Literacy Instruction In Multilingual Classrooms

This hands-on guide shows elementary school teachers how to create multilingual classroom communities that support every learner's success in reading, writing, and general literacy development. The author provides a practical overview of key ideas and techniques and describes specific literacy activities that lead to vocabulary and oral English proficiency. Instructional chapters will help teachers create a language-rich classroom environment, scaffold reading and writing tasks to match students' needs, and use students' language backgrounds as a bridge to literacy learning in English. As with all titles in The Practitioner's Bookshelf Series, this resource includes many user-friendly features such as bulleted summaries and checklists as well as photographs of linguistically diverse classrooms modeling the types of instructional interactions described in the book.

Introduces core principles of effective reading practice. Presented as a definitive checklist, these principles form the basis of much of the book and help teachers plan their reading curriculum and assess their teaching of reading easily and confidently. First, the authors introduce the checklist, then they present the theory of reading behind it. As the chapters progress, each item on the checklist is explained and illustrated in detail with examples of eight exemplary teachers who work effectively with mainstream, ESL, and bilingual students. Daily schedules, sample strategy lessons, and lists of literature at different grade levels--both elementary and secondary--help readers put the principles into practice. In the final chapter, the authors address some of the hard questions teachers, administrators, and parents raise about reading, including questions about phonics and phonemic awareness.

Literacy has traditionally been associated with the linguistic and functional ability to read and write. Although literacy, as a fundamental issue in education, has received abundant attention in the last few decades, most publications to date have focused on monolingual classrooms. Language teacher educators have a responsibility to prepare teachers to be culturally responsive and flexible so they can adapt to the range of settings and variety of learners they will encounter in their careers while also bravely questioning the assumptions they are encountering about multilingual literacy development and instruction. The Handbook of Research on Cultivating Literacy in Diverse and Multilingual Classrooms is an essential scholarly publication that explores the multifaceted nature of literacy development across the lifespan in a range of multilingual contexts. Recognizing that literacy instruction in contemporary language classrooms serving diverse student populations must go beyond developing reading and writing abilities, this book sets out to explore a wide range of literacy dimensions. It offers unique perspectives through a critical reflection on issues related to power, ownership, identity, and the social construction of literacy in multilingual societies. As a resource for use in language teacher preparation programs globally, this book will provide a range of theoretical and practical perspectives while creating space for pre- and in-service teachers to grapple with the ideas in light of their respective contexts. The book will also provide valuable insights to instructional designers, curriculum developers, linguists, professionals, academicians, administrators, researchers, and students.

This book offers practical research-based advice for teachers and other educators on how to adapt school and classroom procedures, curriculum content, and instructional strategies in order to provide a supportive learning environment for students of minority language backgrounds who are learning the language of instruction at the same time as they are learning the curriculum.

Comprehensive -- yetnot overwhelming -- this book provides a basic framework for teaching in classroom settings that are multilingual and multicultural. Written specifically from an educational perspective and using a balance of contemporary theory, research, and practice, it explores different dimensions of context, process, and content -- as well as assessment and evaluation -- elated to pedagogy that empowers language minority students. It is accessible and appropriate for teachers with little or no background in ESL or bilingual education as well as for specialists. Captures a teacher's vision of the concepts and strategies that make a difference for language minority students. Synthesizes contemporary scholarship complemented by strategies and techniques that teachers can readily apply in K-12 classrooms. This book reveals the complexity of the cultural and linguistic influences on teaching and learning processes -- and helps teachers conceptualize the interrelationships involved in relation to dimensions common to all classroom settings. It addresses the needs of all teachers -- elementary and secondary, beginning and experienced, prospective specialists and non-specialists, those in urban, suburban, and rural settings. It explores classrooms that are multilingual and multicultural from a tripartite perspective. It describes multilingual classrooms and explains why a focus on context, process, and content is central to providing instructional programs that empower language minority students.

A comprehensive source of ideas and advice for enhancing the learning of all students in all subject areas and at all grade levels.

This book offers practical research-based advice for teachers and other educators on how to adapt school and classroom procedures, curriculum content, and instructional strategies in order to provide a supportive learning environment for students of minority language backgrounds who are learning the language of instruction at the same time as they are learning the curriculum.

Within a clear conceptual framework, this book explores ways that teachers, reading specialists, administrators, and teacher educators can provide more effective literacy instruction to K-9 students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Cutting-edge theory and research is interwoven with detailed case studies that bring to life the complexities of teaching in today's multicultural and multilingual classroom. Topics covered include: *How and why culture matters in literacy instruction *Drawing on students' multiple literacies in the classroom *Motivating and engaging English-language learners *Steps that teachers can take to heighten their cultural awareness and skills *Tapping into family and community resources for literacy learning