Introduction to Davar Curriculum

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This information is also available in Romanianro_ro and in Dutch .

Introduction to Davar Curriculum

Goal:
Offer a ‘bridge to literacy’ through activities that teach, and offer practice in, necessary skills for learning to read, write, and do math. Attract people of all ages to the learning process through these activities and help them discover that academic learning is easier and more fun than they (might have) previously thought or experienced.

Rationale:
It is a good and well-known didactic principle to use the known to explain the unknown. When teachers use the languages and ways of learning that students already know in order to teach them new things, they will feel respected, as well as able and motivated to learn. This will create the positive learning environment needed to be able to acquire new skills and learn new concepts.

Target groups:
a. Children (or adults) who have missed opportunities to master these skills in preparation for learning to read, write, and do math.
b. Workers with or without pedagogical training who wish to teach these skills.

Description: 
Davar activities are simple and fun to do. They can be done with few, readily-found materials. Since those taking part succeed in participating in the activities, it is also affirming for them. Each Start or Math Game takes about fifteen minutes. They may be used in any order chosen by the leader/teacher and incorporated into existing meetings. They may be part of after school tutoring, remedial teaching, second-language learning, Sunday school, Bible club or other regular meeting. It would be helpful if the group meets at least once a week.
Where possible, the language of communication should be the language that the participants know best. Often, that will be their mother tongue.

Learning materials needed: paper, pencils, printed pictures and easily found objects such as sand, stones and sticks. Optional materials: worksheets (available for free from the internet). When this is the case, it is mentioned in the activity.

The website includes:

  • FUNdament(activities for parents and children to do together). FUNdament was created for special meetings with parents (or adult care-givers) and children. However, these activities can also be added to any other meeting.
  • Start Games (practice the thinking, listening, and fine motor skills needed to learn to read, write, and do math);
  • Math Games (practice slightly more advanced math skills);
  • Letter Games (help with learning to read).