A Professional Development Resource
Format: Workshop/Training
Description: A free 2-hour learning module with video from Pennsylvania State University’s Better Kid Care that touches on the cognitive, social-emotional, and language development of multiple language learners. Includes content, videos, and assignments. The module helps professionals self-reflect while learning instructional strategies to use in the classroom. Registration is required.
Link: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/lessons/dll
Format: Article
Description: A brief by Elsa Billings and Aída Walqui that discusses the importance of a English Language Learners (ELL) first language, presents supporting background research on cognitive, social-emotional, and academic benefits, and offers strategies to help teachers support ELLs in instruction.
Link: https://www.wested.org/resources/dispelling-the-myth-of-english-only/
Citation: Billings, E. & Walqui, A. (2017) Dispelling the Myth of “English Only”: Understanding the Importance of the First Language in Second Language Learning. New York State Education Department. Retrieved from https://www.wested.org/resources/dispelling-the-myth-of-english-only/
Format: 
Website, Tool
Description:
Talking Points is an app designed to confront the language barrier that often challenges parental engagement with a tool that translates communications into the parent’s native language. The site uses a custom translation engine for two way translation between teachers and parents. Up to 28 languages are available with more being added over time; the list of languages are available on the site.
The tool’s creators understand the positive impact parental engagement has on child development and seek to support improving and easing engagement from parents that may have difficulty speaking English or communicating with teacher and schools. The app uses SMS as a way to make it more accessible to parents and to be aware of diverse socioeconomic status. Teachers and schools will need to be aware that while the app itself is free it also depends on parent’s phone and texting plans and that there could be a possible fee for parents if the SMS is not covered.
Registration is required. Free for individual teachers. School wide integration is available for a fee.
Link: http://talkingpts.org
Format: Article
Description: This article looks at the need for teachers to be culturally responsive and competent as schools and classrooms become increasingly linguistically and culturally diverse. It highlights five points of cultural difference with which all educators should be aware when interacting with students of diverse backgrounds.
Link: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Pratt-Johnson-CrossCultural.html
Citation: Pratt-Johnson, Yvonne. “Communicating Cross-Culturally: What Teachers Should Know,” The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. XII, No. 2, February 2006
Format: Video / Spoken Word Poetry
Description: In these poems, 10 spoken word artists explore the complexities of bicultural identity, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate the richness of Latinos’ diverse and varied identities.
Format: Website
Description: The PEW Research Center Hispanic Trends provides up-to-date research on Latino and Hispanic communities in the U.S., including immigrants. Includes demographic data, trends, and more.
Format: Book
Description: In this comprehensive book, library professionals and scholars share best practices and strategies that convey the critical need for diversity in the LIS field, library programming, and resources to better reflect the rich and varied experiences and information needs of Asian Americans in the US and beyond.
Citation: Clarke, J. H., Pun, R., & Tong, M. (2017). Asian American librarians and library services activism, collaborations, and strategies. Rowman & Littlefield.
Format: Video
Description: “When Your Hands Are Tied” is a freely available educational film that explores the unique ways in which young Native people are finding to express themselves in the contemporary world while maintaining strong traditional lives.
Format: Tip Sheet
Description: This tip sheet, created by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, provides concrete tips to help library staff provide services to English language learners. While focused on public libraries, the tips are applicable to school libraries too.
Format: Report
Description: This paper explores the critical role libraries play in helping children make cross-cultural connections and develop skills necessary to function in a culturally pluralistic society.
Citation: Naidoo, J. (2014). The importance of diversity in library programs and material collections for children. Association for Library Service to Children.
Format: Resource list
Description: This resource list, developed by Edutopia, provides strategies for engaging English-language learners. Topics range from literacy instruction to arts and technology integration.
Link: https://www.edutopia.org/article/resources-for-teaching-english-language-learners-ashley-cronin
Format: Journal Issue
Description: This issue of Educational Leadership features 14 articles about working with English Language Learners. Topics include getting to know their families, amplifying their voices, and developing effective library programs, plus more. Members of ASCD can access the issue with their membership. You can check out your local academic library to see if they subscribe or you can purchase the issue for $8.95.
Link: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/feb16/vol73/num05/toc.aspx
Citation: Various authors (2016). Educational Leadership 73(5).
Format: Article
Description: This article written by Colorín Colorado Manager Lydia Breiseth provides ideas for getting to know your English language learners. The article includes guidance on what information will be helpful to gather as well as ideas on how to find what you need, who will be able to help, and recommended resources.
Link: http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/getting-know-your-ells-six-steps-success
Format: Article
Description: In this article written for Colorin Colorado, early childhood expert Karen Nemeth offers librarians and teachers strategies for engaging diverse families and using bilingual books effectively during story time.
Link: http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/literacy-strategies-librarians-diverse-communities
Format: Article
Description: In this article, Jacqueline Jules, a teacher and librarian, presents 10 ways that school librarians can support English Language Learners in the school library. Her suggestions can also be used by public librarians.
Link: http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/10-ways-support-ells-school-library
Format: Book
Description: Lisa Delpit and Joanne Kilgour Dowdy have compiled essays from a diverse group of scholars who “explore the links between language and identity, between language and political hierarchy, and between language and cultural conflict” (p. xiv). The book is divided into three sections and includes personal essays, linguistic analysis, case study, and policy analysis, many of which speak to the ongoing debates surrounding Ebonics and the education of African American students.
Link: https://thenewpress.com/books/skin-that-we-speak
Citation: Delpit, Lisa and Joanne Kilgour. (eds.) (2008). “The Skin That We Speak: Thoughts on Language and Culture in the Classroom,” New York: The New Press.
Format: Website
Description: This document from the National Council of Teachers of English lays out the organization’s beliefs and plans for action regarding how teachers can best support linguistically and culturally diverse students in the classroom. While written specifically for English teachers, the core beliefs apply equally well to school and public library contexts.
Format: 
Article
Description: This article by Hedy Chang contains useful tips for all educators on how to approach and support both children and parents on language and cultural diversity.
Link: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/many-languages-many-cultures/
Citation: Chang, H. (n.d.). Many Languages, Many Cultures. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/many-languages-many-cultures/
Format: TEDTalk, Video
Description: A spoken word celebration of the many different ways that the speaker approaches the English language, in the classroom, with friends, and with family. This 4 minute video by Jamila Lyiscott seeks to make listeners question the idea of “broken English”. This resource is important linguistically and as a reminder that there are a diversity of ways to speak any language.
Link: https://www.ted.com/talks/jamila_lyiscott_3_ways_to_speak_english
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