Literacy and Bilingualism: A Handbook for ALL Teachers (Paperback)

~ Mar¡a Estela Brisk (Author), Margaret M. Harrington (Author) "Teaching literacy to bilingual students requires an understanding of such individuals and the many variables that will affect their performance..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, Graphic Organizers, Reader-Generated Questions (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This handbook applies proven techniques, derived from bilingual/bicultural classrooms, to teaching literacy in the 21st century. Its goal is to help teachers increase their understanding of bilingual learners in order to maximize instruction. Teachers can use this handbook to:
* Expand their understanding of literacy and bilingualism
* Implement literacy approaches and assess students' development
* Learn through reflection

Features:
Practical, flexible format and content. Complete and straightforward instructions, illustrated by case studies, allow teachers to use the strategies in this handbook on their own or in teacher-led study groups. They can select from the variety of approaches the ones which best match their students' needs and their own teaching style.

Student-centered focus. All of the approaches share characteristics that help motivate students of varying language abilities to develop literacy. They:
* Encourage students' creativity
* Tap on students' knowledge as the basis for learning
* Allow for students to regulate the degree of difficulty
* Support functional uses of language
* Reinforce all language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) and their integration in teaching literacy
* Include engaging activities
* Invite student interaction and active participation
* Practice skills in meaningful contexts

Field-tested approaches. The approaches have been modified and tested with bilingual students of different ages and language backgrounds in bilingual, ESL, mainstream, special education, and deaf education classes ranging from preschool through high school. What has been learned about how to motivate students to acquire literacy in either their native or second languages is described and made readily available to other teachers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805831657
• ISBN-13: 978-0805831658
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #491,945 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are going to teach bilingual students, BUY THIS!, July 18, 2003

By	Yahaira Chanlatte (Rego Park, NY USA) - See all my reviews

I will be beginning my fist year as a dual-langauge second grade teacher, and I was on a quest to find a useful book that I could use as a resource. This is an amazing book! There are not enough books out there that offer practical, tried-and-true ideas for teaching bilingual students how to read and write. It is jam-packed with great ideas. It is wonderful because not only does it offer you plenty of mini-lesson ideas, but it discusses the process of becoming literate for bilingual students.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive and Difficult print, November 9, 2006

By	Stephanie A. Jennings "college grad" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was a requirement for a class and therefore I was entitled to read it. The print is small and it's very repetitive, I would hunt for some other text requirement for my students other than this particular text.