Room for Talk: Teaching and Learning in a Multilingual Kindergarten (Language and Literacy Series) - Softcover

Fassler, Rebekah

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807743755 ISBN 13: 9780807743751

Publisher: Teachers College Press, 2003

Synopsis

How does a teacher who speaks only English address the challenges of working in a multilingual classroom? And what happens if she is the only fluent English speaker? This book features Mrs. Barker, an experienced ESL teacher who believes in the potential of her kindergarten second-language learners and uses identifiable strategies to maximize it. Illustrating how to make constructive use of “what children bring to the table,” this volume promotes sound early childhood educational practice in any classroom.

Featuring carefully crafted observations and recordings of six of the children, their peers, and the teacher, the author:

• Demonstrates how full of communication a multilingual classroom for young children can be, showing how the participants negotiate to create meaning together.
• Analyzes how social life among children provides a supportive context for their English language use.
• Describes the innovative strategies a teacher may use to support children’s English learning, including the how and why of the activities.
• Challenges traditional definitions of productive environments for learning language, providing broader options for language and literacy curriculum among ESL learners.

About this title

Book Description

“...clear, thoughtful, and engaging prose that offers many strategies for teachers working with English language learners. Here is a compelling story full of learners to like and admire, who will now speak for themselves.”
—From the Foreword by
Celia Genishi

"With terrific observations of children—well detailed and carefully crafted—this book analyzes how the social life in the classroom provides

a supportive context for children's English language use."
—
Anne Haas Dyson
, College of Education, Michigan State University

"The author manages to present theory and principles of good teaching at the same time as she puts you right into the classroom. This book is so real and full of kids’ words and actions that it has value for educators interested in children from any perspective."
—
Cindy Ballenger
, Brookline Teacher Researcher Seminar

From the Author

Rebekah Fassler is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at St. John’s University, where she coordinates the Early Childhood Master’s Program.

Edition details

• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0807743755
• ISBN 13: 9780807743751
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128