The Bilingual Bag
By Nanette L. Avery

I've always tried to instill a love of literature in all my students, even the most reluctant of the group. However, one of the most difficult tasks I've faced as a middle school teacher was trying to get students to read for pleasure. Since my students were often reluctant to read, I needed a fresh approach that would captivate their interest. Knowing that family literacy programs are often very successful with younger students, I decided to create one for my seventh graders.

Building bridges. My class consists of students from predominately Hispanic families in which both Spanish and English are spoken in the home. Many of these children have extended families who play a positive role in reinforcing their family values. I hoped to build a literary bridge between the families and the classroom, which would connect the cultural and linguistic aspects of my students' lives.

Through the generosity of the Dade Reading Council, I applied for and was awarded a reading grant. My literacy project, "The Bilingual Bag," was born.

It's in the bag. The Bilingual Bag is a voluntary home-reading connection that engages middle school students with their family members in shared reading experiences. In order to accommodate families in which Spanish is their first language, the Bilingual Bag contains dual-language books. Students and a family member read the same book, however, one copy of the book is in English and the other is a Spanish translation. Additionally, the bag contains a family journal in which the readers can log thoughts about the book and reading experiences. Bilingual instructions and information are also included.

Students and family members who volunteer to receive a bag sign a contract stating that they will finish reading and return the bag within a two- to three-week period. As each family completes a book, the bag and its contents circulate to other families. The project calls for a total of five Bilingual Bags to be in rotation at a time.

The books selected are favorite titles of both children and parents: The Little Prince and Principito, The Secret Garden and Jardin Secreto, Cricket in Times Square and Un Grillo en Times Square, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter Y Camara Secreta and Out of the Dust and Lejos Del Polvo. All the books were purchased at local bookstores. They are also available via the Internet or by mail order through the Sundance book catalog.

Gathering the generations. A wonderful by-product of this literacy project was found by chance: it was able to draw generations together. As the program progressed, I discovered that many students had partnered with a grandparent. One student was especially excited because his grandmother had heard so much about the Harry Potter series and now she was going to read the Spanish version while he read the book in English.

Family discussions have become informal "book talks." Ideas and conversations are being chronicled in the journal entries, in which both readers give commentary. These spoken and written records of personal reading experiences often lead to interpretations and reflections that might otherwise not have been shared among each family involved in the project.

No obstacles. As with any reading program, I believe that we teachers should not force reading but rather find ways to entice children to read. The Bilingual Bag doesn't magically turn reluctant readers into avid readers, but the program does open a partnership with family members and students by eliminating obstacles. The challenge of engaging our students as lifelong readers can be fostered with the connection to their families.

One of the joys of being a good reader is the ability to share a story with someone who has read the same book. People who aren't interested in reading often do not ever experience this unless they are able to become an active reader. The transformation from reluctant reader to avid reader cannot be achieved in one sitting but must be gently nurtured. It's my hope that the Bilingual Bag project will encourage more students to find the delights in reading.

Nanette Avery is an educator and freelance writer living in Miami, FL.

May 2003, Vol.33, No.8