Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Children

Supporting Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Children [WLOs: 1, 2] [CLOs: 2, 4]

As an early childhood development professional, it is crucial that you build and maintain culturally relevant, anti-bias early learning settings. According to Curenton and Iruka (2024), “Culturally relevant learning incorporates the cultural knowledge, experiences, and diverse learning and communication styles of culturally and linguistically diverse learners” (section 3.1). For this discussion, you will read several case studies about different children and their families, and identify ways to support culturally relevant, anti-bias learning opportunities for them.

To prepare for this learning activity,

• Review Chapter 3: The Foundations of a Culturally Relevant, Anti-Bias Instruction in your course text.
• Read Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Recommendations for Effective Early Childhood EducationLinks to an external site..
• Read Understanding Anti-Bias Education: Bringing the Four Core Goals to Every Facet of Your CurriculumLinks to an external site..

Step 1

• Find an article that highlights the importance of one of the following recommendations for effective early childhood instruction. You may use an article from the UAGC Library through the internet.
  • Recommendation 1: Recognize that all children are cognitively, linguistically, and emotionally connected to the language and culture of their home.
  • Recommendation 2: Acknowledge that children can demonstrate their knowledge and capabilities in many ways.
  • Recommendation 3: Understand that, without comprehensible input, second-language learning can be difficult.
  • Recommendation 4: Actively involve parents and families in the early learning program and setting.
  • Recommendation 5: Encourage and assist all parents in becoming knowledgeable about the cognitive value for children of knowing more than one language, and provide them strategies to support, maintain, and preserve home-language learning.
  • Recommendation 6: Recognize that parents and families must rely on caregivers and educators to honor and support their children in the cultural values and norms of the home.

Step 2

• Please share your findings in an initial post with your peers. Remember, you want to be detailed when you are sharing research with a group.
• Provide an overview of your article and describe the most valuable information in the article (100 words minimum).
• Clearly explain which recommendation this article aligns with.
• Provide an activity or resource (online resource, website, webinar, online educational practice article, tip sheet, blog, etc.) for making the recommendation come to life in a classroom/educational setting. Please include a link or attachment for the resource.

Step 3