Children in emergency contexts are most at risk of not achieving foundational learning within three years of schooling. Teachers contend with intensified challenges accessing training and resources, and with regular school closures due to insecurity, children have less time to learn. It is imperative that children achieve foundational learning quickly to keep them in school.
Chalkboard Guides are produced by a team of local teachers and data entry operators, and adapted to the national curriculum and predominant national teaching style and language. Teachers receive one 4 hour, practice-based introductory session, then take the guides back to their schools where they use them to teach lessons.
Inspired by Bansho, an art of board-writing from Japan, Chalkboard Guides allow teachers to realise the potential of the chalkboard and assist them to assure explicit teaching, effective explanations, examples and efficient layout that aids effective learning. Their design and content are shaped by behavioural and cognitive science, introducing powerful pedagogical tweaks that are easily adoptable by the median teacher in a conflict setting to improve teaching and learning. Teachers adopt Chalkboard Guide teaching strategies with over 80% fidelity within 2 weeks.
From 2021-22, Chalkboard Guides have been prototyped by Justice Rising with 379 learners and 6 teachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and 160 learners and 3 teachers in Cameroon, in partnership with education in emergencies specialist Street Child. Surveys and semi-structured interviews showed that teachers felt more effective within two weeks of working with Chalkboard Guides. 100% of teachers reported that their workload was “lightened” and felt relieved and supported. In 2022-23, Chalkboard Guides have been piloted by Justice Rising with 1800 learners and 36 teachers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and are set to scale to a further 6000 learners and 120 teachers in Cameroon and DRC in 2023-24.
Go to the Justice Rising website for an overview of the process for implementing Chalkboard Guides.
Then contact ee-reh.owo@justicerising.org for more detailed information and/or support.
