Supporting Literacy Across Disciplines Using the Cultural Wealth Model

Abstract

The chapter provides readers with cross-disciplinary activities that facilitate restorative literacy practices centered around the cultural wealth model. This model is used in instruction and curriculum to aid in meeting students where they are academically, linguistically, and culturally. When students' personal values are placed at the center of instruction, it affirms and validates their own identities, and cultural capital, within the space. Each tenet of the model is briefly described and accompanied with practices to develop reading proficiency, fluency, comprehension, and writing skills while advocating for the restoration of student well-being, strengthened relationships, the analysis of acquired wealth and proficiencies, and student applications of intersectionality. The activities presented are aimed at middle, high, and undergraduate ages but can be modified to support younger learners, with the intention of strengthening literacy skills and cultural dialogue across grade levels and discipline areas.