Building Cultural Bridges in Education is a collection of 15 papers written by scholars from around the world, who came together in their shared interest to promote an understanding of, and appreciation for, the rich and varied contemporary theoretical assumptions and current trends in language, education, linguistics, literature and intercultural communication. As a result, the papers in this volume represent breadth and depth, rigor and relevance in discussion of numerous, and always varying, aspects of scientific discourse and lexis. The purpose of this volume is to highlight that contemporary scholars look upon topical issues through a dynamic global prism and beyond any strict set of rules, which would otherwise lead them to ignore the ever-shifting bridges in education, language teaching, linguistics, literature and culture, and the accompanying global cultural reality. The variety and complexity of these essays offer fresh views to the topic postulated in the book’s title, and will additionally stimulate intellectual curiosity and research as well as further development of new ideas within the fields of education, language, literature and cultural studies.

This manual provides K-5 educators and homeschooling parents with tools for culturally responsive teaching including lessons to engage dual language learners and families, diversity activities to support literacy and language awareness, and games and resources to promote cultural awareness and understanding. The book includes numerous multicultural lesson plans that use bilingual books and diversity activities to support literacy development and build culturally inclusive classrooms. The lessons meet Common Core Standards and include detailed procedures, assessments, cross-curricular extension activities, and vocabulary-building flashcards. Each lesson incorporates optional ESL activities, accommodations for language learners, and suggestions for involving dual language families. Also included in the book are games, foods, and crafts from around the world; diverse language profiles; handouts to build community in the classroom; and unique holidays to celebrate diversity.Written by multicultural education expert and founder of Language Lizard, Anneke Forzani; Coordinator of the Master's of Education program in Applied Studies and Teaching at West Chester University, Heather Leaman; and two practicing elementary school teachers.

This project establishes guidelines for the development of cultural awareness programs for international graduate students, administrators, and faculty. The project concentrates on the expectations and cultural shock of international graduate students at Bethel College and Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, and examines cultural assistance programs at thirteen colleges and universities in the Christian College Consortium. The premises of the project are to establish a foundation of interpersonal interactions to develop an empathic understanding of varying cultural values, customs, and expectations and the development of communication channels for international graduate students to enhance the educational, spiritual, and financial stability of the institution. The project develops recommendations for the implementation of cultural awareness programs and suggested procedures for administrators and international students.

Bridging Cultures: Teacher Education Module is a professional development resource for teacher educators and staff developers to help preservice and in-service teachers become knowledgeable about cultural differences and understand ways of bridging the expectations of school settings with those of the home. In a nonthreatening, cognitively meaningful way, the Module is based on teacher-constructed and tested strategies to improve home-school communication and parent involvement. These innovations were developed as part of the Bridging Cultures Project, which explores the cultural value differences between the individualistic orientation of mainstream U.S. schools and the collectivistic orientation of many immigrant families. The goal of the Bridging Cultures Project is to support and help teachers in their work with students and families from immigrant cultures. The centerpiece of the Module is training resources, including an outline, an agenda, and a well-tested three-hour script designed as a lecture-discussion with structured opportunities for guided dialogue and small-group discussion. Throughout the script, "Facilitators Notes" annotate presentation suggestions and oversized margins encourage integration of the facilitator's personal experiences in presenting and adapting the Module. Ideas for using the Readings for Bridging Cultures are provided. A section of overhead transparencies and handout masters is included. The Module also provides a discussion of the role of culture in education and the constructs of individualism and collectivism, an overview of the effects of the Bridging Cultures Project, and evaluation results of the author's use of the Module in two sections of a preservice teacher education course. Bridging Cultures: Teacher Education Module brings the successful processes and practices of the Bridging Cultures Project to a larger audience in college courses and in professional development arenas. Designed for use in one or two class sessions, the Module can be incorporated in courses on educational psychology, child development, counseling psychology, and any others that deal with culture in education.

Practice in Building Bridges will be valuable for teacher educators, trainers and program directors in doing staff and professional development. Many of its activities can also be used by individual students, teachers, and practitioners for personal work.