Engaging Families of Multilingual Learners: Using Families’ Stories to Link Classroom Content with Children’s Funds of Knowledge

Resource Type: ArticleStandard 1Standard 2Standard 5Topic: Developmentally Appropriate PracticeTopic: Family DiversityTopic: Partnership-building with FamiliesTopic: Curriculum
Written By Kadisha Conteh

https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/fall2024/engaging-multilingual-learner-families

This article explores how educators can use simple technology, like QR codes and tablets, to bring families' "funds of knowledge" and home languages directly into the classroom curriculum. It suggests that by having families record and share personal stories related to class themes, teachers create a more inclusive environment that values a child's heritage and strengthens their language development. This approach fosters a deeper, reciprocal partnership between home and school while making learning more meaningful and engaging for multilingual learners.

Organization/Author: Alexandra Figueras-Daniels and Bernice Vasquez, Young Children, NAEYC 

Type of Resource: Article

Publication Date: Fall 2024

Topic of issue of YC: Informed and Guided by Context: Strengths-Based Teaching and Learning

Kadisha Conteh
Previous

Our Proud Heritage. Drawing on Women’s Expertise: Establishing the Bureau of Educational Experiments
Next

Innovations in Higher Education. Including Black Language in Early Childhood Education: Addressing Linguistic Diversity in Teacher Preparation