Don’t tell me, show me!

The Classroom Teacher Training and Support Programme occurs for a minimum of one year in schools across Grades 4 to 12 assisting teachers to implement simple techniques to ensure better teaching and learning takes place.

Each year the dynamics in schools change – new teachers enter the teaching profession, teachers move to different grades, subjects and schools, management positions are altered – which all bring a loss of teaching continuity and momentum to the English subject teams within schools.

These factors necessitate on-going English content training of teachers in new skills and the correct use of learning and teaching support materials through:

  • Uplifting, regular, fortnightly, ‘hands on’ demonstration lessons in each teacher’s own particular classroom
  • Lesson, assessment and term planning.

S.M.I.L.E.’s presence and support helps to re-establish confidence, stability and focus – to motivate teachers to be the best they can be.

Trust, respect and friendship underly the relationships that are forged between the teachers and S.M.I.L.E. trainers in the teachers’ sacred space of their classroom.

I just got home from a 2 hour workshop and I’m feeling so inspired and motivated! I learnt so many valuable tools to apply to my classroom. I am so grateful for this workshop. Thanks Daniela Browne for your passion, it was such a breath of fresh air.
Samantha Dirker, Bracken High School Gauteng
Thank you so much for the amazing workshop yesterday. I applied your methods in class today with my Grade 8s and for the first time I saw lightbulb moments with them in terms of poetry.
Cindy Palm, Germiston High School Gauteng

On behalf of Windsor Secondary and our Cluster we express our sincere thanks and gratitude for the informative and dynamic Workshop you conducted.

Nitha Dookhu, Ladysmith Cluster Coordinator Windsor Secondary, KwaZulu Natal

Thank you, Daniela, the workshops and resources are so enriching. We really appreciate your assistance and dedication.

Belinda Harris, Curriculum Advisor JHB West District Gauteng

Thank you for your continuous support. Very enriching and enjoyable Workshops you always present.

Jacobeth Peu, English FAL CA for Johannesburg Central District Gauteng

Your books are without doubt the most comprehensive language textbooks I have ever seen. We thank you for your hard work and dedication. It is very comforting to know that we as teachers have angels like you out there identifying the needs of our country and doing everything you can to improve the language proficiency of our learners.

Angela Goosen, HOD Eunice High School Bloemfontein Free State

We have worked through the textbooks and are really impressed by the quality of the books! This is a fantastic project where the money is well spent due to the high quality of the material.

Adrian Foster, Deputy St Andrews School Bloemfontein Free State

Our teachers are very excited at the quality of the textbooks. They provide excellent scaffolding to support learning at various levels of Home Language competency and ability.

Yvonne Robinson, HOD Oudtshoorn High School Oudtshoorn Western Cape

I applaud the team that managed to put together such and outstanding series. The Grade 12 book prepares learners adequately for their examination. I highly recommend this series.

T P Mphaphuli , HOD Willowmead Secondary Gauteng

Apart from the textbooks being CAPS compliant, they are visually stimulating, user friendly and relatable and very conducive to an interactive learning environment. It certainly is a privilege to be a part of a project of this magnitude.

S Singh, Subject Head English Amanzimtoti High KwaZulu Natal

Thank you for the awesome books, for helping us to be passionate about our subject again and for helping our learners to understand the work better.

Melanie Crawford, HOD HTS Sasolburg Free State

I am very happy with the books as they are. I consider them to be one of the best textbooks available and I definitely endorse them. I have 34 years experience of teaching English.

Gayl Potgieter, HOD Linkside High Eastern Cape

The SMILE English Home Language Textbooks have been a huge success at our school and we would highly recommend this resource to other high school teachers.

Shandre Otto, Principal Zwanswyk High School Western Cape

The textbook is amazing. It is one of the best I have ever used. Well done!

Trevor Gething, Grade 8 teacher Hoerskool Uitsig Gauteng

It is a great privilege for our English Department to be included in your pilot programme for the Interactive English Home Language Textbooks across all grades. The strength of the SMILE textbook series is that it is highly interactive. The learners love the presentation, colour, pictures and fresh content matter while our teachers appreciate the user-friendly format and the high consistency between all the books of differing levels. It is an exceptional gift to receive these books for our learners.

Elaine Bester, HOD Bergvliet High Western Cape

We would like to thank the authors as well as the funder for their partnership and contribution in making it possible for each of our Grades 8, 9,10, 11 and 12 learners to own an Interactive English Home Language Textbook. Your textbooks have breathed new life into our lessons as the content deals with current issues which are relevant and informative.

Onetia Africa , HOD The Cape Academy Western Cape

We are indeed fortunate to have the opportunity to use these textbooks. Our learners are being elevated as language learners and credit goes to the team that complies these textbooks.

Rose Singh , HOD Verulam Secondary KwaZulu Natal

The layout of the SMILE Textbooks is superb. The learners respond well to the size of the text/ font and colour of images. The level is appropriate for English Home Language even though many of our learners are second or even third English language speakers. The SMILE Textbooks are a pleasure to use.

Linda Holm, Deputy Kathu High Northern Cape

We are so grateful that we have been given the opportunity to use your amazing textbooks. Your books use such relatable examples for the modern teenager. The Grade 8 learners love them and the teachers do as well!

Kelly Stuart, HOD Junior English Russell High KwaZulu Natal

I cannot begin to tell you what a blessing it is to have the priviledge of working with these SMILE resources!

Deborah Labans, HOD Hillside High Eastern Cape

The students love your textbooks and they certainly are a dream when it comes to planning for teachers.

Adelle Jones, HOD MEPS Limpopo

Thank you so much for the Textbooks. We are simply over the moon with their quality and modern touch! Thank you very much for offering to include us!

Esti Henn , HOD Hoerskool Warmbaths Mpumulanga