Bicultural Literacy Curriculum

Abstract

This article examines the literacy issues in public school in the United States, and points out that current programs do not have a meaningful cultural connection to bicultural and bilingual students. The findings indicate that literacy must become part of bicultural and bilingual students’ reality in order to empower them. The pedagogical content of literacy must acknowledge bicultural and bilingual students’ culture so they can make connections to learning literacy. In order to help bicultural and bilingual students acquire the necessary academic skills to succeed on high-stakes tests that are demanded by No Child Left Behind Law, public schools need to infuse home culture literacy as part of literacy programs and practices.