Today, at E-Classroom, we joyfully mark a decade of bringing the South African CAPS curriculum to the wonderful people of South Africa. As I take a moment to reflect on this journey, my heart swells with pride. E-Classroom, my brainchild, has been...

In our rapidly evolving world, the education landscape is undergoing transformative changes. As we stand at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, we must reflect on where we are and anticipate the exciting steps ahead.  Once confined to phy...

In our fast-paced, digital world, children face numerous challenges that can impact their mental health. As parents, we must proactively foster emotional well-being early, just as we do for their physical health. Addressing children's mental healt...

As technology rapidly evolves, schools are encountering fresh hurdles in academic honesty! One such challenge involves detecting students' use of AI tools during assessments. While these tools can be handy for learning, they raise concerns about p...

Exams can be stressful for students, particularly when it comes to writing essays within a limited timeframe. Many students find themselves battling against the clock and struggling to complete their essays before the exam ends.  One of the pri...

Early childhood education is crucial in paving the way for a child's lifelong learning journey. With the progress of our understanding of child development, the education field is also evolving. Preschool education has seen several exciting trends...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many aspects of our lives, from health care to entertainment. But what about education? How can AI enhance the learning experience for students and teachers?   One of the main benefits of AI in educat...

"Healthy boundaries are not selfish and they're not about keeping people out. They're about maintaining the energy, strength, and emotional well-being that you need to function in the world." – Heather Plett   "Boundaries", "setting boundaries" ...

As we all adjust to a post-Covid environment in South Africa let us take a moment to consider where we find ourselves. In 2020, most learners and parents were thrust into the virtual learning space with mixed results. The initial change was fraugh...

Grammar is an important part of language learning. We use it at home, in school, at work, and to communicate effectively. How we communicate is important to be successful in society today - being able to communicate in writing and orally requires ...

There is no doubt that we are experiencing unprecedented times, both globally and nationally. In addition to the constant, chronic stress about Covid we now also face the much more acute stress of violence and looting. Even though many people are ...

In homes and schools across the country, the task of responsibly saving electricity is most often carried out by teachers and parents. But, to truly stop electricity wastage in future generations, it’s time to get our country’s little ones and pre...

If there was ever a time that the importance of hand washing was abundantly clear, it is during a worldwide pandemic where a contagious virus continues to infiltrate society. Time and again we have been told by experts that using sanitizer and soa...

As Capetonians start to recover from the devastating fires of April 18th, 2021, South Africans are reminded how crucial the preservation of wildlife and nature is for the country and the entire world. Earth Day is an event that takes place global...

As the pandemic evolves and we do our best to reduce infection levels in our communities, let’s keep in mind the mental health of our children and teens. Research shows that, compared to adults, children are more vulnerable to the impact of trauma...

The COVID-19 pandemic, as we know, dominated 2020 and is set to be a major part of 2021 too. From being a virus that we thought would take a few weeks of staying at home to eradicate, it became a monstrous, ongoing global problem requiring major a...

Mainstream schooling is the conventional or traditional way of educating children, usually in a medium to large sized school where they are split into classes of average size and are educated in classrooms according to the same syllabus at the sam...

2020 has been full of the unexpected and it is not surprising that many of us are feeling worn down and disoriented by the events of the past eight months. Given the disruptions in education at all levels, E-Classroom has had the privilege of walk...

There’s long been a move towards less printing, a paperless society, and this is even more true in 2020. With many working from home, and schools closed for a large part of the year, there has been significantly less consumption of office paper. B...

Savage, monstrous, evil-looking, nightmarish, ferocious, unromantic, man-eating machines. These are just a few examples of how the media portray sharks and are the kind of words that spring to mind when people think of sharks. But sharks are incre...

The United Nations World Youth Skills Day takes place on 15 July 2020. This year is proving to be extremely challenging for our young people who have faced a great deal of disruption and change in their education process due to the Covid-19 pandem...

Young people are the future of our nation. We need to honour their dreams and achievements, as they are the innovators and creators of tomorrow. They have the ideals and the courage to question harmful or outdated social norms and to inspire other...

Stories are powerful tools to stimulate the imagination of children, to help them believe that anything is possible and to reveal to them that they have wonderful internal resources at their fingertips. Stories can guide them as they journey throu...

The purpose behind creating a life wheel is to help us find more satisfaction in all areas of our lives and to become aware of those areas that need more development, and prioritise them.  It is a tool that is applicable to adults and teens, and e...

For the first two months of this year, children were back at school after a Christmas break and just getting into the swing of it all - practicing for plays, training for sports events, planning birthday parties or holidays and designing Matric Da...

By now all of us are on high alert due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic. In South Africa we are facing an unprecedented emergency situation that has left millions of people looking for alternative ways to work and study. Parents who are usually out ...

By Valerie Shayne   In classes where children have mixed language proficiencies, and the Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) is not a child's home language, it can be extremely challenging to convey messages that everyone understands.   ...

Reading with your child is a multi-faceted activity that brings immense comfort and benefit to him or her, so the sooner you start this, the better.   Research shows that regular reading aloud to a child from before the age of six months appears...

Bullying takes many forms and is a deceptive and destructive experience to cope with. Equipping children and teens to recognise, expose and confront bullying is essential.   A bully is someone who gets pleasure from harming, intimidating, humili...

The quality of grit is portrayed well in the Japanese proverb: "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."   In her best-selling book Grit: Why passion and perseverance are the secrets to success, Angela Duckworth describes the outcome of her exten...

Although we value independence highly in our society, research actually shows that genuine caring and support is the most important resilience-building condition one can create. The support we receive socially and emotionally acts as a buffer to t...

As exams loom, late nights, stress and quick food fixes all play havoc with your ability to concentrate, take in information and the function of your overloaded brain. If you're hitting the books this October-November, follow these simple guidelin...

The NSC 2019 finals are just around the corner. Exams start from 23 October to 28 November 2019. Click here to download the calendar    Best of luck to the matric class of 2019!

Children and teens face daunting levels of stress in our fast-changing world today, but when they are taught how their brains are able to adapt and change in keeping with their environments, for their whole lifetime, it can reduce much of the stre...

There are so many different personalities that fill our classrooms each day. We must learn to identify what motivates our students to learn and how to work with their personalities and learning styles so they can have the best academic outcomes.  ...

Looking for tips to improve vocabulary? The key is to regularly learn new words. Most people struggle to increase their vocabulary as they do not engage in activities that expose them to new vocabulary after our formative years. Many people mistak...

~ Celebrating The Next Generation and The Love Of Food ~   In 1919 Isaac Carasso created the first yoghurt in Spain with the humble mission to improve the health of children. The centennial celebration of Danone’s journey is themed; The Next Gen...

It is said that hindsight is 20/20 vision, in other words we see what we should have done when it is too late. The year 2020 will be upon us before we know it, and if you are preparing your child for school you need foresight, not hindsight. When ...

The Glossary of education reform defines classroom management in this way:  “Classroom management refers to the wide variety of skills and techniques that teachers use to keep students organized, orderly, focused, attentive, on task, and academica...

“The more you read, the more things you’ll knowThe more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”   So says Dr Seuss, and of course, we agree wholeheartedly with him.  It is important to get our children reading and loving it. It is also impor...

Is your child reluctant to lace up and take to the field or court? Should this concern you and exactly how far should you push them to take up a sport?   Not all of us are born with power and grace of Chad Le Clos or the agility of Christian Ron...

With the unpredictable nature of our day to day lives, preparing and packing a healthy lunchbox can be a difficult task. Finding time to shop and prepare interesting and healthy meals for school lunches can be stressful. But the foods we send to s...

Together, let’s do our part to save the planet.   “Sustainability forms part of Liberty Two Degrees’ strategic pillars, whereby taking care of our natural environment and educating shoppers and the public in the preserving of precious resources ...

International Day of the Forests – 21 March   Johannesburg – 21 March 2019 - According to Frederick Herzberg's motivation-hygiene theory, some things are consumed passively or subconsciously with little thought given to how they are made or what...

Many teachers are aware of educational podcasts that they can listen to as a form of professional development. Vicki Davis’s ‘10 minute teacher podcast’ is a good example of this. But, did you know that podcasting is becoming popular as an instruc...

Colds and flu in children are inevitable, and you know your little ones are going to be sick and miserable. Research shows that children have 6 – 10 episodes of upper respiratory tract infection every year and it is the most common cause of illnes...

Most learners look forward to Valentine’s Day.  It is also a great time for teachers to celebrate kindness, love and friendship, and to revisit the importance of working together in the classroom. Here are ten easy-to-prepare ideas to test in the ...

The Department of Education will introduce two years of compulsory early childhood development (ECD) for all children. This compulsory enrolment will apply to all children between the ages of four and five and will take place before the child ente...

Safer Internet Day reminds us that we all need to join and play our part in creating a better internet for everyone, especially for younger users.  You can find out more about Safer Internet Day here http://bit.ly/2DHxyyb      The Internet is...

One of the most important things we can do for our children, at home and at school, is to read aloud to them. Just hearing the written word builds a strong language and vocabulary foundation. It helps our kids develop empathy for others, curiosity...

Written by Leanne Kiezer, Registered Dietitian at Pick n Pay Retailers with information supplied by the Department of Health, National Nutrition Week 2018   We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  Yet in South Af...

Educators try to use various teaching methods based on their classroom environment. Positive behaviour can be encouraged by motivating learners with fun ideas and challenges to nurture an ideal classroom environment.   Here are some ideas to int...

Sensory process is the way the central nervous system of the body receives messages from the senses of the body and uses that information to act in a suitable motor or behavioural response.   Developmental disorders are various conditions that l...

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children as a parent or teacher, is to instill a love of reading in them. Apart from the fact that reading helps develop a child’s language skills, it promotes literacy, which in turn helps kids succeed....

NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) EXAMINATIONS TIMETABLE 2018 Click here to download - Matric exam time table 2018

It's not easy being a mom and trying to juggle a full-time job with kids. More moms than ever are in the workforce and the morning rush is something many mothers find stressful. The key is to focus on a plan, get organised and find the right balan...

Here are a few study tip reminders to prepare for the exams.   Give yourself ample time to study The worst idea is to leave studying to the night before you are writing an exam!  You should write an exam feeling refreshed and not burnt out. Sho...

Avoid mundane back-to-school shopping queues by shopping for your school stationery supplies in advance.  Let your kids beam with pride by opting for that golden medium between style, long-lasting quality and economy – with the best in class Bante...

It is unavoidable! Your kids will close their doors. Since our imagination can, sometimes, be our worst enemy, we want to mention some of the things they might be doing within their caves in order to give you a relief.   Indeed, they might be ge...

Since the start of term 3, SkillUp has been teaching more than 300 girls from grades 3 to 6 at Rustenburg Girls' Junior School how to code.   The girls have been highly-engaged while learning to build their own websites using HTML and CSS, a fou...

Calling all teachers, parents and learners to get involved in the Scooler - School Entrepreneur movement.    The School Entrepreneur Movement aims to create an entrepreneurial spirit in our schools so that learners can shape their own future by ...

Introducing a child to reading provides them with an essential habit they will nurture for life. The sooner they learn to read, the sooner they will be exposed to more knowledge, ideas, improved linguistic skills and strong oral communication. Chi...

Learning how to spell words is one of the most useful and important lifelong skills that our learners can acquire. Even though we are living in a technological age with spell checks and the like, knowing how to spell plays an important role in rea...

We encourage you to download and enjoy using our weekly Home and First Additional Language units from the e-classroom website. You’ll notice that our learners are writing more stories than ever before in the South African education curriculum.  Wr...

Every year on 9 August we celebrate Women's Day and honour the women of our nation. But what is the real meaning of Women’s Day? I believe it represents something inimitable to women: unity, equality, recognition, achievement, respect, appreciatio...

School projects can be exciting, knowledgeable journeys for a child, but the methodology can be filled with difficulties and challenges.   Long before learners enter the workforce, collaboration happens within the school environment as they ofte...

The longest total eclipse of the 21st century will take place on Friday, 27 July 2018. The eclipse creates a 'blood moon' that will light the night-time sky in a red hue. It is also called the ‘Buck Moon’, after the new antlers that emerge from bu...

Mandela Day reminds us about Nelson Mandela's life's work and how we should continue his legacy through acts of kindness. People are asked to spend 67 minutes of the day helping someone else.   Helping others is the first step in making the worl...

Dr Mats Johnson presents Equazen eye q clinical trial at Swiss Neuro-paediatrics Association annual meeting showing improved reading ability.    Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are important membrane components of the brain. Accumulating evidenc...

Read a blog written by renowned mommy blogger and e-Classroom member, Mariska Mansell who used ‘Neurovance Kids’ and describes how it helped her child. It’s a done deal! NeuroVance Kids for us! I have to admit, although things were going better ...

Using bullet Journaling to make the most of notetaking with Paper Mate® InkJoy ® Gel pens. Let’s face it: taking notes is usually not a highlight of your day. Depending on your style and speed, this essential but mind-numbing task can quickly bec...

We’re on the hunt for South Africa’s No.1 cake! Do you have the winning recipe? Your culinary creation could take you to New York City on an all-expenses-paid trip worth R150 000. HOW TO ENTER Whether it’s sweet or savoury, baked or set, a famil...

Low energy and fatigue can contribute to increased stress levels. Vitamin B is well-known for keeping energy levels high and improving cognitive performance which can have a positive effect. Supplementing with a vitamin B complex can help keep ene...

Students preparing for exams often feel intense pressure from peers, family and school. This is a time of immeasurable stress which results in feelings of anxiety or nervousness and can interfere with the student’s daily life. A student’s wellbein...

The 2018 National Spelling Bee Championships is now open for entries. All primary schools, including independent schools, from Grades 4 to 6 are invited to register for participation in the Championships. Home Education learners and special school...

The South African Guide Dogs association’s mission is to enhance the mobility and independence of people who have visual, physical and developmental needs. To create awareness for the organisation, learners are encouraged to create a poster which ...

Nothing creates fear and anxiety in the minds of students like a big test or exam. Wanting to study is one thing, but it can be difficult to without the proper guidance. It’s important for children to build good study skills early in their schooli...

The Social and Emotional CPD course has been very well received with many schools signing up on a ‘whole-school’ basis, as well as individual educators and professionals taking the initiative. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, which is re...

We have developed an affiliate programme for schools to earn cash back when they refer parents to sign up to our platform. With exams looming, what better way than to encourage parents to sign up and help support their children during exams and ea...

National Senior Certificate Exam Timetable 2018 Click on the link below to view, download or print the timetable:     https://www.education.gov.za/Portals/0/Documents/Publications/2018%20SC%20Exams%20Timetable.pdf

Linda Joyce Bruce, developer of the E-Classroom SACE accredited Social Emotional Learning CPD course (45 points earned on completion) shares her ideas on raising kids with a healthy dose of self-esteem. A great read for parents and teachers alike....

What do I do now that I have finished my last exam? What can I do in my gap year? What can I do next year? These may be the questions you are asking yourself. Did you know that a quarter of students do not know what to do after compulsory educa...

A digital tsunami is sweeping education. Students, teachers and schools are being swept along by a tidal wave of enthusiasm for what many believe is going to solve all our education problems. The primary driver for this transformation in educatio...

Every-one uses different study methods. The basic types of studying are Visual, Auditory, Emotional and Kinaesthetic. At E-Classroom, we want to help you find your best studying techniques to ace those exams!  We found this useful blog post which ...

Click on the links below to view, download or print the timetables: SENIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATIONS TIMETABLE 2017 NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) EXAMINATIONS TIMETABLE 2017

Finland’s education system has been in the news recently with sensational headlines declaring that they will be the first country in the world to do away with school subjects. Firstly, the reports are not entirely true. Finland is not actually do...

Here are the October winners The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is running a competition through e-Classroom to find ten Grade 6 animal welfare ambassadors to represent them in the school environment. The response is overwhelming a...

In today’s competitive world, learners have to meet the demands of the classroom while at the same time taking time out for self-study and exam preparation. All these goings-on can put the learner under a tremendous amount of pressure, and writing...

When Sun Valley Primary in Cape Town made a decision to ban homework last year it stirred up a heated debate, and the discussion has by no means settled. To those of us who grew up in an era when nobody dared question the existence of homework it...

Every month we highlight a teacher or learner who gets a gold star for being a hero in their school, community or home. This month it’s Mrs Roe of Bedfordview Primary in Gauteng. Heroic act: Great teacher Mrs Roe exemplifies the definition of “b...

Visit the General Revision section of English Home Language to access IFAW-sponsored content that focuses on protecting our endangered animal species. This content can be used to highlight the importance of protecting wild animals to learners, whi...

Every month we highlight teachers or learners who get a gold star for being heroes in their school, community or home. This month it’s Lwethu Ngcongo and Xolisa Mangaliso from Booysens Park Primary in Bethelsdorp. Heroic act: Sport (Rugby) Lweth...

Every month we highlight a teacher or learner who gets a gold star for being a hero in their school, community or home. This month it’s Lakhe Mdeliswe from Cedarberg Primary in Port Elizabeth. Heroic act: Community upliftment Lakhe is a grade 7 ...

The big news in South Africa this past week has been the countrywide #FeesMustFall protests against the high costs of tertiary education. The protests were sparked by anger over double digit increases for next year’s tuition fees, and soon escalat...

From humble beginnings, E-classroom grew… and grew … and grew! As is so often the case, while we were doing all this growing, we got a little out of shape. Makeover time! We put a survey out and asked our users what they wanted to see. The resu...

Every month we highlight a teacher or learner who gets a gold star for being a hero in their school, community or home. This month it’s Ms S Singh from Claryidge Primary in KwaZulu-Natal. Ms Singh has been the Pick n Pay School Club coordinator ...

It is quite amazing to see how social networking is changing things for many people. More and more people are using Twitter to communicate. An aspect that has interested me is noticing the increasing popularity of Twitter chats. Twitter chats have...

I hope you had relaxing holidays and that your mind is fresh and ready to start the new term. Over the holidays, the e-Classroom team has worked hard to develop support worksheets to assist you while planning your class work. Have a look at how yo...

One of the new forms of professional development around technology integration that has intrigued me is the move towards ‘TeachMeets’. This is all part of the social networking age of ‘sharing’ information. TeachMeets are a world-wide phenomenon w...