Supporting Lower-Proficiency ELL Adults through Children’s Literature

1. Supporting Lower-Proficiency ELL Adults through Children’s Literature ABE/ELL Professional Development Training Days March 7, 2013

2. economy of words, stunning illustrations, captivating plots, universal themes AGENDA • Why Multicultural Children’s Literature? • Types of Multicultural Fiction • Criteria for Selection • A Plethora of Books and Experiences

3. A Continuum for Reader Involvement • At one end, aesthetic reading: the reader is drawn into the story and participates through identification with the characters; primary goal is enjoyment or entertainment • At the other end, efferent reading: the reader is primarily interested in gaining information • Readers will operate all along this continuum, using books for both enjoyment and learning Source: Rosenblatt, L. (1995) Literature as Exploration. New York: Modern Language Association of America

4. Create a love/hate relationship with “The Big B” Provide authentic reading experiences by using high quality children’sliterature

5. Types of Multicultural Fiction General Universal Comparative Universal Comparative Specific Universal Specific Historical Fiction

6. Enhancements Way to improve all four levels/components of proficiency Read aloud, as well as self-directed Acquire valuable background knowledge Predictions, pronunciation and vocabulary Bridge the cultural and ethnic differences in various students’ backgrounds by examining universal themes

7. Varying cultural and social backgrounds, prior knowledge and experiences with literacy “The Right Material” Universal Specific

8. Cultural, Literary, and Linguistic Evaluation of a Specific Text

9. Cultural Information: Accurate and Authentic Does it offer an “insider’s” or “informed outsider’s” perspective? ADULT perspective? Does the student possess the background knowledge and life experiences required to understand the text? Do the norms and values inherent in the text lend themselves to be understood and appreciated by the reader? Does it represent and honor the cultural groups present in your classroom?

10. Plot: Well-Constructed and Substantial Is it well organized with actions and events that are interrelated, logical and related to a student’s personal experiences? Is the plot linear and easy to follow? Are there confusing subplots or additional aspects that make the plot difficult to follow? Are there flashbacks or skips in time and direction?

11. Proficiency Demands Do the grammatical complexity and length of the text match the student’s stage of oral language proficiency? Is the core vocabulary known by the student or easily pretaught? Does the form of the language match the student’s background (dialect, slang, idiom, forms of language)? Is it appropriate for various proficiency levels when read aloud?

12. Contextual Support Is the text structured in a logical, cohesive way that students will find easy to follow? Do the illustrations support the plot in a way that enables the reader to understand the story without full comprehension of the text? No comprehension of the text?

13. Language Authenticity Is the language natural and predictable (does it lend itself to supporting sequencing and predictions and other literacy supports)? Is the text based on the oral language and literary traditions of the students?

14. Emotional Engagement Are the theme and plot balanced so that students encounter both a good story and a real message? Does the story possess powerful and imaginative content? Does the story lend itself to student interest and repeated readings?

15. Linguistic Comprehension Is the language memorable --- lively, rhythmical, humorous? Is there repetition in style and vocabulary for comprehension support and retention? Does it use language that has multiple meanings that might be confusing? Does it employ idiom or abstraction that make comprehension difficult or confusing?

16. Allen Say

17. As a girl, Alice loved to dance, but the rhythms of her life offered little opportunity for a foxtrot, let alone a waltz. World War II erupted soon after she was married. Alice and her husband, along with many other Japanese Americans, were forced to leave their homes and report to assembly centers around the country. 2004

18. One morning eight-year-old Martin looks in the mirror and sees a stranger. Overnight, he has changed. His parents take him to one doctor after another, only to be told that there is nothing wrong with their son. At school his teacher asks, "What have we here, trick or treat?" His classmates will not play with him. He has grown old in the space of one day. 1995

19. As a young Japanese boy recovers from a bad chill, his mother busily folds origami paper into delicate silver cranes in preparation for the boy's very first Christmas. 1991

20. A true story of Billy Wong, the first Chinese bullfighter. 1990

21. The amazing tricks two American soldiers perform on a borrowed bicycle are a fitting finale for the school sports day festivities in a small village in occupied Japan. 1982

22. The newest from Allen SayHome of the BraveDuring World War II, more than 120,000 men, women, and children of Japanese descent living in America were incarcerated in internment camps by the United States government. Now, sixty years later, Caldecott medalist Allen Say eloquently depicts this dark moment in history with Home of the Brave.

23. SURFER OF THE CENTURY by Ellie Crowe and illustrated by Richard WaldrepThis book tells the story of "the Father of Modern Surfing," Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, from his childhood on Waikiki Beach, to his participation in five Olympics, through his lifelong promotion and development of surfing, and to his becoming the official State of Hawai'i Ambassador of Aloha.

24. HIROMI’S HANDS by Lynne Barasch This first-person narrative tells the story of Hiromi's breaking away from the Japanese tradition in the male dominated sushi culinary and becoming an itamae san, professional sushi chef. The author vividly depicts two generations, beginning with her father's long and grueling training as an apprentice before emerging as a successful sushi chef in a Tokyo restaurant bridging two cultures: American and Japanese.

25. Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: the Sammy Lee Story by Paula Yoo and illustrated by Dom LeeSammy Lee was the first Asian American to win Olympic gold. This truly inspiring tale captures the American dream as a young person who overcame discrimination to bring Olympic recognition for a country that rejected him. Lee is the son of Korean immigrants who faced challenges just because of his skin color. Unable to practice in a whites only pool, Lee perfected his abilities in spite of discrimination. Yoo acknowledges the moment in an Olympian'sexperience in which life-long training culminates in just a brief sliver of time.

26. Bread Song by Frederick Lipp and illustrated by Jason Gaillard Chamnan, an eight-year-old boy from Thailand, is very shy about speaking English to people. Each morning as they cross the street from their Thai restaurant to Alison's bakery, his grandfather teaches him how to count in English. Twenty-five steps between two stores seem to set two worlds apart to Chamnan; one is a familiar home and the other a new country, filled with people speaking a difficult language. Alison's ingenuous idea finally helps Chamnan loosen up his tongue and breaks away his reserve.

27. Apple Pie 4th of July by Janet S. Wong and illustrated by Margaret Chodos-Irvine is a carefully honed story about a girl's experience as a first-generation Chinese-American. Readers first encounter the unnamed narrator as she looks unhappily out the glass door of her parents' market, open for business even on the Fourth of July. Hearing the "boom, boom, boom" of the approaching parade, sniffing the apple pie baking in a neighbor's oven, she is distracted by the cooking smells from the store's kitchen, where her parents are preparing chow mein and sweet-and-sour pork.

28. I Hate English! by Ellen Levine, and illustrated by Steve BjorkmanThough from 1989, still a great, great book and a favorite"Such a lonely language. Each letter stands alone and makes its own noise. Not like Chinese." Mei Mei, a bright and articulate immigrant from Hong Kong, is having much difficulty adjusting to the new language and culture at school in New York City. When she hears a story in English about traveling by covered wagon, Mei Mei cries. "She didn't want English to have words that she didn't know in Chinese. . . . She felt she might lose something."

29. Eve Bunting

30. Grandfather Counts by A. Cheng and Illustrated by A. Zhang. When Helen’s grandfather, Gong Gong, comes from China to live with her family, he’s shocked to find that none of his grandchildren speak Chinese. How will he communicate with them? At first he keeps to himself. Then one day he joins Helen to watch the trains. He starts counting the train cars in Chinese, and she repeats the words. Then Helen says the numbers in English. They continue to teach each other, and Helen even learns her Chinese name, which means "flower.” In this luminously illustrated intergenerational story, the devotion between a young girl and her grandfather helps them overcome barriers of age and language.

31. Henry’s First-Moon birthday by L. Look and iIllustrated by Y. Heo. • Jenny’s baby brother Henry is having his one-month birthday -- his first-moon, as it’s called in Chinese. And even though Jenny’s sure he doesn’t deserve it -- all Henry does is sleep, eat, and cry – there’s a big celebration planned for him. Together, Jenny and her grandma get everything ready, from dyeing eggs a lucky red to preparing pigs’ feet and ginger soup. And someday, when Henry’s old enough to appreciate all her hard work, Jenny will tell him how lucky he was to have her in charge.

32. Uncle Peter’s amazing Chinese wedding. By L. Look and Illustrated by Y. Heo. Jenny’s favorite uncle, Peter, is getting married, and everyone is happy happy -- everyone, that is, except Jenny. While her family runs about getting ready for the traditional Chinese wedding -- preparing for the tea ceremony, exchanging good-luck money called hungbau, helping the bride with her many dresses -- Jenny is crying on the inside. How is she supposed to still be Uncle Peter’s number-one girl, with her new aunt Stella around? Maybe if she can stop the day’s events from happening, he won’t get married at all...

34. Cora Cooks Pancit Written by Dorina K. Lazlo Gilmore and Illustrated by Kristi Valiant Cora loves being in the kitchen, but she always gets stuck doing the kid jobs like licking the spoon. One day, however, when her older sisters and brother head out, Cora finally gets the chance to be Mama's assistant chef in celebrating their Filipino heritage.

35. Hannah is My Nameby B. Yang In an upbeat immigration story, Yang draws on her own experience of coming to America from Taiwan at age seven in the late 1960s. The bright gouache pictures of San Francisco draw strongly on Chinese and American traditions, with geometric cutout shapes depicting people crowding the streets, at school, and at the workplace--all from the child’s viewpoint. This story isn’t about missing the old country or being a stranger, and most people are friendly. Hannah learns to sing "This Land Is My Land,” and she reads Curious George in Woolworths. The tension is in the threat of deportation as the family waits for green cards that will allow everyone to live freely in the U.S.

37. THE HAPPY FUNERAL by Eve Bunting and illustrated by Vo-Dinh Mai. Though published in 1982, it is still a wonderful exploration of how Laura and her Chinese-American family deal with the death of her grandfather and what transpires between the death and the funeral. The beliefs, traditions, and customs surrounding the death generate a specific societal experience. The text is sensitive, quiet and loving, and the portrayal of grief realisticly.

41. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale, retold by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael Austin A retelling of a classic Cuban folktale, Martina is 21 days old and ready to give her leg in marriage. With the help of her Abuela's shocking advice, she interviews a cast of unlikely suitors to find her true love.

42. My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel García Márquez, illustrated by Raúl Colón, written by Monica Brown Raúl Colón's evocative, tropical illustrations pull the eye into Gabriel García Márquez's imaginative world, introducing children to the early life of this celebrated Colombian author.

43. Rafael López, Illustrator. My Name Is Celia/ Me Llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/ La Vida de Celia Cruz. Written by Monica Brown. This text is as full of movement and excitement as the life of Celia Cruz. Vibrant colors, extravagant illustrations and flowing patterns create a mood of energy in this book. Full of the details of folklore, fashion and music, the book teems with life.

44. The Pot That Juan Built by Nancy Andrews-Goebel and illustrated by David Diaz. The Pot that Juan Built is a picture biography that combines a variant of “The House That Jack Built,” with the story of Juan Quezada, who rediscovered the ancient method of pottery making in Mata Ortiz, Mexico. Diaz's original type font and computer-generated art exudes a rich palette that glows like jewels and reflects the hot desert sun.

45. Family Pictures/Cuadros de FamiliaIn My Family/en Mi Familia by Carmen Lomas Garza A picture book for children in English and Spanish of Ms Garza's artwork with a one-page story about each painting. Contains fifteen color reproductions. Also available in paperback and "big book" size.

46. . My Diary from Here to There/Mi Diario de Aquí Hasta Allá.  Amada Irma Pérez A touching account of a family emigrating from Mexico to California. A bilingual picture book, this young girl's diary chronicles the family's anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty as they leave home and experience the same journey made by many families.

47. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. Written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Yuyi Morales. Morales uses brightly colored acrylics, handmade stamps, and computer-created cutouts to depict the life of this civil rights leader. Golden, earth-toned colors and wide, flowing brush strokes lend depth and honesty to the history and struggle of migrant farm workers in California.

48. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales Morales' energetic and playful illustrations capture the essence of Mexican culture with bold and humorous motifs that illuminate Grandma Beetle's vitality and Señor Calavera's expressiveness.

49. Elena’s Serenade by Campbell Geeslin and illustrated by Ana Juan A delightfully fresh take on the "anything you can do, I can do better" theme, Elena's Serenade follows a feisty little Mexican girl on a quest to prove to her father--and herself--that she can be a glassblower, even if she is a girl.

50. Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and Englishwritten by Alma Flor Ada, translated by Rosa Zubizarreta, illustrated by Simón Silva With twenty eight poems that celebrate honor, pride, family, friends, history, heritage, and the bounty of the harvest, author Alma Flor Ada takes us into the fields and orchards, and the lives of the people that work them. The artist, Simón Silva, grew up in a farmworker's family, and his paintings speak directly from his own childhood. Using the Spanish alphabet as a template, this bilingual book presents an extrordinary learning experience for children of all ages.