Funds of knowledge for scholars: Reflections on the translation of theory and its implications

Abstract

This paper investigates the roots of Funds of Knowledge, looking at how a collection of theories, ideologies and methods were brought together by diverse actors at one historical moment to launch an educational brand with remarkable power. At the same time, I reflect on how my own understanding of funds of knowledge theory has evolved through my training and practice as a teacher and, later, as an educational researcher. Finally, I discuss how this historical and biographical exploration can shed light on the way that theories evolve as they are translated across disciplines, texts, and contexts. Keywords: funds of knowledge, theory, translation, biography, English language learners (ELLs), culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students