Biliteracy and Cross-Cultural Teaching

A comprehensive guide for dual language educators!

Unlock the full potential of bilingual education and elevate your teaching practice with this indispensable resource for K-12 educators working in Spanish/English dual language programs. With this comprehensive guide on curriculum design for biliteracy instruction and cross-cultural teaching, you'll discover a model for creating inclusive, dynamic, and effective multilingual and multicultural learning environments.

Authored by leading experts in bilingual education, this book offers a robust decision-making framework and wealth of strategies to foster effective transfer of knowledge and skills between languages. It equips teachers with the tools they need to design and implement standards-based instruction that integrates four critical domains:

Language: Using contrastive analysis, explore the commonalities and differences between Spanish and English and how these promote oral language proficiency as a basis for biliteracy. Learn how to help students develop metalinguistic awareness to enhance their understanding of the structures and functions of both languages of instruction.

Literacy: Support students' comprehension of grade-level texts in both languages by focusing on literacy foundations and language-specific skills. Effective strategies for leveraging points of transfer to achieve biliteracy are highlighted to ensure that students can navigate the literacy demands of each language with confidence.

Content: Educators are empowered to create standards-based dual-language lessons in the content areas using the Language-Concept Connection. This approach supports students' mastery of both conceptual knowledge and content-specific vocabulary, enriching their understanding and performance across academic subjects.

Culture: Cultural proficiency is integral to bilingual education. Discover how to identify and teach dimensions of culture and use authentic multicultural literature to design lessons that not only deepen students' knowledge of their own culture but also broaden their appreciation of others'.

Each chapter is anchored in professional knowledge base objectives and includes Reflection and Action questions that encourage educators to critically engage with the material. Model lesson plans are also included to showcase practical strategies that educators can use to excel in their complex and vital role in dual language programs.