María Fernández Hawrylak

Examining the Structures That Impact English Language Learners’ Agency in Urban High Schools: Resources and Roadblocks in the Classroom

This qualitative study focused on the classroom experiences of 14 English Language Learners (ELL) students in urban high schools. The authors argue that specific structures within classrooms and schools affect ELL students’ agency, or their ability to access and appropriate resources to meet their learning and social needs. Using a narrative inquiry methodological framework, the authors found that these structures included resources, such as space, and time, and a schema of caring, which were created by teachers’ practices. They also included roadblocks, such as poor instructional practices, a lack of empathy of students’ experiences, and diminished access to the curriculum.

Barriers, Resources, Frustrations, and Empathy: Teachers’ Expectations for Family Involvement for Latino/a ELL Students in Urban STEM Classrooms:

The importance of family involvement in education is well documented, yet no studies have explored teachers’ conceptualization of family involvement for urban English Language Learner (ELL) students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms. We used an ethnographic approach to investigate middle school STEM educators’ perspectives on family involvement for Spanish-speaking ELL students. The analysis revealed that the participants recognized barriers to involvement for families of ELL students, yet maintained that families should communicate more and help with homework. One participant’s practices and expectations served as a contradiction to these patterns. Implications and recommendations for P-12 school policy and teacher education are emphasized.

Comunicación intra-familiar y cáncer de mama

Introduction: Breast cancer is the malignant tumour which affects more women. A diagnosis that includes the word ‘cancer’ has a negative connotation. This disease impacts on the family dynamics, and communication is one of the dimensions which are frequently studied in the intervention with families. Objective: The aim of this research is to analyse the communication between a mother and her children, husband or partner, developed after a breast cancer diagnosis. Method: A mixed method research design was used. The sample was composed of twelve women diagnosed with breast cancer, aged between 43 and 55. The instruments used in this study were the Family Communication Scale (FCS) and a semi-structured interview. Results: The outcomes show that intra-family communication varies according to the age of the children, being lower when they are under 15 years old. Conclusions: Effective communication in the family is not the cure for any disease, but it improves the way the family as a whole deals with it and it contributes to eliminate stress situations and discomfort in the woman.

Evaluation of the Effects of the Sexual Education Programme SOMOS on Sexual Experience and Attitudes of Adolescents Towards Sexuality // Evaluación de los efectos del Programa de Educación Sexual SOMOS sobre la experiencia sexual y las actitudes hacia la sexualidad de adolescentes

The effects of the SOMOS Sexual Education Programme on attitudes towards sexuality in general and towards masturbation in particular, as well as the possible impact of that programme on the sexual experiences of pupils are studied. The investigation takes a sample of 123 adolescents enrolled in the 3rd year of Compulsory Secondary Education, aged between 13 and 17 years old. A design of repeated pre-test/post-test measurements was used with three experimental groups (71 students) and two control groups (52 students). To do so, the evaluation instrument was administered before and after the educational int ervention (12 sessions). The results of T tests for related samples confirmed that the programme favours the development of positive attitudes towards sexuality, as well as a significant reduction in negative attitudes towards masturbation. Moreover, it was noted that the sexual experience of the students increased in a progressive way regardless of the group to which they belonged.