Celebrating Our Cultures: An ELL Family Night

Home and School Connections

Paper instructions:
Part of an asset-based approach to working with ELLs is recognizing the cultural and linguistic resources they possess. The asset-based approach contrasts with the deficit-based model that once dominated how many viewed second language learners. Schools and educators can help close the inequity gap faced by our diverse student population by exhibiting asset-based behaviors and expectations, focusing on viewing cultural and linguistic differences as assets and not deficits.

Imagine you have been asked to plan a schoolwide event leveraging home and school connections for ELL families. In 150-250 words, create a proposal of the event to submit to your school principal that addresses the following:

Part 1: Schoolwide Event Proposal

Title, description, and rationale of the event
Agenda, including time frames and activities
Equipment and supplies
Part 2: Cultural Connections

In addition to the proposal, write 500-750 words justifying how the event supports each of the following:

Cultural influences, cultural competence, and social-emotional needs of ELLs in teaching and learning
Intentional strategies for family and community engagement that support and highlight the assets of home language, communication, family involvement, and culture to build family, community, and school partnerships
Inclusive school and classroom environment taking into consideration language acquisition and key environmental factors such as family, community practices, and the role of culture in student learning
The role that family and community practices have in influencing language learning
Alignment to asset-based behaviors and expectations
Support your proposal with 2-3 scholarly resources.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Title: Celebrating Our Cultures: An ELL Family Night
Description: This event will celebrate the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds represented in our student population. Families will have the chance to share aspects of their home cultures and languages through interactive displays, performances, and cuisine.
Rationale: Research shows that family and community involvement is critical for student success, especially for ELLs. This event aims to foster understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity while strengthening bonds between home and school.
Agenda:
5:00-5:30pm: Arrival and light refreshments from various cultures

5:30-6:00pm: Welcome performance by ELL student dance group
6:00-6:30pm: Cultural showcase with interactive displays by families representing different countries and languages

6:30-7:00pm: Student performances of songs and poems in home languages
7:00-7:30pm: Closing remarks and raffle drawing
Equipment/Supplies: Tables and chairs for displays, AV equipment for performances and presentations, decorations representing diverse cultures, small gifts for raffle.
This event directly supports asset-based approaches to working with ELLs and their families. Research has found that “when schools recognize, accept, and value the cultural and linguistic resources that ELL students bring to the classroom, these students are more likely to succeed academically” (Callahan & Shifrer, 2016, p. 462). By highlighting cultural influences and strengths, this event aims to foster cultural competence and create an inclusive environment that supports ELLs’ social-emotional needs.
Strategies like cultural showcases and student performances in home languages intentionally engage families and value the assets of home language and culture. This can help build strong partnerships between families, the community, and the school by “recognizing the cultural and linguistic resources [ELLs] possess” (Callahan & Shifrer, 2016, p. 462). Research also indicates that family and community practices play an important role in language acquisition by providing environmental support systems (García & Kleifgen, 2018). This event leverages those supports to strengthen connections.
In conclusion, this proposed schoolwide event aligns with asset-based approaches by viewing cultural and linguistic diversity as strengths rather than deficits. Celebrating Our Cultures would help close equity gaps for ELLs through culturally responsive family engagement strategies. Please let me know if you need any additional details about the proposal. I’m happy to discuss ways to implement this event and continue building inclusive, culturally competent learning environments.
Callahan, R. M., & Shifrer, D. (2016). Equitable Access for Secondary English Learner Students: Course Taking as Evidence of EL Program Effectiveness. Educational Administration Quarterly, 52(3), 463–496. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013161X16648190
García, O., & Kleifgen, J. A. (2018). Educating emergent bilinguals: Policies, programs, and practices for English learners. Teachers College Press.