How many schools are in the programme now?
During the three years of implementation( 2012-2015), twenty-nine learning centres and ten elementary schools implemented MTB MLE classes.
How did you develop the curriculum?
MTB MLE-specific curriculum, lesson plans and materials for the pilot programme were based on competencies established by the Department of Education. The Department of Education for Region 12 reviewed and approved the lesson plans for teaching the three languages.
Programme leaders recognized that it would be difficult for MTB MLE students to learn to read and write three languages( MT, Filipino and English) within a short period of time. A priority in planning the curriculum was to enable children to gain confidence in reading and writing their MT first and then transferring their knowledge and skills in MT literacy to reading and writing Filipino and then English.
How did you develop classroom materials?
During the three years of the pilot programme, the programme team held a series of workshops in which participants developed, produced and then distributed teachers’ guides, 97 big book titles( 83 in the MT and 14 in Filipino), five big pictures and recordings of children’ s songs in the three MTs that are used in the programme.
MTB MLE RESOURCE KIT Including the Excluded: Promoting Multilingual Education
The programme team, working with the Department of Education, developed“ transfer primers” to help students transfer from reading and writing their MT to reading and writing Filipino. The primers help students to 1) identify letters that look the same and sound the same in their MT and Filipino; then 2) letters in Filipino that are not used in the MT; and then 3) letters in both languages that look the same but are pronounced differently.
The first two years( 2012 and 2013) focused on developing lesson plans and teaching materials for schools in each language area. In the third year the team reviewed and finalized the lesson plans and teaching materials and developed the transfer primers and language bridging guides.
How did you select and train teachers?
To address the need for teachers who are fluent in the three languages, programme leaders advocated with the Department of Education at the district and division levels to assign newly certified teachers to schools in their own language communities.
The programme team implemented a series of training sessions to help teachers understand the purpose of MTB MLE and use the curriculum, teaching materials and teaching methods effectively.
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