3B) Books that depict children’s language and culture
Provide books in the home language and books that depict the cultural and linguistic background of children in a positive light. Make sure children of each language and cultural background can see themselves represented in the classroom.
Strategy Overview: Ensuring the Presence of Each Child’s Language
This resource provides a comprehensive list and explanation of the actions teachers can take to acknowledge, affirm, and support multiple languages in the classroom. Included are tips for engaging with families as "language experts" and capturing their linguistic knowledge on a planning template, and phrase cards with basic greetings in 10 common home languages.Read More
Website Article: Choosing Diverse Books for Your ELLs – Tips for Educators
This article is a comprehensive collection of tips, video interviews, additional links, and resources to support educators in choosing books for diverse Multilingual Learners in the classroom.Read More
Transcript: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
This is a transcript and additional resource list that accompanies the short video "Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors."Read More
Video: Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors
This is a short video interview with Rudine Bishop Simms, who explains her widely-used metaphor of books as "Mirrors, Windows, or Sliding Glass Doors" for students. She speaks about the importance of students seeing themselves represented in the texts and materials chosen for classroom instruction.Read More
Blog: Tackling the Challenges of Implementing Diverse Libraries at Your School
Access to culturally relevant books is critical for Multilingual Learners. This blog offers tips and suggestions on how to build a more inclusive collection of books in school libraries. Many additional resources and tools are linked.Read More
Guide: Selecting and Using Culturally Appropriate Children’s Books in Languages Other than English
This resource provides guidance on how to select culturally appropriate children’s books in Multilingual Learners’ home languages and how to share those books with children and their families. This guide also provides ideas for sharing books in languages that are not familiar to teachers and links to other book lists and digital libraries.Read More
Website Article: 5 Meaningful Ways to Support DLLs at Storytime
This resource explains how to adjust storytime experiences to ensure that Multilingual Learners (MLs) can fully benefit from these experiences. Intentional storytime experiences that incorporate children's home languages, visuals, props, and culturally relevant materials promote MLs' comprehension, vocabulary, and early literacy skills.Read More
Educator Toolkit: My Name, My Identity- Creating an Inclusive and Respectful School Community
This digital book supports the socio-emotional learning of students by introducing example lesson plans that center on Multilingual Learners' identity. The resource includes videos, book lists, lesson plans, and many extension activities and further resources to help teachers build a healthy, asset-based community in the classroom.Read More
Website: Teacher Interactions and Strategies to Support Reading for Dual Language Learners
This resource provides many strategies that teachers can use to support Multilingual Learners’ reading and literacy skills.Read More
Book List: Multicultural Books for Preschoolers
This resource provides a list of books that celebrate different cultures and includes multiple languages. Teachers can use this list to ensure that they are providing books that are in children’s home languages, and that depict the cultural and linguistic background of children in a positive light.Read More
Digital Book Collection: Level A (Vietnamese)
This is a collection of high-quality Level A books written in Vietnamese. This resource helps teachers access books that depict Vietnamese children's language and culture.Read More
Digital Book Collection: Level B (Vietnamese)
This is a collection of high-quality Level B books written in Vietnamese. This resource helps teachers access books that depict Vietnamese children's language and culture.Read More
Strategy Overview: Si Se Puede
Si Se Puede is a set of strategies to elevate Multilingual Learners' perception of the status of their home language, countering the messages learners often receive about English dominance.Read More
Video: Affirming Language, Culture & Identity
This video shares asset-based strategies for teachers to engage with families, develop the socio-emotional health of children, and set up a classroom environment to support Multilingual Learners. This resource focuses on preschool but the content applies to all grade bands. Examples come from dual language classrooms.Read More
Booklist: Mirrors and Windows Literature
The literature on this booklist depicts the diverse languages, cultures, and identities of Multilingual Learners. Teachers can find a short description, related themes, and some read-aloud links for numerous “Mirror and Window” books.Read More
