Early Childhood Literacy Teacher

Peace Corps Uganda  Education Volunteers contribute to the national Early Childhood Literacy Project by improving access to quality early childhood literacy. Volunteers strengthen the capacity of teachers, work directly with students, develop  teaching and learning materials, and enhance engagement with parents and community members to promote a culture of reading. Volunteers will be assigned to serve as Early Childhood Literacy Teachers in early grades (grades 1 to 3).

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• Competitive candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of  Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English.
  

Desired skills

• Competitive candidates will have experience in one or more of the following criteria:
  
• 1 or more school years classroom  teaching experience at the Early Childhood, Elementary or Middle School level, or Montessori (full-time)  teaching experience.
  
• 3 months, 10 hours/month, or 30 hours of English or literacy teaching/tutoring experience with primary, middle, or high school students, or adults.
  
• Teaching literacy; teaching large multi-level classes; classroom management.
  
• Teaching and working with children aged 6–15 years.
  
• Working within a low resource  educational system in a developing country, with low levels of literacy.
  
• Working with diverse learning/working styles and respectfully encouraging participation in underrepresented groups i.e. women, youth, and people with disabilities.
  
• Working with young children.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience building good working relationships with school authorities.
  
• Required language skills: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position. Although English and Swahili are the official languages in Uganda, rural communities communicate primarily in the local language indigenous to their community. Using the local language is critical to community integration and effective work, so Volunteers receive intensive training to attain the required proficiency level before swearing in. During Pre-Service Training (PST), Trainees learn through community immersion and practice; one-on-one practice with staff and peers; and self-directed learning at the training venue. In addition, extended tutoring or other accommodation is available as needed to help each Trainee succeed. Volunteers are also expected to continue to improve their language skills throughout the course of their service.
  

• Work with teachers to strengthen their capacity for literacy instruction by leading professional development workshops, model and co-teach, assessment and building communities of practice.
  
• Teach students and implement school-based reading intervention programs for early readers.
  
• Support/guide Ugandan counterparts/host teachers in the use of techniques promoting gender equity in the classroom.
  
• Develop resource rooms/libraries/computer labs that enable access and utilization by the learners.
  
• Develop instructional materials using locally available materials.
  
• Become involved in community and support school-based projects (e.g., working with schools to establish after-school programs, such as book clubs and readers’ theater etc.)
  
• Engage parents and other community members in national-level literacy initiatives, such as national Drop Everything and Read Day, My Language Spelling Bee, and promote a safe and friendly school.