Mary Esther Soto Huerta

Latino High School Students’ Perceptions of Caring: Keys to Success

This mixed methods investigation specifically examined Latino high school adolescents’ perceptions of teacher behaviors that demonstrate caring. A chi-square test was conducted to analyze the frequency of responses, and focus group interviews were conducted to expand on the results. The data indicated that although Latino male students were as likely to perceive the same behaviors Latina female students perceived as important or very important, a higher percentage of female students rated the same items as important. This investigation situates Latino high school adolescents’ voices as a pivotal agent to inform about the critical nature of caring for all students.

Playful Dialogues of a Bilingual Child in Everyday Conversations: Foundations of Early Literacy

Many young children of Mexican heritage enter U.S. schools with knowledge of two language systems and emergent biliterate abilities. Bilingualism in young children may go unnoticed when instructional practices favor English. This case study describes how Lucía’s bilingualism and emergent biliteracy parallel competencies essential to literacy development. The language samples highlight the influence of adult-mediation interactions in everyday conversations as well as during playful dialogues, characterized by the incorporation of fantasy and symbolic play. The findings show how adult-mediated dialogues challenged the young bilingual to engage her metacognitive and metalinguistic awareness when positioned to meet communicative goals and to solve conceptual conflicts, both verbal and written. These opportunities guided the young child to also critically think about language and to expand her notions about literacy. We draw implications about how educators can leverage these metacognitive and metalinguistic competencies as educational resources.

Fourth-Grade Biliteracy: Searching for Instructional Footholds.

To examine factors predictive of successful 4th-grade 2nd language reading, I used a hierarchical multiple regression equation that included Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) Reading percentile rank as the criterion variable. The equation tested 5 predictor variables: English language proficiency, years of U.S. schooling, and 3 informal reading inventory scores. The full regression equation indicated that the composite predictor variables accounted for 35% of the variance in TAKS Reading percentile rank, English language proficiency and years of U.S. schooling accounted for 25% of the variance, and English language proficiency accounted for 13% of the variance. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

Guiding Biliteracy Development: Appropriating Cross-Linguistic and Conceptual Knowledge to Sustain Second-Language Reading Comprehension.

To examine the second-language reading development of 45 fourth-grade Latino bilinguals, a sequential mixed methods study was conducted in two phases (Creswell, 2009). The quantitative data collected in the first phase generated an index of the groups reading performance based on two grade-level assessments, a state-mandated standardized reading assessment and an informal reading inventory (IRI) of a grade-level passage written in English. The qualitative data collected in the second phase informed in depth about each bilinguals reading process and use of comprehension strategies. The findings indicated that while both reading performance scores paralleled the varying school-designated English-proficiency classification represented among the participants, the bilingual readers also shared similar reading strategies without distinction when they read difficult text. Guided reading that integrated explicit cross-linguistic and cross-cultural knowledge was found to mediate comprehension of the grade-level passage for all the participants regardless of their reading performance scores and designated English-proficiency classification. Implications for providing responsive literacy instruction for bilingual readers are outlined.To examine the second-language reading development of 45 fourth-grade Latino bilinguals, a sequential mixed methods study was conducted in two phases (Creswell, 2009). The quantitative data collected in the first phase generated an index of the groups reading performance based on two grade-level assessments, a state-mandated standardized reading assessment and an informal reading inventory (IRI) of a grade-level passage written in English. The qualitative data collected in the second phase informed in depth about each bilinguals reading process and use of comprehension strategies. The findings indicated that while both reading performance scores paralleled the varying school-designated English-proficiency classification represented among the participants, the bilingual readers also shared similar reading strategies without distinction when they read difficult text. Guided reading that integrated explicit cross-linguistic and cross-cultural knowledge was found to mediate comprehension of the grade-level ...

Transformative Pedagogy: Emergent Bilinguals and Perspective Taking

ABSTRACT This study contributes to the limited research on emergent bilinguals, perspective taking, and second language reading of informative text. The explicit integration of Freire’s (1993) notion of conscientizacao, or consciousness-raising, with the constructs of empathy and embodiment (Gee, 2001; Hurtado, 1996) and with translanguaging (García, 2009) represented conceptual frameworks that explicitly guided the pedagogical approaches implemented in the study. The findings indicated that the incorporation of the integrated conceptual frameworks with the prescribed fourth grade social studies curriculum enabled emergent bilinguals to generate their own perspectives concerning social justice and equity when studying about slavery in Texas.

Creating Equitable Ecologies: Broadening Access through Multilingualism

Abstract Museums reflect the practices of the dominant culture within the particular society in which they are located. This article examines the effects of museums offering texts, cultural artifacts and experiences in English only, which function to exclude patrons, often visiting in family groups, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This article includes explanations of various theoretical frameworks that help to explain how the construction and dynamism of social boundaries impact museum participation and guide considerations about designing and implementing bilingual and multilingual practices. Examples of successful institutional implementation are included. Recent research findings indicate that positive results for museums and visitors are supported when multilingual practices are central to mission statements and institutional sustainability goals.