Using Home Language as a Resource in the Classroom - by Kate Paterson (Paperback)

About the Book

Written for current and future teachers of English learners across various educational and geographical settings, this concise guide provides educators with specific instructional practices to promote greater inclusion and educational equity for their students. Key topics include why home language is essential to student success; incorporating home language into instruction; planning plurilingual lessons and inclusive classrooms; home language and learning in the digital age; reimagining instructional materials; and using home language to advance social justice.

Book Synopsis

What can educators do right now, in their own classrooms, to support students of varied cultures and languages? Written for current and future teachers of ELs across various educational and geographical settings, this concise guide provides educators with specific instructional practices to promote greater inclusion and educational equity for their students. Key topics covered in this book include: why home language is essential to student success; incorporating home language into instruction; planning plurilingual lessons and inclusive classrooms; home language and learning in the digital age; reimagining instructional materials; and using home language to advance social justice. Educators can practice what they learn with 30+ activities, guiding questions, key insights, and downloadable templates, checklists, and tools! **This title also includes a companion website with online resources.**

About the Author

Kate Paterson is a PhD candidate in applied linguistics in the Faculty of Education at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. She has taught English as a second language for more than 12 years at various grade levels, including postsecondary. Kate is passionate about asset-based language pedagogies that validate and harness the rich cultural and linguistic resources students bring into the classroom. Her focal research interests include plurilingual language education, language and literacy learning among refugee children and youth, and teacher education.