Let's Go Global!

This week we read Dear Primo: A Letter to my Cousin by Duncan Tonatiuh. The book is told from the point of view of two young boys, one in a large city in America (believed to be New York City) and one is a small, farming town in Mexico. The boys write letters back and forth, and the author puts them side by side to show. The book ultimately leads children to understand that while the boys are different, they are also very alike. The lesson by by professors, Dr. Frye, Dr. Groce, and (the second) Dr. Groce, introduces the book in a way that encourages discussion through high quality questions. I believe firmly in discussion based instruction, especially when it comes to discussing important topics such as global literacy!

The book uses quite a few Spanish words that students can pick up on by using word and picture supports. I love the idea of books that utilize the dual language structure. I just found out that I have a job for next year (YAY!) and it will be at a school with 38% of my students being Hispanic. Nearly 4 out of every 10 of my students will come from dual language homes. I am excited about introducing books like Dear Primo that discuss a culture that my students may know and understand. I very well may have students who have cousins in Mexico while they are in Asheville, NC. I hope that by incorporating books with Spanish words and information about the culture of Mexico, I will empower my Hispanic students to embrace their culture, whether it be a Mexican, Cuban, Guatemalan, Chilean, etc.

The article, “Teaching and Learning in the Global Village: Connect, Create, Collaborate, and Communicate” (Dwyer, 2016), discusses many resources for using global literacy in a way that allows students to, and the International Education and Resource Network states, “Learn with the world, not about it.” My students will be 1-to-1 with devices next year, as will all of Buncombe County Schools. I am so excited about the opportunity include this real-world global literacy opportunity within my classroom.

• The resource, epals (http://www.epals.com/#/connections) makes me so very excited! I knew there were programs out there to communicate with other classes, but I did not realize that the program was used all around the world, and that there was a way to connect each student to a student of their own.

• Epals also has a branch that is just for students and screened adults who want to learn together about the same book. This allows real world collaboration with people from other parts of the country or world (in2books.epals.com).

• The Global Book Hour (globalbookproject.buffalostate.edu/global-book-hour) allows families that are immigrants and refugees, as well as anyone else who would like to join, to get together and for discussions, as well as to travel to other places to learn about new cultures and grow close through sharing their cultural experiences. While the program is only in Buffalo right now, it is a great idea for a program that could be started in my area if I have families who are in need of that kind of support.