Cultural Literacy-Based Reading Materials for Elementary School Students

Abstract

Reading materials determine students' reading ability. Contents adjusted to students' habits, traditions, or environments make a good alternative for designing reading instructions. Cultural literacy-based reading materials fostering the values, habits, behaviour, communication, rituals, and traditional games of a local community can address reading-related problems among elementary school students. The materials are expected to encourage students' reading interest, improve their reading skills, and strengthen their interest in their own culture. This study investigated the advantages and disadvantages of reading materials based on cultural literacy for elementary school students. This study is library research that gathered data from textbooks and national and international articles from reputable journals and regulations. The data used were the results of previous studies, national and international. Additionally, there are 2 types of books relevant to the concept of cultural literacy-based reading materials. After the data were collected, they were presented, reduced, and concluded. Results showed that cultural content in students' reading materials was feasible to be applied in reading instruction to improve student's reading skills and grow their interest in their culture.