Global and International Literature for English Learners

Abstract

This vignette reflects on the use of global literature by a teacher of an English Language Development class in middle school. Mentor texts were used to develop basic reading skills in English, introduce new vocabulary, and provide writing practice. Global literature also helped students express their own cultural identities, a core practice in the classroom to help refugee students navigate their lives in a new community. All books chosen focused on a theme of kindness or identity so that students could relate it to their own lives.

Keywords

• literacy community
• global children's literature
• english language development
• teaching
• education
• multicultural education