"It is crucially important to be aware that students from diverse and cultural background brings different ways of knowing, different patterns of interaction to school." 

(Vacca, Vacca, Mraz, p. 59)

Be Aware

"The concept of funds of knowledge provides a framework to recognize a student's interest and the background knowledge that he or she brings to content area concepts."  (Hedges, Culled, and Jordon, 2011) p. 60

Funds of Knowledge

Drawing on Students' Funds of Knowledge

Drawing on students funds of knowledge can help students make meaningful connections between the often abstract concepts addressed in content area classes and the application of those concepts in the world outside the the classroom.

(Vacca, Vacca, Mraz, p. 61)

Characteristics of a Culturally Responsive Classroom

1. High expectations

2. Positive relationships

3. Cultural sensitivity

4. Active teaching

5. Teacher as a facilitator

6. Student control of portions of the lesson

7. Instruction around groups and pairs to create low anxiety

(Vacca, Vacca, Mraz, p. 63)

Instructional Model:

Sheltered Instruction

This is not solely focused on students who are learning a second language, rather than teachers using a variety of instructional techniques to help students who are struggling with reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

(Vacca, Vacca, Mraz, p. 73) 

Sheltered Instruction

"When English learners struggle with content literacy tasks, instruction should be designed to meet their academic needs:

1. learning grade-appropriate and academically demanding content.

2. learning the language of academic English as reflected in content subjects, texts, and classroom discourse. 

3. engaging in appropriate classroom behavior and understanding participation rules and expectations in small and whole groups.

4. mastering English vocabulary and grammar. "

(Echevarria, Vogt, and Short, 2008) p. 73