This book accompanies "A Multicultural Guide to Literature-Based Whole Language Activities" and provides a multicultural perspective to several units of study for young children. The units are based in the social studies or the sciences. Each study begins with topics familiar to the young child and expands the study to introduce the unfamiliar.…

This article discusses reading and writing as (1) cognitive processes influenced by social and cultural contexts; (2) sociocognitive processes; (3) a social relationship between authors and readers; and (4) social and cultural activities. Pedagogy and politics in the whole language classroom are also discussed. (JDD)

This digest links the development of listening comprehension to the emerging reading comprehension of young American Indian students, and suggests ways that teachers can use locally produced materials to enhance young students' emergent literacy. Reading comprehension is the key to literacy, and prior knowledge supports listening and reading…