Education Commons^™

The Effect Of School Choice On Multilingual Learners In New York City, Grace Bianchetti

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The New York City Department of Education has the responsibility of educating more than one million students from diverse backgrounds and various economic statuses. The department boasts school choice- allowing its public school students and their families to choose between magnet schools, charter schools, and their local neighborhood zoned schools. This paper uncovers how the multitude of school choices came to be in NYC, how it affects multilingual families, and potential solutions to the effects of school choice on multilingual families. This paper investigates why only 7% of charter school students are Multilingual Learners, while 15% of NYC Public School …

Asian American: A Personal Exploration Of My Identities And Some Possible Implications For Teachers, Seung Youn (Danielle) Kim

Graduate Student Independent Studies

As the population of Asian Americans in the United States grows fast, so does the incidence of racist attacks on Asian Americans. The urgency for anti-racist educators to commit to learning how to best serve Asian American children, their families, and their communities in accordance with antiracist, counter hegemonic linguistic practices, and culturally sustaining principles grows exponentially. Through a deep reflection on my personal and often painful experience as a Korean immigrant in the United States, I use an interdisciplinary approach including Socio- and Racio-linguistics, Social Psychology, Anthropology, and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, to analyze some of the challenges that I …

Critical Pedagogy In Practice: Reflections Of A K-5 Educator, Kelly Gresalfi

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The author illuminates major theoretical concepts integral to critical pedagogy as they apply to grades k-5 through a selective review of the literature and reflection on how these principles intersect with her personal and teaching experiences. A candid analysis of the author's ongoing journey to put these ideas into practice, including ways in which she has felt successful and areas she continues to find challenging, is offered. Suggestions for ways in which elementary school educators can approach their teaching practices and classroom structures through the lens of critical pedagogy are included. Reactions to the thesis from several of the …

Cowboy City: An Original Children’S Book, Erica Lynch

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Cowboy City is an original children’s book written for eight to ten year olds that touches on themes of race and representation. Too often the stories of Black cowboys go untold. The book was created to provide children with an accurate portrayal of who the cowboys of the Wild West were, as well as who they are now, while also providing teachers with a tool to introduce the concepts of racial representation throughout history. Told through the voice of nine-year-old Jayden, an African American boy living in the city, Cowboy City follows Jayden’s normal school day, interrupted by an extraordinary …

Making Room For Bilingual Education: A Mexican-American Study, Julie Donnadieu

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This Independent Study aims to explain, through the author's new understandings, the political underpinnings and concrete effects of the English-only movement that practically eliminated bilingual education programs in the public school systems of California and Arizona in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Through a review of the pertinent literature, this review presents a broad history of bilingual education in the United Sates, and the negative effects English-only legislation has had on the linguistic, academic and social development of immigrant children in California and Arizona. As the United Sates' social and racial composition has changed in the last decades, the battle against …

Lessons Learned From Authors Of Picture Book Biographies Of Activists And The Original Biographies They Inspired, Jay Saper

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This thesis examines the significance of picture book biographies of activists as accessible entry points to teach social movement history and embolden readers to lead courageous lives that confront injustice. The first section is grounded in lessons learned from 19 authors doing outstanding work in the field today: Andrea Davis Pinkney, Carole Boston Weatherford, Cynthia Chin-Lee, David Adler, Debbie Levy, Donna Jo Napoli, Doreen Rappaport, Duncan Tonatiuh, Emily Arnold McCully, Icy Smith, Jabari Asim, Jen Cullerton Johnson, John Hendrix, Kate Schatz, Matt Tavares, Michelle Markel, Richard Michelson, Sarah Warren, and Tanya Lee Stone. I identify and explore ten themes across …

Voicing Diversity: Creating Space To Listen In The Healthcare System, Margaret Foster

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Throughout the United States over 20 million people do not speak English as their primary language. As part of legislation and The Joint Commission, health care organizations are required to provide interpreter and translation services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). Through the provision of language services health care professionals can provide quality care that is patient centered and culturally sensitive to the needs of families. As communities continue to be transformed and become multicultural so too the healthcare system needs to transform, growing resources that empower and educate patients helping them navigate the healthcare system.

Separate But Not Equal: Questioning La Separacion De Idiomas Of Dual Language Instruction, Tess Leverenz

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper is separated into two parts: (1) an investigation and analysis of the separation of languages in dual language schools in the United States and (2) a guide for educators in developing translanguaging spaces within a Spanish/English dual language Unit of Study. The first part of this paper looks at the current popular trend of dual language instruction with the notion that bilingual programs are implemented to serve the interests of the dominant group in society; in this case, White families of privilege. Along this vein, a clear separation of languages in dual language instruction models is seen as …

Cross-Cultural Bridges : Closing The Gaps In Direct Services With Immigrant And Diverse Populations, Lucy Chen

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The shifting cultural, racial, ethnic, and linguistic makeup of the United States is expected to become more diverse in the coming decades. This has important implications for direct service professionals, including social workers and educators. An overview of culturally sensitive, responsive, and competent practices is provided for work with immigrant and diverse populations to assist professionals in the process of crossing cultural bridges, overcoming privilege, and building bridges.

Addressing Invisibility Of Asian-American History And Cultural Heritage In North American School Curricula : A Curriculum Guide, Kathryn Eliza Harris

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Presents a curriculum guide for upper elementary students (5th grade) including rationale and background research on need for critically informed multicultural education, an overview of the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States, origin and prevalence of Asian-American stereotypes, and underrepresentation of Asian-Americans in curriculum.

Racial Inequality In Special Education And The Need For Cultural Competence, Nicole Rosado

Graduate Student Independent Studies

For many years, schools in the United States have been dealing with the persistent overrepresentation of students of color in special education. The research suggests a variety of causes for this epidemic. After an analysis of the ways in which racially, culturally and linguistically diverse students are on the receiving end of unequal educational experiences, recommendations for the implementation of culturally competent education will be provided.

"En La Tierra De IráS Y No VolveráS..." : Using Spanish-Language Folktales As A Foundation For Lasting Biliteracy, Timothy Becker

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Many dual language teachers struggle to find the Spanish-language resources they need to foster true biliteracy. This project begins to address this problem by offering an annotated bibliography of some appropriate Spanish language literature for the dual language classroom. It also includes a rationale and bibliography and provides suggestions for using the texts to teach students to identify the literary theme and to analyze the language structures used.

African-American Language : Linguistics, Power, And The Impact On All Children, Kendra Lewis

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Addresses the issue of linguistic discrimination in educational settings with specific focus on African-American language (AAL) in historical and political context including: socio-linguistic research, theory of African-American language (AAL), analysis of syntax and lexical morphology as well as sample texts in hip-hop, poetry, prose, and drama with instructional guidelines and a field-based summary statement.

The Implementation And Modification Of Three 4th Grade Social Studies Content Lessons For English Language Learners And Students With Disabilities, Benelly Peralta

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The focus of this investigation was to take three general social studies content lessons created for a general education classroom and modify them for the particular needs of students with disabilities and English language learners.

Let's Talk About Race: Developing Anti-Bias Curricula In Elementary Schools, Harper Keenan

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study investigates the theories and potential teaching practices for implementing an anti-bias curriculum in today's elementary schools. Drawing on the work of Louise Derman-Sparks (1989, 1997, and 2011), Frances Kendall (1996), Gary Howard (2006), Ann Pelo (2000 and 2008), six characteristics of effective anti-bias curricula are explored and analyzed as frameworks for developing curricula. In addition, the study chronicles the experience of one grade level team of four teachers working to transform the social studies curriculum they were given into one that is more intentionally anti-bias. Finally, it offers lessons learned and implications for future curriculum development.

Recuerda Que Yo Estoy Aqui Tambien : A Bilingual Picture Book, Liliana Ivette Funes

Graduate Student Independent Studies

My independent study for my Integrative Masters consists of a bilingual (Spanish/English) picture book that is based on personal experience, and endeavors to describe the emotional distress and anxiety children can experience as second language learners entering a monolingual classroom for the first time. The book addresses not only the emotional and academic struggles of the child, but also the ways in which peers and teachers can intervene to ease the child's transition into English. Thus the book can serve as a resource to support monolingual classrooms. The study also includes a personal reflection of the process and journey, I …

Strategies To Support Children's Reading Progress At Home: Tools For Parents Of Bilingual Children, Esperanza Gomez-Gribben

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The idea of gathering tools for parents of bilingual children to utilize at home to support their children's reading progress emerged from the combination of different factors. My placements during my studies at Bank Street College of Education provided me with the opportunity to learn reading strategies and utilize them with young children in the classroom.

As a parent of bilingual children, these strategies had been valuable in furthering my children's reading skills in both English and Spanish. While talking to other parents of bilingual children, I have learned about their frustrations of not knowing how to support their children's …

"That's Your Mother?!" : The Power Of Experience : Reflections And Lessons In Identity, Adrienne Lee

Graduate Student Independent Studies

Documents the creation of a student gallery program for the "Kip Fulbeck: Part Asian, 100% Hapa" exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, CA). The gallery program focuses on the nature of identity and the many factors that make us who we are as individuals. This study employs both learning and human development theories, methods of phenomenology and heuristics, and the author's own biracial experiences and collected reflections to find meaning and project solutions.

A Curriculum Unit For 8th Grade Students Of Spanish: ¿CóMo Eras Tú De NiñO? (What Were You Like As A Child?), Cheyenne A. Jones

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The following Independent Study, written in partial fulfillment for a Master of Science degree in Middle-Level Education from Bank Street College, is a nine-lesson curriculum unit on the study of imperfect tense verbs in Spanish. The unit, titled ¿Cómo eras tú de niño? (What Were You Like As a Child?) was designed for 8th grade English-speaking students of Spanish.

¿CóMo Se Dice En EspañOl? : Language, Self-Expression, And Development Of A Young Bilingual Child, Margaret Blachly

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This paper addresses three areas of early childhood development and education: a Language development of a native Spanish-speaking child in a dual-language school environment. Guided art experiences as a vehicle for self-expression, language development, and personal self-awareness in a young child. The role of a non-teacher/non-family member in a young child's development of self-awareness and language. The paper presents a case study with related research, analysis, and suggestions for educators. Lauren Rodriguez (pseudonym), currently 7.8 years old, is a Mexican- American girl whose first language is Spanish. She first encountered English at her bilingual preschool, where she began attending school …

Querida Prima, Dear Prima : A Story For Children Seven To Ten Years Old, Stephanie Hermann

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This project is an original bilingual story of two cousins who live in two different countries. The United States and Costa Rica. They bridge their separation by writing letters and emails throughout the story. Through this correspondence they learn about each other and the have more in common in their seemingly distinct worlds than they realize. The text of the book is written in English. The correspondence between the two characters is in English with Spanish translations.

This thesis includes a rationale which explains the need for this book in a world that recognizes the importance of bilingualism and on …

Christmas In The Philippines, Lourdes Catherine S. Miras

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This is a description of Christmas traditions in the Philippines. It includes a story of a Christmas celebration in Manila today which depicts the cultural traditions of Filipinos: the native's close family ties, the Spaniard's strong Catholic influence, and the American's "white Christmas." The story is especially created for young Filipino children and for anyone who may be interested in learning about the Filipinos.

Implementing An Oral History Unit With 9/10s: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Lisa F. Best

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The topic of this independent study is oral history and its interdisciplinary uses in a curriculum. The purpose of the paper is to discuss the various uses of this instructional plan as it explores the themes of diversity and cultural pluralism in the society of the United States of America. The first section of this study is a description of the Manhattan Country School (MCS) as the setting where this unit is currently being taught; and then it will address the developmental and curricular implications of the unit. The child development section will include positions on educational theory from theorists …

This Is The Mother, This Is The Father, This Is The Child., Cheryl Hawkins Johnson

Graduate Student Independent Studies

No abstract provided.