Other People's English: Code-Meshing, Code-Switching, and African American Literacy

Download or read book Other People's English: Code-Meshing, Code-Switching, and African American Literacy written by Vershawn Ashanti Young and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2013-12-01 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book presents an empirically grounded argument for a new approach of teaching writing to diverse students in the English language arts classroom. Responding to advocates of the "code-switching" approach, four uniquely qualified authors make the case for "code-meshing"--allowing students to use standard English, African American English, and other Englishes in formal academic writing and classroom discussions. This practical resource translates theory into a concrete roadmap for pre-and in-service teachers who wish to use code-meshing in the classroom to extend students' abilities as writers and thinkers and to foster inclusiveness and creativity. The text provides activities and examples from middle and high schools as well as college and addresses the question of how to advocate for code-meshing with skeptical administrators, parents, and students.