Reading Response 4/14

Manyak Article

This article supports the Auerbach piece about providing text that taps into diverse learners' cultural heritage and funds of knowledge. The storybook reading study with a Spanish speaking family shows that when a book related to the Puentes' funds of knowledge, interpretive behavior resulted, which linked background knowledge and text to life experiences. Higher level thinking and more complex comprehension occurred.
Texts that explained valued customs from the Mother's childhood background elicited more original book interactions with her children. She transmitted cultural values, life to text, and text to life connections with her storybook reading to her daughter and sons.
On the other side of the spectrum, when books did not address the family's funds of knowledge or cultural heritage, the learning was adult directed and fact based with the learning being directed towards lower level literal comprehension of the text.
I think providing story books that tap into the sociocultural realities of diverse language learners would be helpful in providing more meaningful literacy engagement and comprehension. However, Patrick did say that he did not complete the research due to going back to teach full time. This supports my previous point on the Auerbach article that states who has the time to research the funds of knowledge of diverse language learners while teaching school full time?

Leu 10

The Internet provides different websites and directories for teachers and students to increase multicultural understanding. Using these resources can promote an appreciation of student diversity and create a classroom community in the process. Online communications with other cultures can create understanding and respect for others that are different from ourselves. It may cause us to re-evaluate stereotypes we have acquired.
There are directories for increasing multicultural understanding for students and teachers in this chapter.
Finding a classroom to correspond with that speaks the same language as ESL students can empower them and give these students a valued role in the classroom.
Radio stations from another country can be tapped into by using a Stations guide location at RealAudio. Pairing an ESL student with an English speaking student during these sorts of projects can encourage linguistic capabilities. I think this would be fun and meaningful for older students.
Sites for supporting ESL students were listed.
Internet Workshop ideas for supporting multicultural understanding were given. I would like to check out the Chinese calendar for my Kindergartners. We study the English calendar and this would be a good compare and contrast activity.
Ideas for social action were explored. I think it is important to move from understanding to action to accomplish community service. This gives the children a sense of self esteem and accomplishment. It shows them they can make a positive difference in the lives of other people.
Internet Inquiry and Internet Project ideas were discussed for promoting multicultural understanding as well.
I would like to go on the Cultural Quest World Tour site to visit various countries and expose my students to games, museums, and recipes from other cultures.