Radically Inclusive Teaching With Newcomer and Emergent Plurilingual Students: Braving Up

The book offers practical strategies and insights for educators to create linguistically inclusive classrooms that nourish students' linguistic repertoires, redefine teaching and learning as reciprocal endeavors, promote student-to-student interactions, and create opportunities for language experimentation. It is based on research in linguistically diverse school districts and features examples of successful practices from educators who have worked with newcomer and emergent bilingual students.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2022
Publisher: Teachers' College Press

Offers practical strategies and resources for educators to implement in their classrooms to support the linguistic development of newcomer and emergent bilingual students.
In order to create a more linguistically inclusive and equitable education system, it is essential to implement curricular, pedagogical, and policy shifts that nourish students' linguistic repertoires, redefine teaching and learning as reciprocal endeavors, promote student-to-student interactions that help newcomers feel less isolated, and create opportunities for students to experiment with language in both academic and informal settings.

Drawing on their extensive experience working with hundreds of educators and thousands of students in linguistically diverse school settings (grades 7-12), the authors challenge readers to engage in critical, collective action as they transform their approach to languaging, agency, and authority in the classroom. Ideas and strategies come alive through classroom vignettes, student stories, and samples of student poetry, prose, and art, as well as examples of linguistically affirming approaches to online teaching.

The book serves as an enlightening professional conversation that highlights the importance and impact of multicultural and culturally responsive education, ultimately leading to linguistically inclusive education for newcomers and other language learners.

Curricular Shifts:

To nurture students' linguistic repertoires, educators should prioritize the teaching of multiple languages and cultures. This can be achieved through language immersion programs, bilingual or multilingual curricula, and culturally responsive teaching practices that honor and celebrate students' diverse backgrounds.

Pedagogical Shifts:

Teaching and learning should be viewed as reciprocal endeavors where both students and educators actively participate and contribute to the learning process. This can be achieved through collaborative learning activities, peer-to-peer mentoring, and student-centered approaches that prioritize student voice and agency.

Policy Shifts:

Policymakers should prioritize the funding and support of linguistically diverse school districts and programs that provide equitable access to education for all students, regardless of their linguistic backgrounds. This can include policies that promote language acquisition, provideilingual support services, and address the linguistic needs of newcomer and emergent bilingual students.

Student-to-Student Interactions:

Promoting student-to-student interactions that help newcomers feel less isolated is crucial for creating a welcoming and inclusive classroom environment. This can be achieved through peer tutoring, language exchange programs, and cultural awareness activities that encourage students to share their experiences and learn from each other.

Experimentation with Language:

Students should have opportunities to experiment with language in both academic and informal settings. This can include language clubs, community partnerships, and cultural events that provide authentic language experiences and promote language proficiency.

In conclusion, implementing curricular, pedagogical, and policy shifts that nourish students' linguistic repertoires, redefine teaching and learning as reciprocal endeavors, promote student-to-student interactions that help newcomers feel less isolated, and create opportunities for students to experiment with language in both academic and informal settings is essential for creating a more linguistically inclusive and equitable education system. By engaging in critical, collective action, educators can transform their approach to languaging, agency, and authority in the classroom, leading to positive outcomes for all students, regardless of their linguistic backgrounds.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807766408