Facilitating a lesson in a Freire instructional program

The facilitator using the Freire instructional program follows the direction of the learner/participants in the lesson progression. The Freirean philosophy rejects the idea of primers, so materials are prepared during the lesson following the discussion of the participants. The parts of the lesson include

• an illustrated theme
• a generative word
• syllables
• writing, and
• reading.

Here are some prerequisites to teaching a lesson in a Freire instructional program:

• You need to understand the basic philosophy of the method.
• You need to choose the theme and some generative words for discussion.
• You need to illustrate the theme on a chart or chalkboard.
• You need to have large charts or a chalkboard large enough for all the participants to see what is written on it.

Discussion

1. Show the illustration of the theme you've chosen.

   Example:

   Discuss a picture illustrating the Portuguese word "favela" (slums).

2. Encourage the participants to discuss their feelings about the theme.

Drills

3. Introduce the generative word.

   Example:

   "favela"

4. Break down the generative word into syllables.

   Example:

   "fa-ve-la"

5. Drill the syllables in one syllable family.

   Example:

   "fa-fe-fi-fo-fu"

6. Drill the syllables in two other known syllable families.

   Example:

   "va-ve-vi-vo-vu, la-le-li-lo-lu"

7. Drill three syllable families together.

   Example:

   "fa-fe-fi-fo-fu, va-ve-vi-vo-vu, la-le-li-lo-lu"

Writing and reading

8. Have the participants create and write new words and personal thoughts using new and previously taught syllables.
9. Have the participants read the new words and written personal thoughts.

Homework

10. Have the participants take home a discovery card with a syllable chart and possibly an illustration on it.

    Tip:	You can prepare the discovery cards ahead of time, or the participants can copy what you have written

11. Have the participants try to make other words, which they bring to the next meeting.

• Task module: Facilitating a lesson in a Freire instructional pr..., by Martha A. Lane (contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), and Carole P. Spaeth (contributor)
• In task module: Teaching lessons in an instructional program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Teaching people to read and write, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 22 October 1999

© 1999 SIL International