Benefits of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

1. Benefits of
Culturally and
Linguistically
Diverse
Classrooms
Brooke Fuller
Read 6718: Literacy in
Culturally and Linguistically
Diverse Classrooms

2. Student Information
 Age: 5
 Grade: K
 Gender: Female
 Home Language: Dutch
 Not fluent in English; moved to United States
from the Netherlands 5 months ago
 Low socioeconomic status

3. Academic Challenges
 Can memorize information quickly
 Expresses herself through non-verbal cues
and drawing
 Can read fluently, but struggles with
comprehension verbally.
 Lack of English vocabulary

4. Funds of Knowledge
Linguistic
 Fluent in Dutch. Has some English words but
can not string words together to make
sentences
 Father is fluent in Dutch and English, but the
mother is only fluent in Dutch
 Dutch is the primary language spoken in the
home

5. Funds of Knowledge
Cultural
 Some respect for academics
 Still exploring the new school and the United
States
 Lived in the Netherlands and attended a
preschool there
 Parents want student to be successful in the
classroom

6. Funds of Knowledge
Family
 Student lives with both parents and one older
(3rd grade) sister
 Family is active in the school
 Family comes to school events and activities
that are happening in the classroom

7. Funds of Knowledge
Experiences
 Attended some sort of educational program in
the Netherlands
 Has been back to the Netherlands to visit

8. Funds of Knowledge
Practical
 Wants to learn
 Can be overwhelmed at times
 Enjoys being read to
 Supportive parents at home
 Enjoys reading fiction stories

9. Strengths for Literacy
 Hard worker and constantly tries
 Experiences in another country allows great
background knowledge
 Able to decode words that are challenging

10. Challenges for Literacy
 Does not advocate for herself
 Uncomfortable reading aloud when others are
around
 Unfamiliar with the English language
 Needs assurance and conformation