Final Performance Evaluation of the Stellar Programme

The programme supports Grade R teachers in their role as teachers of language and emergent literacy. It focuses on Grade R because evidence shows that strong early language and literacy skills support all later learning. Early language and literacy development is crucial for children to learn to read and write. Children need opportunities to build their competence and understanding in two key areas: language skills (listening, speaking, vocabulary, and comprehension) and code-related skills (phonological awareness and letter-sound knowledge). They also need many opportunities to see how reading and writing work, and for these processes to be modelled by teachers and parents. The Stellar programme provides theoretical and practical ideas to help teachers build a language-rich classroom that supports early literacy development. The programme has been developed and revised in response to feedback from Grade R teachers and trainers. It aligns with CAPS requirements. The programme includes a set of guides for the teaching of Home Language, each 'starring' a new story. Each guide contains a two-week programme for teaching Home Language to a Grade R class every day. There is also a set of workbooks for teachers training to use the Stellar programme, which takes them through the different elements of the programme while deepening their understanding of early language and literacy. The programme encourages teachers to adapt the activities to suit their context and the resources available. It also provides practical ideas and photocopiable handouts to support the implementation of the programme. The programme is designed to help teachers get parents interested in their children's Grade R classroom, especially as they implement the Stellar Home Language programme. The programme sets out clear guidelines for six meetings, supported by photocopiable handouts and practical ideas. These meetings will help teachers and parents get to know one another and create a space in which to share ideas and experiences. The programme is designed to provide some assistance to teachers who may find planning and holding meetings overwhelming on top of a busy teaching schedule. The programme includes a range of activities and ideas to support early language and literacy development, including storytelling, speaking and listening, reading and sharing books with children, emergent reading, drawing and emergent writing, introducing sounds and letters, and listening games to support emergent reading and writing. The programme also includes inspirational messages and a range of photocopiable handouts to support the implementation of the programme. The programme is designed to help teachers inspire parents to support their children's language and literacy learning at home. It provides tools to help teachers get parents interested in their children's Grade R classroom, especially as they implement the Stellar Home Language programme. The programme is designed to help teachers and parents work together to support early language and literacy development.