Digital Commons Network^™

Divergent Values: A Family Critical Race Theory Analysis Of Families Of Color And Their Perceptions Of Teachers And Teaching As A Profession, Norma A. Marrun, Marcela Rodriguez-Campo, Tara J. Plachowski, Christine Clark

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

In seeking strategies for diversifying the U.S. public school teacher workforce, education policymakers and teacher education programs need to meaningfully consider input from the families of PK-12 Students of Color. Using a Family Critical Race Theory (FamilyCrit) analysis, this article examines the educational experiences and related perspectives of Families of Color about teachers and the teaching profession. Findings reveal that Families of Color perceive teaching as a form of caring and teachers as extended family members. Families of Color wrestled with a divergence of values in encouraging their children to pursue their passions, while concomitantly confronting economic injustices. Findings challenge …

Patterns In Eipa Test Scores And Implications For Interpreter Education, Deborah Michele Cates

Journal of Interpretation

The present study addresses existing skill gaps of sign language interpreters by analyzing a database of 1,211 scores from the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) to answer four primary questions: what patterns are there in EIPA Romans across score levels, what patterns are there in EIPA indices within Romans across score levels, which discreet language and processing skills correlate most strongly with overall EIPA scores, and how does performance on those discreet language and processing skills compare between graduates and non-graduates of interpreter training programs. Characteristics of score patterns and correlations between indices on the test are examined and discussed …

Mapping A Language(S) Journey In Science; From Learning Biology To Teaching Biology: An Autoethnography, Primani S. Fernando, Maria Gindidis Dr, Rebecca Cooper Dr.

The Qualitative Report

This paper focuses on my experience as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) student in the context of multiple emigrations and investigates the formation of my identity as an EAL science student, science Education researcher, and science teacher. The study was guided by both my innate curiosity and the research question that sought to explore which factors significantly affected my journey of developing my English language and science knowledge based on my experience as an EAL student. The second and third authors acted as critical friends to provide a layer of reliability to the study. Within the autoethnography methodology …

Basic Tools For College Composition Success For Beginner Esl Learners, Gina M. Vellani

English OER Repository

Basic Tools for College Composition Success is a practical classroom resource for instructors of beginner level ESL students. This resource teaches paragraph writing skills and syntax. Paragraph genres included in this resource are descriptive and narrative. Most paragraph examples are authentic writings from beginner ESL college students.

Tools For College Composition Success Ii For Low Intermediate Students, Gina M. Vellani

English OER Repository

Tools for College Composition Success II is a practical resource for use in the college ESL classroom. This book teaches 5 paragraph essay writing and covers the following genres: Illustration/example, narrative, informational process and classification/division. This resource also contains chapters that focus on improving introduction, body and concluding paragraphs. There are also 3 chapters dedicated to syntax: Simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences. All essays in this resource are authentic essays written by students at this level of ESL composition instruction.

Tools For College Composition Success I For High Beginning Esl Learners, Gina M. Vellani

English OER Repository

Tools for College Composition Success I is a practical classroom resource for high beginning ESL learners. This book covers composition skills and syntax using the descriptive, narrative and process writing genres. In addition, this resource helps students at this level of language acquisition transition from writing paragraphs to writing short essays.

Safety And Belonging In Immigrant-Serving Districts: Domains Of Educator Practice In A Charged Political Landscape, Rebecca Lowenhaupt, Dafney Blanca Dabach, Ariana Mangual Figueroa

Publications and Research

Drawing from a context of reception framework, this article asks the following questions: How do educators describe issues of safety and belonging in the context of a charged immigration policy climate? What practices have educators developed to support immigrant-origin youth? And, what are the relationships between educators’ perceptions of safety and belonging and educator practices? We analyze educators’ survey responses administered across six school districts in different contexts across the United States, including the Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We synthesize four domains of educator practice: signaling affirmation, building shared knowledge and capacity, finding and mobilizing resources, and creating space …

Self-Study Portfolio: Sandra Montanez, Sandra Montanez

Master of Education in Teacher Leadership Portfolios

No abstract provided.

Rejecting Abyssal Thinking In The Language And Education Of Racialized Bilinguals: A Manifesto, Ofelia Garcia, Nelson Flores, Kate Seltzer, Li Wei, Ricardo Otheguy, Jonathan Rosa

College of Education Departmental Research

Following Boaventura de Sousa Santos, the authors of this article reject the type of “abyssal thinking” that erases the existence of counter-hegemonic knowledges and lifeways, adopting instead the “from the inside out” perspective that is required for thinking constructively about the language and education of racialized bilinguals. On the basis of deep personal experience and extensive field-work research, we challenge prevailing assumptions about language, bilingualism, and education that are based on raciolinguistic ideologies with roots in colonialism. Adopting a translanguaging perspective that rejects rigid colonial boundaries of named languages, we argue that racialized bilingual learners, like all students, draw from …

Adapting A Language Assessment Tool For Palestinian Children Between The Ages Of 48-59 Months, Grisel Andrea Bandy

International Programs

This poster will go through the process of adapting and translating a western language assessment tool into Palestinian Arabic: The Preschool Language Scale-4 (PLS-4) 4. It will mention the reasons for adaptation and limitations encountered while implementing the tool on Arabic speaking children. Test and re-test gave reliable and valid results; this tool can safely be used to evaluate Arabic language.

Acquiring English Then Reacquiring Indonesian: A Study Of Family Language Policy, Aris Bahari Rizki, Muchamad Sholakhuddin Al Fajri

The Qualitative Report

This study investigates how family language policies are shaped and developed in five Indonesian scholars’ families who live in England. More specifically, it analyses parents’ attitudes towards children’s bilingualism and second language development focusing on the investigation of factors that can influence parental language ideologies and the patterns of language practices within the families. Data were obtained from participant observations, fieldnotes, and semi-structured interviews. All the data were then analysed using inductive analysis approaches proposed by Cohen et al. (2011) and Thomas (2006) which include reading the transcripts several times, identifying the texts related to the purpose of the study, …

Analysis Of Interactions In A Synchronous Hybrid English Class, Chaoran Wang, Ying Luo

Faculty Scholarship

Interaction plays an essential role in teaching and learning, whether in face-to-face, online, or blended-hybrid settings (Anderson, 2003; Smith & Kurthen, 2007). While hybrid learning has gained in popularity since the COVID emergency, the discourse nature of hybrid classrooms remains less explored. Current literature mainly focuses on the discourse analysis of hybrid interactions in higher education. However, there is limited research in the context of synchronous hybrid instruction for young English language learners (Lin et al., 2017).

Do Academic Characteristics Predict Chinese Private University Students’ Success In English Language Testing?, Feijun Yu

Education (PhD) Dissertations

Conventional language learning theory, which holds that learning outcomes are solely associated with learners’ competencies, has begun to be disputed in the dynamic learning environment. This study used English learners’ academic characteristics from the 2014 cohort in a private university in Shanghai, China, to explore the relationship between language learners’ academic characteristics and their learning outcomes in a national standardized English examination. Via the collection of extant data, 3,580 cases were included for logistic and multiple regression analysis. Results showed factors associated with English learning are the NCEE English score, the number of tests taken by students, provincial origin, gender, …

Modern Languages, Modern Learning: Tandem Language Programs In K-12 Education, Sarah Cremin

Honors Projects

The following essay will discuss research on the benefits and drawbacks of implementing intercultural exchange by means of Tandem language learning programs in K-12 Schools. One promising outlet to foster global communication and internationalization of learning is Tandem language learning. Authors María Vassallo and João A. Telles share the following definition: "Foreign language learning in-tandem involves pairs of (native or competent) speakers whose aim is to learn each other's language by means of bilingual conversation sessions." The focus of this research is to evaluate the appeal, effectiveness, utility, and reliability of these online programs in the context of today's classrooms.

Urban Teacher's Perspectives On Teaching Diverse Students., Julie Chancellor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Teachers who are mostly White often do not understand their cultural disconnect from their mostly non-White students (Blaisdell, 2016; King, 1991). Having teachers exposed to, and competent with, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy (CRP) (Ladson-Billings, 1995) and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) (Paris, 2012) can help bridge that divide. Since CSP is a relative newcomer to educational pedagogy, this study was designed to discover what CSP traits teachers have and how these traits impact their students. This qualitative case study is comprised of four teachers at one urban high school that has historically been designated as not making adequate progress. These teachers are …

Implementation Of Technology In The Foreign Language Classroom, Bashar Farid Al Saadi

All Theses And Dissertations

The domain of foreign language learning (FLL) is critical to modern education because it allows learners to integrate with the global community in a meaningful way and offers a multitude of advantages to graduates and professionals (Akbar, 2015; Hampel, 2015). The intersection of technology implementation in foreign language education was this study's central area of interest (Carrio Pastor, 2016). This study sought to examine technology implementation in foreign language (FL) classrooms within the context of higher education. The study examined the views, opinions, and beliefs of FL educators about the role of technology in FL education and possible obstacles to …

Balancing The Double-Edged Sword Of Implementation: An Eclectic Approach, Spencer R. K. Chun

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio is a compilation which expresses the author’s perspective on necessary considerations for teachers when implementing ideas in the classroom. The thoughts and perspectives showed in this portfolio have been shaped by the author’s previous formal and informal teaching experiences and the opportunities to further his understanding of teaching and research during his time in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University (USU).

This portfolio is comprised of two sections: The first section consists of Teaching perspectives, which include the author’s desired professional environment, his teaching philosophy statement, and observations obtained through observing other …

Teaching In The Digital Age: Creating A Student-Centered Classroom, Becca Huber-Jackson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio compiles the work of the author during her time as a student in the Master of Second Language Teaching (MSLT) program at Utah State University (USU). It highlights her personal pedagogy as well as provides supporting research. The different components of this portfolio are separated into two sections: teaching perspectives and research perspectives.

In the teaching perspectives section, she introduces her desired professional environment, outlines her teaching philosophy statement, and provides an analysis based on teaching observations. Research perspectives consist of two research papers and an annotated bibliography written throughout the course of the program that support the …

Educator And Administrator Perceptions Of Sheltered Instruction In Stem Courses, Tommy D. Duncan Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions held by educators and administrators regarding sheltered instruction of English Language Learners (ELLs) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms; relevant professional development; and the use of the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) within lesson plans. ELLs represent a subpopulation of students with significant achievement gaps in STEM, ultimately affecting student engagement and career interest in STEM. Ten STEM teachers and two administrators from a midsized middle school in west Texas participated in the study. Online semistructured one-on-one interviews and document analysis of submitted lesson plans from …

Ubiratan D’Ambrosio: Celebrating His Life And Legacy, Milton Rosa, Daniel Clark Orey

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

On May 12^th, Brazil and the world said goodbye to one of its biggest names in mathematics education, Ubiratan D’Ambrosio (December 8, 1932 – May 12, 2021). D’Ambrosio is recognized both throughout Brazil and internationally for having been the creator of ethnomathematics, a concept that acknowledges, values, and respects different mathematical ideas, procedures, and practices developed by the members of distinct cultural groups. D’Ambrosio analyzed the history of explanations of life and of natural evolution in different cultures. In the last years, his motivation had been the pursuit of peace, in all its four dimensions: individual, social, environmental, …

(Re) Actualizing Culturally Sustaining Read Aloud Practices: Enriching Latinx Bilingual Learners’ Literacy Development, Isela Almaguer

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Focusing on culturally sustaining literacy practices, I sought to conceptualize the integration of culturally rich literature as inclusionary practices for the reading and literacy development of Latinx bilingual learners. It is forecasted that by 2036, Latinx students will make up a third of the nation’s 3 to 17 year old learners - our school age population (US Census Bureau, 2010). Recognizing the importance of engaging with culturally sustaining read alouds and the value in learners seeing themselves reflected in the stories allows for increased opportunities for engagement in the literature used in the read alouds. I steadfastly advocate for asset-based …

Learning Strategies, Motivation And Learners' Perspectives On Online Multimodal Chinese Learning, Peng Zhang

Chinese Language Teaching Methodology and Technology

This mixed-method empirical study investigated the role of learning strategies and motivation in predicting L2 Chinese learning outcomes in an online multimodal learning environment. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches also examined the learners' perspectives on online multimodal Chinese learning. The participants in this study were fifteen pre-intermediate adult Chinese learners aged 18-26. They were originally from different countries (Spain, Italy, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico) and lived in Barcelona. They were multilingual, speaking more than two European languages, without exposure to any other Asian languages apart from Chinese. The study's investigation was composed of Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), motivation …

Linguicide In The Digital Age: Problems And Possible Solutions, Michael Adelson

Modern Languages Presentations

This project aims to assess the relative success of revitalization efforts for seven languages: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Hopi, Navajo, Breton, and Occitan. The success of linguistic revitalization is determined through comparative analysis of minority languages in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France as seen through each country’s history, melting pot experiences, traditions, language protection laws, education system, in addition to the differing levels of diffusion via the Internet. A key point of analysis is the strength of language protection laws in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. Language is the most primordial expression of …

Linguicide In The Digital Age: Problems And Possible Solutions, Michael Adelson

French Summer Fellows

This project aims to assess the relative success of revitalization efforts for seven languages: Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish, Hopi, Navajo, Breton, and Occitan. The success of linguistic revitalization is determined through comparative analysis of minority languages in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France as seen through each country’s history, melting pot experiences, traditions, language protection laws, education system, in addition to the differing levels of diffusion via the Internet. A key point of analysis is the strength of language protection laws in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. Language is the most primordial expression of …

Yo Puedo: Segundos Pasos, Elizabeth Silvaggio-Adams, Rocío Vallejo-Alegre

Milne Open Textbooks

Perhaps you remembered what the title of your book means from your previous experiences with Spanish. That is a great start! As you begin the equivalent of a second semester Spanish course with these materials, some of you might think about how long it has been since you studied Spanish while others may come to the class with some background knowledge. We want you to know this book has been designed with many types of learners in mind. Our goals were to address the need for students to achieve the ability to communicate in written and spoken form. We sought …

Yo Puedo: Para Empezar, Elizabeth Silvaggio-Adams, Rocío Vallejo-Alegre

Milne Open Textbooks

You have learned two words in a second language just by reading the title of the book. Think about that for a moment and reflect upon your prior foreign language experiences. Often, students enter language classes with previously acquired skills, be they from secondary school or another college. Many say, “I have studied Spanish for years and don’t know how to speak or write it,” while others are a bit anxious about taking a second language for the first time, but all are overwhelmed by the expensive textbooks and online packages that don’t seem to be practical or relevant. We …

Developing An Angled Perspective As Teacher Educators: Using Narrative Reflection To Disrupt The Funding Of Identity In Teacher Education, Brittany A. Aronson, Esther A. Enright, Tasneem Amatullah

Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning

Building capacity in teachers to teach students skillfully and respectfully across the diversity gap is complex work that requires teachers to learn to see with what we term as angled perspective. If an angled perspective is learnable, then it is teachable. Using our narratives as religiously and ethnically diverse women teacher educators, we share through our own learning and growth, how this type of analysis can contribute to coalitional building for teacher education, and thus K-12 teachers. Through our conceptualization of identity theory, positionality, and intersectionality, we argue angled perspectives contribute to solidarity work in education. We share implications …

Latino Family Engagement In A Network Of Catholic Bilingual Schools, Gabrielle Oliveira, Eunhye Cho, Olivia Barbieri

Journal of Catholic Education

In this article, we examine how a Network of Catholic Bilingual Schools (NCBS) serves Latino populations by examining the leadership’s narratives of the school services and outreach. By employing a survey with 16 principals in the NCBS, we argue that the rate of engagement is similar between Latino and non-Latino parents, although the nature of the activities varied. Despite the long-held belief that Latino parents are less likely to participate in schooling than non-Latino parents, we found that Latino parents committed their participation in schools across cultural, linguistic, or religious activities. We highlight how principals acknowledge and describe Latino families’ …

Using Interactive Notebooks To Help Ell Students Find Confidence In Writing, Jessica L. Horne, Rebecca Harper

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Writing can be a challenge for students whose first language is not English. The number of English Language Learners in the United States is increasing exponentially year after year. Educators can easily find themselves overwhelmed and unsure how to help these students with their understanding and ease of use with English. ELLs may find it difficult to write in their non-native language. Due to this issue, these students can lack a sense of confidence in writing if they are not given the adequate support needed to achieve this task. The use of interactive notebooks is a simple, strategic tool to …

Graphic Novels For Multimodal Learning: Equity For English Learners, Katherine Suender, Susan Piazza

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This article provides a synthesis of current research and theory that makes a case for using graphic novels to improve adolescent literacy achievement through multimodal, equitable learning opportunities for English learners (ELs) while meeting the required English Learner Proficiency Standards (ELPS). Supported by multimodal theory and culturally responsive teaching (CRT) approaches, research shows that graphic novels are inspirational teaching tools for adolescent ELs to engage more deeply with reading and writing. Specific recommendations for classroom use of graphic novels include a focus on a) motivation and engagement, b) discussions, c) visual information, and d) multimodal composition. Educators can make use …