Connecting School and the Multilingual Home

Theory and Practice for Rural Educators

By (author) Maria R. Coady

Publication date:

10 April 2019

Publisher

Multilingual Matters

Dimensions:

234x156mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781788923262

This book examines the educational gaps that multilingual students in rural communities experience. It argues that responsive, successful relationships between schools and multilingual families are a crucial aspect of all educators’ work and that no single strategy will work for all families. Rural multilingual family engagement involves building meaningful partnerships and relational trust, based on significant knowledge of families' cultures and language repertoires. Educators can reframe their work by learning from families and building on the strengths of multilingual families, which are too-often overlooked in school policies and educator practices. This is the first book to focus specifically on rural school settings. However, the conceptual framework of equity and linguistically responsive pedagogy are applicable across settings for educators who wish to support their multilingual students and families.

Introduction

Chapter 1. Multilingual Family Engagement in Rural Settings: Context of the 21st Century

Chapter 2. Framing the Issues: A ‘Strengths-Based Approach’ to Family Engagement

Chapter 3. Family-Centered Differentiated Engagement

Chapter 4. Praxis and Practice: Becoming Aware of Multilingual Families in Rural Settings

Chapter 5. Praxis and Practice: Acting to Engage Multilingual Families in Rural Schools

Chapter 6. The Intersectionality of Rurality and Immigration for Latino Families in The United States

Chapter 7. The Community Partner (With Robin Lewy and Fran Ricardo, The Rural Women’s Health Project)

Chapter 8. Conclusions for 21st Century Multilingual Family Engagement

Reading this book gives me hope. Rural multilingual families are challenged in so many ways: from encountering steady jobs, to locating health services they can understand, to being able to attend (at worst), and participate fully (at best) in school. This book highlights action, strengths, and engagement opportunities for rural multilingual families in school through non-traditional, culturally and linguistically responsive, and equitable ways. It is a long-needed resource.