Grouping all students who are learning English together assumes that all the students in this category come from the same experience. For many languages there are different areas that speak that language, as well as different dialects. Each student has a different exposure to the English language, and each language has thier own barriers in learning English. I had never considered that some African cultures do not have a written language, making reading and writing in English especially difficult. As educators we also have to be sure not to assume student's educational background. The school routine may be new to some or all of the students.
A virtual backpack is a collection of information, skills and experiences that students bring to the classroom. Like funds of knowledge, students gain valuable knowledge outside the classroom, and these virtual backpacks are an illustration of this.
This article gives 12 useful tips of how to help the students in the classroom who are learning English. I know as teacher candidates we are always being told to differentiate instruction, and this gives a practical application for the classroom.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4336
Flint, Amy. Literate Lives: Teaching Reading and Writing in Elementary Classrooms. 1st. Atlanta : 2007. 60-66. Web. "http://media.wiley.com/product_data/excerpt/24/EHEP0005/EHEP000524-1.pdf".
Great image and good explanation of how funds of knowledge and the virtual backpack metaphor are related!
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