How can educators overcome the challenge of engaging multilingual families in their child's literacy development, especially when language barriers or cultural differences exist?

In this enlightening episode of the Equipping ELLs Podcast, host Beth Vaucher is joined by Nawal Qarooni, an educator, writer, and adjunct professor who’s reshaping the approach to family engagement in education. With a holistic approach to literacy, Nawal dives deep into how families play a crucial role in literacy development, and how educators can leverage this valuable partnership to create more inclusive, authentic learning environments.

Nawal shares her journey from newspaper journalism to becoming a passionate advocate for integrating families into the educational process. She emphasizes the importance of celebrating the cultural richness families bring into the classroom and how we can use these connections to enrich students’ literacy practices. By reframing the conversation from “what can families do for us?” to “how can we celebrate and build on what families already bring?” Nawal highlights a transformative approach to student success.

In this episode, Nawal explores her philosophy on literacy, which goes beyond traditional book-based learning. She discusses funds of knowledge, the idea that literacy encompasses much more than reading and writing—it includes the storytelling, traditions, and rituals that families pass down through generations. By building stronger connections with families, educators can tap into this well of knowledge, creating more engaging and meaningful learning experiences for students, especially English language learners.

Key Highlights:

• Nawal’s personal story and how her diverse cultural background informs her work.
• The significance of observational literacy and the role of talk in connecting ideas.
• Practical strategies for engaging multilingual families in literacy practices.
• The concept of translanguaging and how it enriches literacy development.
• Insights from Nawal’s book, Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations, on creating authentic school-family partnerships.

Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or parent, this episode offers actionable insights to help foster authentic family engagement and ensure that every child thrives in a culturally inclusive learning environment.

Links and Resources:

• ⁠⁠⁠Join the Equipping ELLs Membership
• Shop our TpT Store
• Check out Nawal's book Nourishing Caregiver Collaborations
• Connect with Nawal on Instagram