Bridging the Home and School Environment to Build Reciprocal, Equitable Relationships: a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Approach

Abstract

The home literacy environment (HLE) plays a crucial role in the development of language and reading skills of English Language Learners (ELLs). Educators can leverage the benefits of the HLE for ELLs by collaborating with families to create equitable and reciprocal relationships through a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive (CLR) approach. Various research approaches have explored the influence and impact of the HLE in depth, in particular noting how the quality of the HLE and families attitude towards reading and academia impacts ELL students’ academic achievements. Educators can help bridge the home and school environment by celebrating, recognizing, and valuing the different cultural heritages and languages students bring into the school community, thereby enriching the learning experience for all. A Professional Development plan is detailed as part of this Capstone project that provides key elements and steps to integrate multicultural literacies to foment a robust home literacy environment that connects to the school community. The objective is to introduce ELL families into the plan as valuable stakeholders and equal part leaders, integrating their Funds of Knowledge (FoK) to foster a multicultural school community that values world literacies.