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F O U N D A T I O N F O R E D U C A T I O N A N D C U L T U R A L I N I T I A T I V E S “ S T E P B Y S T E P ” – M A C E D O N I A

Dear friends of the “Step by Step” Foundation

Our team greets you with the latest issue of our electronic bulletin.

The month of October was very eventful for the Foundation, among other things due to our participation at the international conference "Creating a society for all: Reconsidering Early Childhood Services", organized by the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) in Budapest, Hungary. At this conference our foundation presented the current project activities and had a chance to share experiences and knowledge regarding early childhood development with more than 400 participants from 30 countries in the world. For more information, visit the official website of the c o n f e r e n c e : h t t p : / / w w w . i s s a 2 0 1 4 . h u / o r o u r w e b s i t e http://stepbystep.org.mk/WEBprostor/ISSA_Conference_Budapest.pdf

Also read about the project activities in which we are involved and share them with your coworkers and friends.

The Foundation “Step by Step” started a new initiative titled “Competent Teachers for the 21st Century” which is implemented in cooperation with the Faculties of Pedagogy in , Shtip and and with the Institute of Pedagogy at the Faculty of Philosophy – Skopje. As part of this initiative, a series of trainings that uphold the principles of quality pedagogy which the Foundation “Step by Step” stands for, will be delivered. These principles which were created by the International Step by Step Association, are published in a brochure titled “Putting Knowledge into Practice - A Guidebook for Educators on ISSA's Principles of Quality Pedagogy” which was distributed to all students who have enrolled for the training. This project entails the translation of academic literature in order for the students to become well acquainted with the concept of a quality teacher. Expect more news regarding the activities from this initiative. Greetings from our team

MACEDONIAN OPEN SOCIETY CIVIC STEP BY STEP EDUCATION FOUNDATIONS CENTER EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM USAID Teacher Professional and Roma Parenting Support Projects Career Development Project

Readers are Project for (Self) Empowerment Leaders Project MEETING FOR REVIEW of Roma Parents and Children

THE CHILDREN'S CREATIVE CENTER IN SKOPJE OF FEEDBACK INFORMATION

AND FINALIZING Current activities in the Child Support Centers THE COMPETENCIES

AND STANDARDS TRAINING FOR STUDENT FOR SOCIAL

ARY LIBR TAL NE DIGI SUPPORT SERVICE W CONTENT IN THE JUSTICE

www.stepbystep.org.mk ОНДАЦИЈА ЗА ОБРАЗОВНИ И КУЛТУРНИ ИНИЦИЈАТИВИ FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES STEP BY STEP USAID Readers are Leaders Project R e a d i n g a n d M a t h fo r I n te l l e c t u a l G ro w t h

CHILDREN'S CREATIVE CENTER – SKOPJE – FIRST AND UNIQUE CENTER IN THE COUNTRY SPECIALIZED FOR L ANGUAGE AND MATH ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG STUDENTS

NOVEMBER TWO SATURDAYS OF Activities in the Children's Creative Center on Saturday! Project team will organize reading sessions in the Children's Creative Center – Skopje. We are inviting all children and adults to join us for a reading and fun session: November 8 (Saturday) 12.00 – 13.00 November 22 (Saturday) 12.00 – 13.00 g these hours! Free entrance durin center can contact l or group visit in the sted for an individua eaders Project. Everyone intere USAID Readers are L PS Ilinden – Kriva Palanka and PS enter – Skopje or the the Youth Cultural C ) ter - Skopje (foor 1 Vlado Kantardziev – Gevgelija are Youth Cultural Cen р. 15, 1000 Skopje Kej Dimitar Vlahov б part of the schools that organized Working hours: Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 – 12:00 and 16:00 – 20:00 a visit for the lower-grade Saturday: 11:00 – 20:00 Tel: 02/3115-225 and 3115-508, ext.114 http://mkc.mk/ students in the Children's S t u d Creative Center. e n f t s r o Lower-grade students from these m t h schools, together with their In e st itu te teachers and the project team o f spent several hours in the center P e d a g o g y and they used the resources and d i t e materials offered there. v i s r e t n e C On the 20th of October, the students e h t from the Institute of Pedagogy from the Faculty of Philosophy - Skopje visited the Children's Creative Center and together with Professor Elizabeta Tomevska Ilievska and the Step by Step team got acquainted with the resources and the activities in the center. The students were very enthusiastic about becoming involved in creating and implementing activities with the children in the center. N r . Б9 р Р о . ј 8 4 O Ј c У t o1Л bфИe еr– в –С рNуЕoаПvрeТиm Е–b М1e Вrм Р а Ир т 22200011144 4

www.stepbystep.org.mk 2/7 ОНДАЦИЈА ЗА ОБРАЗОВНИ И КУЛТУРНИ ИНИЦИЈАТИВИ FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES STEP BY STEP

LETTERS AND NUMBERS ROADSHOW STARTED VISITING THE SCHOOLS FROM THE THIRD PHASE OF THE PROJECT

In October, Letters and Numbers Roadshow visited part of the schools selected for Phase 3 of the project. Students, parents and teachers from these schools had the chance to meet public figures and to read picture books and solve math quizzes in a creative and fun way. These activities in the schools are carried out in Macedonian and Albanian language, and now for the first time – in Turkish language, in accordance with the languages of instruction in the schools.

Reading and Math are Fun with the actors Amernis Nokshiqi and Nesrin Tair in PS Bratstvo Edinstvo – and PS Mite Bogoevski – Resen

Reading and Math are Fun with the singer Kristina Arnaudova and actor Gorast Cvetkovski in two schools in Kavadarci: PS Tode Hadzi-Tefov and PS Toshe Velkov – Pepeto

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www.stepbystep.org.mk 3/7 ОНДАЦИЈА ЗА ОБРАЗОВНИ И КУЛТУРНИ ИНИЦИЈАТИВИ FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES STEP BY STEP

5 8 A К 4 1

Our Magic Literacy Van also visited these schools and opened its doors for the youngest students who had the chance to explore the resources on shelves of the mobile library.

Magic Literacy Van in the school yard of Magic Literacy Van in the school yard of PS Strasho Pindjur – Vevhani PS Vlado Katardziev – Gevgelija

IN NOVEMBER

Letter and Numbers Roadshow will continue its journey to the following destinations:

11 November PS Pere Toshev – Rosoman and PS Pere Toshev – v.Dupjachani, Dolneni

12 November PS Rampo Levkata – Prilep and PS Slavko Lumbarkovski – Novaci

18 November PS Hristijan Karposh –

20 November PS Toho Arsov – Shtip and PS Nikola Karev – Probishtip

25 November PS Pashko Vasa – Zhelino and PS Dervish Cara – Bogovinje

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www.stepbystep.org.mk.stepbystep.org.mk 4/7 ОНДАЦИЈА ЗА ОБРАЗОВНИ И КУЛТУРНИ ИНИЦИЈАТИВИ FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURAL INITIATIVES STEP BY STEP

DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLIES TO SCHOOLS

The distribution of supplies has already started for Phase 1 and Phase 2 schools. Packages with writing and drawing paper, crayons, markers, and other supplies aimed to enhance the work and study process in the classroom will also continue in the upcoming period.

ARY LIBR TAL NE DIGI W CONTENT IN THE

Two new audio-digital picture books and one digital learning activity were published in our digital library. They are available for free at: http://stepbystep.org.mk/mk/biblioteka

We would also like to remind you that in the library you can find other picture books and materials published over the last few months that you can download and read together with the children.

WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS IN SCHOOLS FROM PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2

In the upcoming period, creative workshops for picture books making will be organized for the schools from the first two phases of the project. These workshops are aimed for lower-grade teachers and parents of lower-grade students.

In order to familiarize the teachers with the materials developed by the project, we will organize short meetings with the schools from phase 1 and 2. The purpose of the meetings will be to show to the teachers ways to use the digital audio books, digital learning resources and books, as well as to get feedback about their needs.

For additional questions regarding the activities of the USAID Readers are Leaders Project, please contact Ana Dimovska, Information and Communication Officer, through e-mail: [email protected] or cell: 072/ 307-321 N r . Б9 р Р о . ј 8 4 O Ј c У t o1Л bфИe еr– в –С рNуЕoаПvрeТиm Е–b М1e Вrм Р а Ир т 22200011144 4 www.stepbystep.org.mk.stepbystep.org.mk 5/7 MACEDONIAN CIVIC EDUCATION Проект за професионален и CENTER кариерен раUзвSој Aна IнDаст аTвнeицaитcе her Professional and Career Development Project

MEETING FOR REVIEW OF FEEDBACK INFORMATION AND FINALIZING THE COMPETENCES AND STANDARDS FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICE

Upon closing of the public debate regarding the Catalogue of Core Professional Competencies for Student Support Services and the Standards for Student Support Service – Mentor and Student Support Service – Advisor, the task force held a meeting during which the received feedback was reviewed and the documents were finalized.

In the name of the USAID Teacher Professional and Career Development Project we want to thank the student support services that took part in the debate.

In October there was also a meeting of the career development group, whose work continues in the following period.

* The main implementer of the USAID Teacher Professional and Career Development Project is Macedonian Civic Education Center.

The Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives “Step by Step” is a partner organization in the implementation of activities under the Teacher Competences Component.

For more information regarding the USAID Teacher Professional and Career Development Project, please contact Project Chief of Party, Vera Kondikj - Mitkovska, Macedonian Civic Education Center, through e-mail: [email protected] N r . Б9 р Р о . ј 8 4 O Ј c У t o1Л bфИe еr– в –С рNуЕoаПvрeТиm Е–b М1e Вrм Р а Ир т 22200011144 4

www.stepbystep.org.mk 6/7 OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATIONS EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM Roma Parenting Support Projects

PROJECT FOR (SELF) EMPOWERMENT OF ROMA PARENTS AND CHILDREN

The August, September and October period was dedicated to reflecting on the work of the centers in the school year that passed in order to devise an effective plan for the new school year.

The teams of the Child Support Centers focus on strengthening early literacy and numeracy so that we can hope for a smoother transition in the first grade. The teams are also actively working toward more substantial and quality involvement of the families in the lives of the children in the Centers. The main efforts in this period are focused toward creating a solid connection between all domains of the project: the curriculum conducted in the centers with the children, the home visits to the families, the parent- child bonding activities workshops for parents.

The upcoming period (November-December) is going to be dedicated to educating various representatives of the community for social justice. The Education for Social Justice training is going to be available for municipality members, medical staff, other NGOs, school staff representatives from welfare centers, etc. The goal is to raise awareness about the damaging effects of prejudice, labeling, stereotyping and oppression of the Roma and other underprivileged groups of people, to become able to recognize it in the social environment and to create opportunities for taking action.

For more information regarding the Project for (Self) Empowerment of Roma Parents and Children, please contact Elena Mishikj, Project Coordinator, through e-mail: [email protected] or Majda Josheska, Educational Coordinator, [email protected] .

Foundation for Education and Cultural Initiatives “Step by Step” – Macedonia Blvd. Partizanski Odredi nr.72a, 1000 Skopje Tel: + 389 2 30 77 900 www.stepbystep.org.mk N r . Б9 р Р о . ј 8 4 O Ј c У t o1Л bфИe еr– в –С рNуЕoаПvрeТиm Е–b М1e Вrм Р а Ир т 22200011144 4 www.stepbystep.org.mk 7/7