materials, and delivering lessons. The manual also includes a section on features of an effective lesson, which highlights the importance of providing opportunities to practice, pacing, and putting it all together. The manual provides a comprehensive framework for effective teaching practices, which can be applied in various contexts to improve early grade literacy and numeracy. The MTPDS program extends a special appreciation to senior officials of MoEST, particularly the Secretary for Education, Science and Technology, and the PS for Basic Education, as well as the Directors and staff of the Department of Inspectorate and Advisory Services (DIAS), the Department of Teacher Education and Development (DTED), the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), the Centre for Language Studies, the Centre for Educational Research, and Training, Teacher Training Colleges, and Domasi College of Education. The program also thanks USAID for its support in the production of the manual.