Bilinguality and Literacy: Principles and Practice - Hardcover

"A useful reference for schools and teachers who deal with bilingual students." Language Awareness "The new edition of Bilinguality and Literacy is a valuable resource in the current climate for practitioners, student teachers, policy makers and others interested in the achievement of bilingual pupils. Manjula Datta and other authors argue strongly for the recognition of children's 'bilingual' identities, and the need to draw positively on their cultural and linguistic knowledge and experience to develop deep literacy learning in English. Throughout the book there are classroom examples which link theory to practice and provide positive models for teachers, while showing the resourcefulness and creativity of the children. It is an informative and inspiring read." Clare Kelly, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK--Sanford Lakoff "Bilinguality and Literacy shows how teachers can develop bilingual children's literacy skills to an advanced level in English. The original version of this book has been particularly popular with teacher educators and student teachers. In this new revised edition Manjula Datta looks closely at and exemplifies how bilingual children think and learn. It is particularly welcome as a valuable resource for teachers at a time when there is greater recognition in the English education system of the value of bilingualism in children's learning. This is also reflected in effective school policies." Dr. Raymonde Sneddon, University of East London, UK--Sanford Lakoff

This book examines the educational needs of bilingual children, and the methods that can be used to improve and develop literacy and literature in the classroom. Applying theory and research findings to classroom practice, "Bilinguality and Literacy" demonstrates how bilingual children can benefit from well informed and integrative strategies that allow bilinguals to interact with both their languages and cultures to develop literacy and literature at a high level. Children's voices are strong in the book in the case studies and examples of children's work. This rich and optimistic book argues that bilingual children's literacy learning in English is an intercultural process. This new edition has been revised, updated and expanded to include recent research, and addresses the Ofsted (2003) statement that 'fluent bilingual pupils struggle with writing.' "Bilinguality and Literacy" will be of interest to undergraduate students of applied linguistics, teacher training courses, and academics researching multilingualism and literacy.