Christmas is a time for joy and connection, yet choosing a meaningful Christmas present for a child can feel overwhelming. Shelves are filled with...
Educanda´s Blog for Inspired Teaching
Ideas, inspiration, and practical advice for teachers across Africa.
Explore our blog for insightful articles, classroom tips, and creative ways to use educational toys that make learning meaningful. This space is dedicated to teachers across South Africa and the rest of the continent who continue to inspire, guide, and nurture young minds every day.
Teaching is demanding work that often goes unnoticed. It asks for patience, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose. When the days feel long and resources seem limited, it helps to pause and remember why you started. You chose this path to shape lives, to guide learners through discovery, and to help them grow into confident, curious individuals.
That is what this blog is here for, to remind you of that purpose and to offer ideas that support your classroom journey. Read, share, and take pride in the incredible work you do every day.
Explore Our Recent Articles
Support Language Development Through Speech Therapy Toys
Language delays can leave children feeling left out of conversations they want to be part of. When a child struggles to express their thoughts or...
Special Needs Education Support For Schools And Therapists
Children learn in different ways, and for some, those differences create barriers that need targeted support. In South Africa, special needs...
Strengthen Early Learning With Math Toys
Many parents know the frustration of watching their child struggle with math. The numbers on the page seem confusing, and simple problems turn into...
Toy Storage Tips: De-clutter Your Home with 5 Ultimate Hacks
Toy storage and organisation can be a real challenge for parents, especially as the number of toys grows with each passing year. Whether it's...
Sluban vs Lego®: The Building Block Battle
Sluban vs Lego® – a rivalry that stirs the building block realm. Lego®, a well-established brand, has always held a special place in our hearts.
20 Classroom Games to Improve Comprehension
#1 – Charades For learners who like to get up and move, this activity is an ideal way to demonstrate how well they understand a text. Ask learner...
Free lesson plan for Puzzles: from Preschool up to Grade 2
I’ve been talking about puzzles and puzzle building for a while now, so it’s about time to get serious and discuss an actual lesson plan...

Heleen Johnson
Heleen Johnson is an Occupational Therapist with over 35 years of experience in the field of Education.

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.

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.

Carla Kuhlmey
Carla Kuhlmey taught in the Foundation Phase for 12 years before discovering a passion for helping learners with specific difficulties. She is currently working at a well known KZN Prep school as the Academic Support Teacher. She has been supporting parents and children at the school for the past 5 years.

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.

Lee Louw
Lee Louw is a qualified pre-primary teacher with more than 20 years of experience. She has taught children from age 3 up to 8 as well as lecturing adults. She combines her work with Educanda with teaching ECD at a college. She has written 4 textbooks and 2 lecturers’ guides in the Educare field.







