Sociocultural Literacies Across Contexts: Syrian Newcomers' Social Literacy Practices in Home and Adopted Country Constructs

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Learning From and Working With Refugee Communities: Policies and Practices

Abstract

This ethnographic study examines how Syrian refugee families position themselves and identify with their family and school literacy practices in home and adopted country contexts. Schools, teachers, and stakeholders alike, need to be equipped and prepared to face the linguistic and culturally significant increase in student populations in our U.S. schools today. Results indicate 1) religion is an adapted family literacy practice that is learned through lived experiences with the Qur’an, and 2) School practices that were once implemented by parents in the home country are assimilated in the adopted country. Parents and children’s roles and positions shift in the new context restructuring the learning and cultural dynamics in institutional settings.

Author

• christiana kathryn kfouri, University at Buffalo - SUNY