Challenges for Latin American immigrants and teacher solutions
Racism
The young plaintiff provided the following statement: “Last year, during the World Cup I wore a ‘Mexico’ soccer jersey to school. I walked into my performing arts class, and my teacher asked me in front of the class if I was Mexican. I responded ‘yes.’ She then asked me in a loud voice: what was I doing in her country? She said that it was because of people like me that she had to pay high taxes and high insurance rates. I tried to speak with the principal about it. When I returned, the teacher asked me to leave the classroom because I was crying so much. I never expected to be treated so badly because of who I am.”
Full story here: http://tinyurl.com/3fz3ftz
Poverty
Like any immigrant group, language can be a problem if the parent's first language is not English.
Self-efficacy of parents as partners with teachers
Involving fathers in children's education
Teacher viewed as "sole authority"
Literacy
- Celebrate diversity in the classroom, being careful not to veer into a tourist curriculum.
- Explicitly teach and model respect.
- Involve parents in classroom.
The young plaintiff provided the following statement: “Last year, during the World Cup I wore a ‘Mexico’ soccer jersey to school. I walked into my performing arts class, and my teacher asked me in front of the class if I was Mexican. I responded ‘yes.’ She then asked me in a loud voice: what was I doing in her country? She said that it was because of people like me that she had to pay high taxes and high insurance rates. I tried to speak with the principal about it. When I returned, the teacher asked me to leave the classroom because I was crying so much. I never expected to be treated so badly because of who I am.”
Full story here: http://tinyurl.com/3fz3ftz
Poverty
- Explicitly teach children life skills as well as academic skills.
- Try to keep a "snack stash" to feed children without a snack.
- Parent workshops and home visits to encourage parent-provider-partnerships and to provide a network for providers.
Like any immigrant group, language can be a problem if the parent's first language is not English.
- Solicit a colleague who speaks the language to translate.
- Learn a few phrases of Spanish (or any language) to put the parents at ease.
- Be patient and engaged with parents.
Self-efficacy of parents as partners with teachers
- Hold workshops for parents (including academic content workshops).
- Communicate well and be clear about expectations.
- Support and encourage parents.
- Celebrate a student's success as a collective family success.
Involving fathers in children's education
- Keep the traditional male role in mind when communicating with parents.
- Create volunteer opportunities that appeal to males.
Teacher viewed as "sole authority"
- Encourage parental involvement by sending home activities explicitly for children and parents.
- Treat parents as partners in their child's education.
- Listen to parents and solicit ideas.
Literacy
- Encourage reading in native language and English.
- Make reading a central focus in classroom and allow time for silent, sustained reading.