While you were Teaching...

This blog is intended for Teachers across South Africa and the rest of the African content, to remain inspired to stay in Teaching.

You work hard, under difficult circumstances, and not always gain the appreciation you deserve.
It comes with huge responsibility, is non-stop and often chaotic.

Take a moment to remember why you became a teacher in the first place.
It wasn't just for targets and test results was it?
It was for something far more important. You wanted to change lives - to make a difference.
To inspire young learners. To guide them on the road to adulthood. To see them grow, experience and discover the many wonders of life!

And that is why we this blog is here. To give you the tools to help you make the magic happen. Read, share and above all, appreciate what you do on a daily basis!

20 Classroom Games to Improve Comprehension

posted on 2019-06-24 written by Karen Leigh Benkenstein

Using fun and interactive games to develop comprehension keeps learners engaged and motivated to read for meaning, while reducing some of the pressure involved in acquiring these skills. Remedial teacher and blogger, Karen Leigh Benkenstein, has compiled a list of her favourite 20 games to get your learners practicing their comprehension skills.

15 Teaching Strategies to Improve Comprehension

posted on 2019-06-12 written by Karen Leigh Benkenstein

Effective comprehension strategies help learners to become purposeful, active readers, across all learning areas. Try these strategies from remedial teacher and blogger, Karen Leigh Benkenstein, to help develop comprehension for your learners.

Comprehending Comprehension

posted on 2019-06-06 written by Karen Leigh Benkenstein

Comprehension skills are a fundamental part of reading and these skills need to work like a finely tuned machine for reading to have any meaning. Even if a learner can whizz through a text independently, it isn’t worth much if the meaning of what has been read is left by the wayside. Teachers need to ensure that learners are processing and thinking about what they are reading. To this end, it is important that teachers understand exactly what it is that comprehension involves.

Chalk: the cheap and cheerful resource

posted on 2019-05-23 written by Rachel Carey

"Chalk?" I hear you say, "I haven't taught with a chalk-board for years!" Find out why our OT, Rachel Carey, still believes chalk is one of the easiest, most fun, most versatile developmental resources you could use in your classroom.

The Teacher, the Awakener

posted on 2019-05-14 written by Charmaine Kendal

I have two teachers in particular to thank for the effect they have had on my life. I cannot remember any of the details they taught, or the rules, or the syllabus. I remember their inspiration. They awakened the best in me. This is the type of teacher we should strive to be.

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Blogger Profiles

Heleen Johnson

Heleen Johnson is an Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of experience in the field of Education. Read more here.
Karen Leigh Benkenstein

Karen Leigh Benkenstein is a fully qualified Foundation Phase Teacher, specializing in Special Needs children. She has taught children with a variety of educational and emotional barriers. Read more here.
Rachel Carey

Rachel Carey has been working as a children's Occupational Therapist for the past 10 years. she has worked in both special needs and mainstream settings with children with a range of challenges and difficulties. Read more here.
Inspirational Stories from Teachers

There is no lack of inspirational Teachers across our country, but when you Google "Teachers South Africa", you are often targeted with negative news. Share your inspirational story with us via info@educanda.co.za.
Charmaine Kendal

With over 40 years of teaching and management experience, Charmaine Kendal has a wealth of wisdom to offer teachers. The valuable lessons she has learned in the classroom and as deputy principal have equipped her with the skills to mentor and guide newly qualified teachers as well as to support more experienced staff. She is a published author, publishing youth literature and contributing to a number of textbooks. Charmaine has lectured education at tertiary level and has designed learning modules for education students.