The paragraphs below describe the features of MTB MLE programmes that help children learn successfully in school. As you read them, you will see that they are all closely related to the principle above— teachers start with what the students already know to help them learn what is new.
MTB MLE students learn to read and write in their MT. MTB MLE teachers realize that memorizing the names of letters is not the same as“ reading”. They know that copying words and sentences from the chalkboard is not the same as“ writing.” They understand that the purpose of reading and writing in school is to learn and communicate thoughts and ideas. And they understand that their students cannot“ read-to-learn” or“ write-to-communicate” in a language that they do not understand.
MTB MLE teachers read to their young students every day. They read stories in the MT about people, places and activities that the students know from their daily lives. Students see the teacher holding a small book or pointing to words on a Big Book or poster as she reads. Soon they realize that the“ marks” on a printed page communicate a real message. That is an essential first step in helping students become fluent readers and writers.
Patani Malay students listen as their teacher reads a Big Book story in their mother tongue.( Thailand) © Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia, Mahidol University, Thailand
MTB MLE teachers help their students learn to match the individual sounds of their language with the letters of their alphabet. They teach students to put letters together to understand words and read sentences. From the first week of school, teachers encourage their students to spend time with books. They show students how to use the pictures on each page to tell the story in their book. Through all these activities, students quickly begin to see themselves as readers. In fact, young students begin to enjoy reading so much that teachers say that their students want to stay in the classroom and read during recess time rather than go outside to play. One of the biggest“ problems” for MTB MLE teachers is that their students keep asking for more books!
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