(Re)Imagining Multilingual Learners: Using Photo Stories to Honor Students’ Strengths, Interests, and Experiences

Abstract

The labeling of students has the potential to result in deficit thinking, which can cause classrooms to become sites of limitation instead of places of limitless opportunity for students. This article discusses the literacy strategy of creating photo stories and shares the steps involved in inviting students to create personal photo stories that honor students’ lived experiences. The author shares how these photo stories have the potential to promote critical and productive dialogue among educators and students to help them celebrate the diverse languages, cultures, interests, and life experiences that are present in their classrooms. Keywordslabels, deficit thinking, multilingual learners, photo story