This guide for teachers in times of trauma was updated after the events of September 11, 2001--the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These traumatic events could cause refugees to experience trauma or become re-traumatized. For many refugees, their English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs are the places where they…

Describes a three-step plan is described that general and special educators can use to obtain assessment information from children with linguistically diverse backgrounds. The steps include identifying the assessment's purpose (which involves how students approach learning tasks, apply their knowledge, and attain final outcomes), knowing the child…

This guide contains specific comments and insights concerning the application of a standards-based evaluation and accountability system in schools and school districts that enroll significant concentrations of language minority and immigrant students. The guide introduces key concepts associated with the development and maintenance of a…

The first section of this report guides Delaware educators through the decision-making process for participation in the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP) for students with disabilities and for students who are dually eligible as a student with a disability and limited English proficient (SD/LEP).The second section will guide Delaware…

A discussion of school partnerships with linguistic minority communities (1) contextualizes and defines such partnerships, (2) notes the typical obstacles that prevent educators and communities from developing partnerships successfully, (3) highlights promising evolving practices associated with effective partnerships, (4) recommends future…

This article explores the ins and outs of bilingual instruction and examines whether to use the native language or English in instructing bilingual students with language disorders and the role the code switching plays in instruction. Strategies are suggested for using the native language and using code switching. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Discusses the growing ethnic and cultural diversity of the student population and the challenges this presents in teaching English Braille. The need to first address the student's competence in spoken English before teaching Braille is stressed. Using grade one Braille for teaching ethnically diverse students is recommended. (CR)

Describes a curriculum-based dynamic language-assessment process using a flowchart description of the six steps of the assessment process. A case study of a linguistically diverse student is provided that is designed to allow insight into a student's learning capabilities and to provide direction for instructional planning. (CR)

Twenty strategies are presented for enhancing the involvement of parents from diverse backgrounds, including: exploring parents' expectations, learning about the family's culture, providing communication in many forms, making use of casual contacts with parents, planning different times for conferences, involving interpreters, and linking…

It is argued that the increasing linguistic and cultural diversity in public schools requires teachers to be more sensitive to how children maintain effective cross-cultural communication, and be aware of barriers that affect interaction in culturally diverse classrooms. Sociocultural factors that shape the perspectives of all students should be…

Canada's Constitution guarantees the right to the English-speaking minority in Quebec and the French-speaking minority elsewhere in Canada to have their children receive K-12 public education in the language of the linguistic minority of that province. A working group recommended a guarantee to Francophones of a distinct right of management and…

This article summarizes guidelines developed by the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Early Childhood Research Institute for selecting and adapting materials for young children and their families. Recommendations are provided that community teams should consider in collecting, selecting, and reflecting on materials. Tips are also…

This article presents recommendations to increase family involvement among culturally/linguistically diverse families of children with disabilities. Recommendations include using different communication approaches, providing alternative meeting sites, providing information and training to parents, and understanding family priorities, needs, and…

This book explains that mainstream elementary classroom teachers with little or no English-as-a-Second-Language training can meet the needs of linguistically diverse students by integrating the teaching of English with the content areas of the regular curriculum. It begins with a strong theoretical underpinning for this practice, drawing on a…

Offers suggestions on how to add the power of a free online translator, links, and multicultural search engines to a teacher's classroom home page. Describes the Alta Vista Babelfish online translation service that can be used to translate Web pages on a variety of topics written in German, Spanish, Italian, French, or Portuguese. (SLD)