Teacher combines education and entertainment

Kenilworth teacher Jo Ashwell is combining entertainment and education to give pre-school children a stimulating learning experience.

- WESLEY FORD

Ms Ashwell has been an Early Childhood Development (ECD) teacher for more than 36 years. She has taught at schools such as Barkly House, Reddam House in Tokai, Monterey Pre-Primary School in Diep River and SACS Pre-Primary School.

Since leaving her full-time teaching position last year, she has combined her love for music with education and has been working as an external educator at various schools and ECD centres since the beginning of the year.

"Music has many advantages. Gross motor skills are essential for any child's development. During the sessions, through rhythmic movements either played on the piano or using carefully selected pre-recorded music, I encourage the children to march, skip, gallop, trot, jump, sway, walk and run all while integrating bilateral integration, rhythm, crossing of midline and building core strength," she said.

She added that music helps in other areas too, such as when children are asked to clap out the syllables in words or names, thereby infusing early literacy and mathematics into the sessions.