Contextualizing Literacy

Development

…
The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse
Student (CLD)
 Uses the complex concept of sociocultural, linguistic, academic and cognitive dimensions
to form the foundation for understanding CLD students linguistic and academic growth.
 Students bring reserves of knowledge into the classroom and the more the teacher decodes
an figures out the prior knowledge the more academic growth can take place.
Ideas to Complete CLD Student Biography

 To get to know their family values, beliefs and goals:

*Use in class projects such as family brochures.
This can be used multiple ways to discover family dynamics and cultural background.
Home Visits

 When a CLD Student enters the classroom they often have a home identity that conflicts
with school culture.
 Home Visits can help the teacher learn about their students historical backgrounds as well
as their nontraditional forms of literacy being practiced at home.
 This can also help the teacher assess the difficulties a student may face when practicing
literacy at home.
 If this is the case teachers can send home more books and make accommodations for his
or her students.
Cultural Discontinuity

 Refers to the lack of cohesion between two or more cultures.

 Upon entry into school, differences in the functional use of language among culturally
and linguistically diverse children have been found to account for the disconnection they
experience.
 This can be due to cultural norms, language barriers, and more.
Interdependence Hypothesis

 Proposes that first language development directly impacts second language development.
 Transfer theory: “ academic proficiency transfers across languages such that students who
have developed literacy in their first language wil tend to make stronger progress in
acquiring literacy in their second language.”
COMMON MISCONCEPTION: Native language hinders English language development.
Stages of Second Language Acquisition

 Five Stages:
1.Reproduction
2. Early Reproduction
3.Speech Emergence
4. Intermediate Fluency
5.Advanced Fluency
The more a teacher knows about a student’s particular stage of second language acquisition,
the better able the teacher is to plan literacy lessons that support the student’s comprehension
and engagement in academic tasks.
Conclusion: