The role of multiple literacies in second language literacy (Option A)

Students learning English as a second language are naturally going to have multiple literacies.  I think before jumping into teaching a student English and content, it is first necessary to know how literate the student is in their native language.  Most likely, a student who struggles in their own language with literacy or content material is going to struggle in English as well.

I always thought it would be difficult for a student to do well in an English-only Math class because Math is already complicated enough for fluent English-speaking students.  In one of the Math courses that I taught, I had a class that contained three ELL students.  In the beginning of the school year, they had an ELL teacher who came in every other day to work with them.  The teacher stopped coming after a few weeks however because maybe she felt she wasn’t needed in the classroom.  I liked that there was more than one ELL student in the classroom because the three of them spoke the same language and were able to help each other out in ways that I may not be able to.  Without the assistance of each other, I think they would have had more difficulty.

I think teaching literacy and curriculum material solely in English does not address students’ multiple literacies.  One idea that I like is having two teachers in the classroom with students who are English Language Learners.  I think it would be helpful if both teachers are knowledgeable of the content and at least one of those teachers speaks these students’ native language.  It would be similar to a team-taught class that provides better help for these students.  This would also help these students to feel more comfortable in the classroom.

In Haneda’s reading, she writes about different community programs that help students with multiple literacies.  These programs build up and enforce cultural practices and beliefs while creating a sense of unity.  In addition to these types of programs, communities offer classes to help students learn English and other academics as well.  These programs help students and parents to feel more comfortable in their communities by seeing that there are others like them and that there is help out there.

I think a way to sum up many of the ideas from the readings is that “It takes a village to raise a child”.  Parents, teachers, and community leaders should support and respect students with different cultural backgrounds and find ways to help these children become successful in the American education system.

What Literate Americans Should Know

          In Ed Hirsch’s reading on cultural literacy, he explains that there are many topics that literate Americans should know to function in society.   It seems that especially in recent years, the focus on many of these topics has been decreasing.  Teachers are so focused on getting students to pass standardized test that they tend to leave out important areas that as Americans we should know.  

          
          Ed Hirsch composed a list of topics/items that he feels are necessary for every Literate American to know.  When I first read what our first blog task was, I initially thought of what people should know to be good, functioning citizens in society.  Prior to reading Hirsh’s list I thought of a list that contains items such as empathy, happiness, the loss of someone, the birth of a child, love, etc.

            When I think of general knowledge my list looks a bit different.  In terms of my content area (Math) I think literate Americans should know the following:

          Algebraic expressions, angles, bisectors, congruency, coordinates, dividing through, exponential functions, equations of lines, exponents, factoring, fractions, functions, graphing, greatest common factor, inequalities, integers, interest,  least common multiple, multiplication tables, operations, parallel, parallelograms, perpendicular, postulates, proofs, quadratics, quadrilaterals, radicals, radians, rational expressions, regular polygons, simplifying, SOH CAH TOA, solving for the unknown, systems of equations, theorems, trigonometry

            

             I think compiling a list of what your students should know is a good way to start the school year.  Knowing initially what you want your students to know helps to focus curriculum planning and individual lesson plans.  For many people Math seems like a very complicated subject area.  When breaking it down into the necessities I think people will see it is less intimidating.