How might a dialect that differs from the standard classroom English dialect impact students' learning?

A dialect that differs from the standard classroom English dialect can indeed impact a student's learning specifically by increasing the complexity of decoding for effective reading. When students are accustomed to one dialect or form of English at home, they may encounter challenges when transitioning to the standardized form used in educational contexts.

Decoding refers to the ability to interpret written language by understanding the correspondence between printed letters and sounds. When there are significant differences between a student's natural dialect and the standard English dialect, the phonetic and syntactic structures they are familiar with may not align with what they see in texts. This discrepancy can make it more difficult for them to make sense of written words and phrases, potentially leading to a slower reading pace, misunderstandings, and less effective comprehension overall.

This understanding of dialect differences emphasizes the importance of recognizing and validating students' linguistic backgrounds, considering how it affects their interaction with academic language, and supporting them in bridging these gaps for improved learning outcomes.