References and Notes
Indigenous Literacy Development
By Diane Morren, diane_morren@sil.org
1. If you are interested in knowing more about language development among non-dominant language
groups in the world, I would recommend the following website of SIL International: www.sil.org . It
contains information on orthographies (alphabets), language assessments, training, curriculum and
instruction, mother tongue multilingual education, etc.
2. In addition, World Bank and UNESCO have websites full of reports on international development,
including language development, from around the world. Their websites are:
http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTRESEARCH/0,,contentMDK:20311526~menu
PK:574960~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:469382,00.html
http://en.unesco.org/
3. There are many good methods for teaching reading and I am not endorsing the PWIM model as the
best model for language minorities. However, if you wish more information on this model, it can be
found in various websites and books including the following:
http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/pwim/ and
http://www.bcssa.org/pro-d/conf-present/SLA2004/SD37&58-PWIMslide.pdf
Calhoun, E.F. (1999). Teaching Beginning Reading and Writing with the Picure Word Inductive Model.
Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
4. When working with any literacy project, there are essential components of reading—sound symbol
relationship, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension as stated by the National
Reading Panel Report (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development [NICHD], 2000) that
need to be present to some extent in the materials. In addition, teachers need to be trained to
understand the importance of each aspect of the reading process. Some lesser-known models of
teaching reading that have been successful in international language minority settings are the following:
Gudschinsky model: Gudschinsky, S.G. (1967) Handbook of Literacy. Norman, OK: University of
Oklahoma/Summer Institute of Linguistics.
Four Strategies model: Stringer, M.D. and Faraclas, N. G. (1987) Working Together for Literacy. Papua
New Guinea: Christian Books Melanesia, Inc.
5. There are many good books written on multilingual/bilingual education but the ones I have listed
below have an international perspective dealing with non-dominant language groups and international
programs
Baker, C. (2006). Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism (4th ed.). Clevedon, England:
Multilingual Matters.
Davis, P. (2004). Reading is for Knowing: Literacy Acquisition, Retention, and Usage among the
Machiguenga. Dallas: SIL International.
Larson, M. a. (Ed.). (1981). Bilingual Education: An Experience in Peruvian Amazonia. Dallas, TX: Summer
Institute of Linguistics.
Modiano, N. (1973) Indian Education in the Chiapas Highlands. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.
Skutnabb-Kangas, T. P. (2009). Social Justice through Multilingual Education. Briston, England:
Multilingual Matters.