Education Commons^™

Interrupting Teachers' Assumptions And Beliefs About English Learners Using Culturally Relevant Literature And Poetry Circles, Aimee Papola-Ellis, Amy J. Heineke

Education: School of Education Faculty Publications and Other Works

Although classrooms across the United States continue to become more diverse, teachers are often underprepared to support the learning of immigrant students and students labeled as English learners (ELs). In the current investigation, we turn toward literature discussion using bilingual poetry with teachers to learn how participants recognize their assumptions and beliefs related to language and culture. In this phenomenological study framed with sociocultural and transactional theories, we present data related to teachers’ discussions of one bilingual poetry picture book. We share findings related to teachers’ understandings about their own assumptions, as well as personal connections to challenge those assumptions. …