Diversity Academic and Socio-cultural Considerations for Literacy Instruction

Culture: The complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society, and the prism through which members of a group see the world and create shared meanings. (Savage 1994)

Multicultural Competency The ability to teach effectively across cultures in a way that acknowledges and respects the culture of the person or organization being served.

Linguistic Diversity 54% of public school teachers have students with limited English proficiency. 54% of public school teachers have students with limited English proficiency. 20% of them believe they are prepared to teach them (Mora &Grisham 2001). 20% of them believe they are prepared to teach them (Mora &Grisham 2001). By 2030 English language learners will represent 40% of the student population By 2030 English language learners will represent 40% of the student population (Harris 2003).

A Matter of Debate

Cognitive and Academic Diversity children who learn at a style or pace different than that of the majority children who learn at a style or pace different than that of the majority learning disabled students learning disabled students gifted students gifted students

Teaching Strategies

Authentic Communication When students are involved in meaningful communicative activities, they become active participants, acquiring important literacy skills within a real world context.

Letter Writing and Dialogue Journals Offer a supportive framework for the development of writing skills. Offer a supportive framework for the development of writing skills. Provide authentic communicative experiences. Provide authentic communicative experiences. Provide freedom to take risks. Provide freedom to take risks. Students should be provided with meaningful feedback on writing efforts. Students should be provided with meaningful feedback on writing efforts. Give students a sense of community. Give students a sense of community.

Using Quality Literature Generates interest in reading when student are introduced to characters and themes they can relate to. Generates interest in reading when student are introduced to characters and themes they can relate to. Exposure to rich language to help develop literacy skills. Exposure to rich language to help develop literacy skills. Provide opportunities for critical thinking Provide opportunities for critical thinking

Reading Strategies Shared reading Shared reading Read alouds Read alouds Guided reading Guided reading Choral reading Choral reading Discussion groups Discussion groups Use of predictable and repetitive text Use of predictable and repetitive text Use of picture books Use of picture books

Multicultural Literature When literacy instruction celebrates diversity, students gain knowledge and respect for people of different cultures, and develop pride in their own heritage.

When people understand their history and contributions to the society in which they live: They feel better about themselves They feel better about themselves Other groups of people will feel better about, and be more accepting of them. Other groups of people will feel better about, and be more accepting of them. There is greater acceptance between and within groups of people. There is greater acceptance between and within groups of people. -Dr. Carter G. Woodson

Use of Legends and Folktales Help teachers connect cross- culturally with their students. Help teachers connect cross- culturally with their students. Students of the culture being studied, feel recognized and valued. Students of the culture being studied, feel recognized and valued. They are usually familiar to the students, giving them the background knowledge needed for effective reading. They are usually familiar to the students, giving them the background knowledge needed for effective reading. Contain adventure, humor and rich language children can enjoy. Contain adventure, humor and rich language children can enjoy.

Activities Puppet Plays- can help ELL students develop oral language skills in a playful atmosphere. Puppet Plays- can help ELL students develop oral language skills in a playful atmosphere. Courtroom Drama- allows application of critical reading skills, students can develop and practice their own simple script. Courtroom Drama- allows application of critical reading skills, students can develop and practice their own simple script. Talk Show Reenactments- enjoyable with secondary students, involve character analysis and communication skills. Talk Show Reenactments- enjoyable with secondary students, involve character analysis and communication skills. Welcome to Multicultural Children's Literature Welcome to Multicultural Children's Literature

Language Experience Discuss a topic of interest with the student. Discuss a topic of interest with the student. Have student recite a story or past experience in their own words. Have student recite a story or past experience in their own words. Record the story in the students own words, modeling the writing process for them. Record the story in the students own words, modeling the writing process for them. Read the story for the student, and have them illustrate each page to coincide with the text. Read the story for the student, and have them illustrate each page to coincide with the text. Students practice reading their own story. Students practice reading their own story.

“Language is easy to learn when it is functional, and very hard to learn when it is not” “Language is easy to learn when it is functional, and very hard to learn when it is not” -Ken Goodman