Journal of Emerging Trends in Educational Research and Policy Studies: Home

Article Title: What can Schools Learn from Children about Use of Culturally Relevant Methods and Materials?
by Maureen Mweru and Catherine Gakii murungi

Abstract:
The methods and materials used by teachers in schools has been examined by various researchers. However, sibling teaching and the materials and methods used during sibling teaching is an area that has not received much attention. There is therefore a paucity of literature on the teaching strategies older siblings use when instructing younger children. This paper therefore is based on a study that set out to investigate the materials and methods used during sibling teaching among children in Kenya. This study was important as most children spend a significant proportion of their time with their siblings resulting in siblings having a great influence on each other. In this study, the older siblings were found to use locally available materials such as stones, sticks, leaves and seeds to teach various concepts and skills to younger children. They also used traditional games, songs and story telling. They taught their younger siblings not only the appropriate norms and values, but also instructed them on various concepts taught by teachers in Kenyan schools. This paper therefore recommends that teachers just like older siblings should use locally available materials and culturally appropriate teaching methods.

Keywords: home instruction, instructional materials, non-traditional education, peer teaching, preschool education, sibling teaching.

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