Double Entry Journal #8

From -- Getting to know students: Developing Culturally Relevant Practices for Reading and Writing

It is a mistake to group all English as a second language learners together for several reasons. As seen through Bianca and Rosa, they may not want to communicate with each other. They may be on different levels in their learning, have different learning styles, different interests, etc. Just because they are learning English as a second language does not mean that they are destined to be the best of friends or the perfect match of support. Students who are English as a second language learners also need interaction with many different people, instead of just people who are similar to them. By being around the same type of person all day, these students may only be exposed to similar things and most likely aren't getting any new experiences that will aid their learning. Also, if a teacher is immediately lumping these students together, they are not fully taking the time to get to know their students, what their experiences and funds of knowledge are, how they learn best, and so on.

A virtual backpack is just a more concrete way of visualizing the funds of knowledge that students bring with them to classrooms. Teachers need to think about this backpack and all of its contents, such as their knowledges, skills, how they act, who they are, where they come from, their experiences, etc. This backpack is full of so much that teachers often tend to write off because they may feel that there is no way to incorporate the backpack into their teaching, or because they may not realize how vital it is for these students to be able to use their virtual backpack's contents in the classroom and in their learning. By finding a way to bring these aspects together with the classroom and curriculum, students can have more ways to be successful, can feel more welcomed in the classroom, and can build and develop more connections between home and school.

Related Resource:
This was an interesting document found on the NCTE website that sets up eight beliefs on teaching English as a second language learners.
Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learners in English Education