At GCU, an organisation with literacy and sports departments, the power of book-sharing is set to make a meaningful impact in their literacy work. Having completed book-sharing training in October, the team is eager to begin implementing the programme in January 2025 and expand its horizons with book-sharing. While waiting for final logistics—such as the payment for books to be processed—the team reflects on their training experience and the exciting road ahead.
A Unique Addition to Literacy Efforts
Within GCU’s literacy division, the team already runs programs like Wordworks, which focuses on helping learners construct sentences, understand prefixes and suffixes, and improve reading comprehension, and paired reading, which supports advanced learners struggling to read for meaning. The team sees book-sharing as a valuable addition to their efforts, particularly for younger learners.
While paired reading targets advanced learners, book-sharing offers a unique approach by fostering deeper engagement between parents, children, and educators. One team member noted, “Book-sharing is similar to paired reading but goes into more detail. It focuses on the bond between the child and the parent, which is very exciting.”
Confidence Through Training
The October training provided the facilitators with hands-on experience, including opportunities to present topics from the book-sharing manual. “Facilitating in front of others gave us a confidence boost,” said one participant. “Now, we feel ready to implement the programme with parents or teachers.”
The team appreciated how the programme’s structure is designed to align with specific learning topics, making it easier to integrate into their existing work. “It’s not just a random set of books—it all links up nicely,” one facilitator commented.
Plans for Implementation
The GCU team envisions implementing book-sharing in ways that accommodate the needs of their schools and communities. They plan to offer sessions either directly to parents or as training for teachers, depending on what each school permits. Their goal is to foster a more supportive learning environment for children, particularly those requiring extra attention or dealing with conditions like ADHD.
Excitement and Aspirations
The facilitators expressed excitement about the potential outcomes of the programme. One said, “I’m most excited about helping parents spend one-on-one time with their children. It’s about building stronger bonds and helping parents understand what their children are learning in school.”
Others highlighted the broader impact they hope to achieve:
- Stronger parent-child relationships
- Improved confidence in children
- Positive academic outcomes, even for just one child or family
“I want to change just one family this year,” a facilitator shared. “Even if it’s just one, it’s worth it to see that bond grow and their academic confidence improve.”
Book-Sharing at Home and Beyond
Some facilitators have begun practising book-sharing with children at home, though they acknowledge challenges like distractions. Despite this, they firmly believe in the programme’s transformative power. When asked if book-sharing can change attitudes and relationships, the team responded with a unanimous, “Yes.”
Looking Ahead
As January approaches, the GCU team is optimistic about the first year of book-sharing implementation. They hope to see positive outcomes, whether big or small, and are committed to making the programme a long-term part of their work. One facilitator summed it up best: “Book-sharing isn’t just about supporting literacy—it’s about creating connections, building confidence, and changing lives.”
With a strong foundation from their training and a clear vision for the future, the GCU team is ready to take the next steps in bringing the power of book-sharing to their schools and communities.
GCU is a non-profit organisation based in Heideveld on the Cape Flats. They aim “to provide the youth of Heideveld with the opportunity to dream of a better future through providing the education tools and life skills that will make those dreams a reality.”
