Welcome back to this bi-monthly series which focuses on culturally relevant reading instruction. We started off back in September with an introduction to culturally relevant reading instruction and in my last blog, I suggested eight ways to engage multilingual/bilingual learners in reading while supporting language acquisition. This blog is about one of the cornerstones of the culturally … [Read more...]
8 Ways to Foster Reading Growth in Multilingual Learners
In these diverse times, it is very likely that teachers will encounter limited English proficiency (LEP) learners in their classrooms or other learning settings. Students learning English, or English Language Learners (ELL), are no longer a minority segment of the school population. ELLs are among the nation’s fastest-growing group of students and are set to become a majority in schools. As of … [Read more...]
My Brain Won’t Float Away/ Mi cerebro no va a salir flotando
Summary: Annie, an eight-year-old girl who wears a leg brace, is teased at school because one of her hands in smaller than the other and she falls down a lot. One day, Annie gathers the courage to ask her mommy why she is the way she is and learns that she has a disability called “hydrocephalus,” or as her mommy explains it to her, “water on the brain.” Annie is alarmed at the prospect of … [Read more...]
An Introduction to Culturally Relevant Reading Instruction
There has been much talk amongst literacy experts about the importance of using students’ backgrounds, knowledge and experiences to inform learning in the classroom and during reading instruction. The logic that schools and teachers should seek to create a bridge between students’ home and school lives makes so much sense, but in fact, the reality does not always live up to the ideal. … [Read more...]
