Partnerships with Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Families

Just like any other relationship, your relationships with students and parents of culturally and linguistically diverse families must be built on trust. Your students should feel like they can trust you and that they are welcome in your classroom. Parents and families are more likely to engage in a partnership with teachers when their child has a positive and trusting relationship with their teacher. 

Culturally and linguistically diverse families want to feel like they are welcome and valued. This allows families to feel comfortable working with you and reaching out to support their child's learning.

How can you develop trust and sense of community and belonging in your classroom?

• Use the 12 Tips & Tools for Teachers discussed in this website!

• Don't treat culturally and linguistically diverse families differently or as if they are challenging and difficult to work with. You may feel frustrated at times, but showing this frustrating causes families to close off and limit their interactions with you.

• Don't be afraid to ask questions and learn more about your students' families and their culture. You can use this information to help you prepare lessons that are culturally responsive and help your students feel welcome in your classroom.

• Learn words or phrases in your students' home languages. You don't need to become fluent in other languages, but knowing simple phrases such as "hello," "good morning," "how are you," and "how can I help you" can go a long way in making your student feel welcome and appreciated.

Put yourself in the shoes of your culturally and linguistically diverse learners and their families. They most likely feel uncomfortable in this unknown and unfamiliar environment. Allow yourself to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the uncomfortableness. Reach out to families and your students to show that you care. Have an open mind and be willing to change or adapt some of your classroom practices to help your students and their families feel welcome. Be willing to learn about new cultures and new languages.

You won't do it perfectly, but be okay to make mistakes. It's more important to do something to help support family partnerships and make mistakes along the way. Not doing any learning or growth on your part does nothing to help your students expand their education.

• Explore Edutopia's culturally responsive teaching resources. The website groups together articles, videos, and lists of culturally responsive books and other materials for your convenience.

• Colorín Colorado is a platform that provides resources for educators and families of culturally and linguistically diverse families. The website shares articles, blog posts, videos, books, research reports, and other useful resources.

• Global Oneness Project shares culturally responsive stories, lessons plans, and additional learning materials about social, cultural, and environmental issues that impact people around the world. You can use the website to gain insight on important events that your students and families may be connected to or worried about as well as access lesson plans to help teach your students about these issues. Lesson plans are designed from elementary level students up to college students.

A great first place to start if you're new to working with culturally and linguistically diverse families is to learn! Look through this website, do your own research, and attend trainings led by professionals to gain insight into forming and maintaining this crucial partnerships.

Forming partnerships with ENL or bilingual teachers is another great way to gain insight in how to communicate with culturally and linguistically diverse families.

• Edutopia provides a list of resources and tips for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in your school.

• Alludo provides professional development for educators to reach students from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.