99-Culturally+and+Linguistically+Diverse+Issues

Source: http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs034/1108687355485/archive/1110226353637.html

**Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Issues ** Throughout this inclusion project, the issues surrounding culturally and linguistically diverse families have been integrated into the project.

When thinking about working with an inclusive model with culturally and linguistically diverse students the following need to be considered:
 * **Co-teaching**: Be sure to choose a co-teaching model that will fit the needs of the children [|(ELP levels 3 +)]. [|Beginning ELL children] do not fare very well in a total inclusion environment. ELP levels 1-3 need to receive direct instruction in the language, so that they will eventually be able to participate in the general education environment.
 * **Co-teaching:** Be sure to choose a co-teaching model that will allow for equal power and position in the classroom. While [|power] is a topic that is generally avoided in education, it is something to consider with co-teaching a traditionally marginalized population with traditionally marginalized educators.
 * **School culture**: Train the front office staff, so that they know how to warmly welcome families even when they themselves do not speak the language of the families.
 * **Home visits**: Make arrangements to visit the homes of new families and welcome them to the school district.
 * **Language**: Be sure that someone will be able to interpret for parents when they attend meetings, call the school, or drop by to visit. Be sure that written communication goes home to the families in the language that they prefer. Be wary of using online translation tools because they are not all capable of communicating intent.
 * **Workshops: **
 * Provide surveys accessible to culturally and linguistically diverse families to determine their needs.
 * Provide targeted workshops for families.
 * **Families**:
 * **Communication**: Plan ahead about a communication plan with families. Plan to use trained adults as interpreters. If adults are unavailable, districts can engage the services of agencies such as [|AT&T Language Line]or [|Interpretalk].
 * **Communication**: Be sure to use multiple means of representation when communicating with families. Literacy in the primary language may be a challenge when working with some families. Telephone calls are frequently the best means of communication.
 * **Conferences:** Plan ahead about how to conduct conferences. General education teachers need training in how to use the services of an interpreter. It is important that the teacher speaks directly to the parents and not to the interpreter.
 * **IEP Conferences**: Engage an interpreter who is skilled in the language of the IEP and is able to communicate it directly to the parents in a method and mode that they understand.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Transportation:** If educators are inviting parents to the school for a program, they need to confirm that the parents have transportation. If no transportation is available, the school district needs to have a plan in place for providing transportation to the families who need it.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Child care**: Many culturally and linguistically diverse families do not feel comfortable leaving their children at home. Plan ahead, so that alternative child care plans can be made.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Transition meetings**: Be sensitive to specific cultural issues that families may have regarding transition meetings and future placements.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Engaging families:** Invite families into the classroom, so they can share their culture with the classroom.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">**Engaging families**: Invite parents to volunteer in the classroom in the same way that native-born English-speaking families volunteer.
 * <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Resources **:
 * [|Colorin Colorado]
 * [|Lost in Translation]
 * [|Connecting Non-English Parents to Schools]