Research has found that providing children access to books in school and at libraries can have a positive impact on reading scores (Rowe & Fain, 2013). One culturally responsive way to do this is by diversifying your classroom library (diversify your library). Another way is to encourage families to read books and talk about the stories with their child in their home language. You can support families to do so by:
- Letting them know that their culture is an asset to be valued and celebrated!
- Sharing that using their home language supports their child’s literacy development.
- Supplying books based on each child’s interests and skills.
- Providing books in a family’s home language.
- Using family journals where the child and the family write and create art about books.
- Helping families access books in the school and community by connecting them with the library and other organizations.
Boone, B.J., Wellman, M.E., & Schenker, V. (2017).Partnering with Families for Early Language and Literacy Development: Research-based Strategies for Early Childhood Teachers.
Retrieved from https://u.osu.edu/familyschoolpartnerships/earlyliteracy/
Lynne Hall is a research associate at the Indiana Institute on Disability & Community’s Early Childhood Center. She holds a Master of Science in Education and an Indiana instructional teaching license (Early Childhood Education and Services; Elementary/Primary Generalist; Elementary/Intermediate Generalist), and formerly taught preschool in a variety of settings for over 15 years. Her expertise includes early literacy instruction and inclusive preschool classroom practices. Email her at hallma@iu.edu
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