TY - JOUR
T1 - The ‘Maria’ books: the achievements and challenges of introducing dual language, culturally relevant picture books to PNG schools
AU - Simoncini, Kym
AU - Pamphilon, Barbara
AU - Simeon, Lalen
PY - 2019/1/2
Y1 - 2019/1/2
N2 - This article describes the development and uptake of two dual-language, culturally relevant picture books in five primary schools in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The purpose of the books was to disseminate agricultural and livelihood messages both at school and at home. Schools were provided with big-book versions as permanent school resources and asked to send small-book versions home to families to both support children’s reading and encourage the uptake of the agricultural messages. Evaluations at two different time points showed that, although many teachers valued and used the books, some schools were reluctant to share the books with families. Teachers appreciated the dual-language text and culturally relevant pictures and stories, and many requested that more of these types of books be made available. For more effective book distribution, mobile phones and church networks should be used to distribute books to families and support obtained from school boards and provincial education departments of PNG.
AB - This article describes the development and uptake of two dual-language, culturally relevant picture books in five primary schools in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The purpose of the books was to disseminate agricultural and livelihood messages both at school and at home. Schools were provided with big-book versions as permanent school resources and asked to send small-book versions home to families to both support children’s reading and encourage the uptake of the agricultural messages. Evaluations at two different time points showed that, although many teachers valued and used the books, some schools were reluctant to share the books with families. Teachers appreciated the dual-language text and culturally relevant pictures and stories, and many requested that more of these types of books be made available. For more effective book distribution, mobile phones and church networks should be used to distribute books to families and support obtained from school boards and provincial education departments of PNG.
KW - culturally relevant teaching materials
KW - Dual-language books
KW - Papua New Guinea
KW - picture books
KW - PNG
KW - primary education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048988642&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/maria-books-achievements-challenges-introducing-dual-language-culturally-relevant-picture-books-png
U2 - 10.1080/07908318.2018.1490745
DO - 10.1080/07908318.2018.1490745
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 78
EP - 93
JO - Language, Culture and Curriculum
JF - Language, Culture and Curriculum
SN - 0790-8318
IS - 1
ER -