Author: Gerjanne van Ravenhorst

I am the director of Twiga dukina and a teacher, advisor, trainer and coach with a Bachelor in Pre-Primary & Primary Education and a Master in Learning & Innovation. My biggest passion is PLAY! I believe play is a basic need for children and I advocate for play in all schools. I was already playing from a very early age in nursery school and up till now I still enjoy to play a game with peers, friends and children!

A picture book about play

Currently Twiga dukina is developing a picture book. This book will be titled ‘Twiga dukina – the importance of play-based learning’. It seeks to promote play based learning to everybody who works with children in Early Childhood Development (ECD), between 3-6 years.
This book will make sure that people understand what young children are supposed to do in ECE schools, ECD centres and at home.

In the book the importance of play will be explained through a metaphor and many illustrations, which will help beneficiaries to understand easily why they should give children time to play, explore, discover, create and develop, so the child will be able to evolve and thrive!

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An organized class is an organized mind

As mentioned before: Qualitative play-based education starts with good classroom organization and management.

Today we will talk a bit more about classroom organization, because an organized class is also an organized mind: a mind ready for teaching and learning! An organized class will reduce waiting time during activities and helps everybody to easily and quickly access all materials they need: teachers ánd children.
It will increase learning time for children! Isn’t that what we want?

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100% rule

Qualitative play-based education starts with good classroom organization and management.

Often I visit schools where teachers face challenges with managing their class. Children are not listening to their teacher and have their own conversations and activities. As a result the teacher starts to speak louder and louder, which turns even into shouting.

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‘Rubbish’ is gold!

Playful education doesn’t have to be costly.
For children it is important to get many hands-on experiences so they can develop their senses, fine & gross motor skills and make new connections in their brain.

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I believe: ‘Disability is not an inability!’

Donathe, ECE teacher at GS Buhokoro, is a motivated, creative and confident ECE teacher. Most of the ECE teachers strive to have a big class to earn more money, but Donathe prefers to have a small class, which is easier to manage, so she can have a bigger positive impact on the children.

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**A lump in my throat**

Imagine…

Over 100 children of 3 to 6 years of age, gathered together in something that should be a classroom, but looks more like a barn. An earthen floor that turns into mud when it rains. Hardly any materials to work with and far too little space to seat all pupils.

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Contact

Gerjanne van Ravenhorst
MEd Learning & Innovation

Founder and managing Director
Author - Advisor – Trainer – Coach

Early childhood & Primary education
Expert in play-based learning

Nyamasheke district, Rwanda
+ 250 781447354
gerjanne@twigadukina.com

TIN number: 108991740

In the past I have worked as an ECE advisor for two VSO projects in Rwanda:
Itegure Kwiga & Itegure Gusoma

Huisstijl: Jasper Hofman  | Webdesign: studio Sandra Gortemaker