Digital Commons Network^™

An Exploration Of Teacher Language Ideologies Around Linguistic Diversity In Adolescent Writing, Cody Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Emergent bilinguals that make up 19.5% of the student population in Texas (Texas Education Agency, 2019) are often placed in courses that instruct restrictive and formulaic ways as determined by their writing (Harklau, 2011). These restrictions can further limit opportunities for development of positive literate identities for bilingual writers. Research has demonstrated that language ideologies play a significant role in instruction particularly in linguistically diverse classrooms (Weaver, 2019).

This explorative study investigates the language ideologies of secondary writing teachers and the influence they play on instruction as teachers respond to linguistic diversity. The participants in this study are teachers …

Exploring Teacher Agency And Literacy Practices In A Border-Region Secondary English Language Arts Classroom, Monica Sifuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers in the 21st century public school classroom are often faced with systemic pressures—from the state and district level—that may influence their instructional practice. With the increasingly globalized country and exponential increase in emergent bilingual students, it has become imperative that teachers reflect on the types of literacy pedagogy employed with their students, especially those teaching in border regions. Teachers must begin to view themselves as agents of change and as facilitators of learning.

This case study takes place in two high school settings that are in the same district and are located roughly 10 minutes from the US Mexico …

Latinx Students’ Mathematics Anxiety And Their Study Habits: Exploring Their Relationship At The Postsecondary Level, Luis M. Fernandez, Xiaohui Wang, Olga Ramirez, Cristina Villalobos

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Increasing Latinx students’ success in college-level mathematics calls for exploration on their mathematics anxiety as it relates to study habits. Using a sample of Latinx students in a Hispanic Serving Institution and their levels of mathematics anxiety, pairwise analyses revealed significant differences among subgroups. Moreover, regression analyses showed Latinx students’ study habits being predictive of mathematics anxiety. As a result, recommendations are provided that could alleviate mathematics anxiety and its effects on Latinx college students.

Impact Of Covid-19 On The Mental Health And Well-Being Of Latinx Caregivers Of Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Yolanda Suarez-Balcazar, Mansha Mirza, Vanessa L. Errisuriz, Weiwen Zeng, Jasmine P. Brown, Sandra Vanegas, Nazanin M. Heydarian, Deborah Parra-Medina, Paula Morales, Hilda Torres, Sandy Magaña

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world in unprecedented ways. However, populations that have had a history of marginalization have experienced a more profound impact. One such group is Latinx families of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the Unites States. In this study, we used a mixed methods approach to explore the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and well-being of Latinx caregivers of children with IDD. Specifically, we (1) identified which social determinants of health are correlated with maternal caregivers perceived general health, mental health, and well-being; (2) explored the impact of the …

Place-Based Philosophical Activism On The Us–Mexico Border, Mariana Alessandri

Philosophy Faculty Publications

Before the Department of Homeland Security instituted the Migrant Protection Protocols in January 2019, as many as 1,000 Central American refugees passed each day through Catholic Charities’ Humanitarian Respite Center, where they received food, clothing, a shower, toiletries, and sandwiches for the road. Sister Norma Pimentel founded the Humanitarian Respite Center in 2014 to “restore human dignity” to refugees who had been degraded and vilified during their dangerous journeys north, not least by way of their processing by the US government. Sister Norma has inspired countless people, including me, to engage with the community as a form of place-based philosophical …

Perspectives On Bilingualism In Persons With Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Rio Grande Valley, Rosa N. Benavidez Saldivar

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the perspectives of both professionals and parents regarding bilingualism in persons with autism spectrum disorder. The participants included 40 professionals and 5 parents from the Rio Grande Valley. Data was collected via an online survey. These findings will not only provide fundamental knowledge but will allow for breaking the silence on the topic of bilingualism in the field of ASD. Therefore, the outcome of this research is to expand the literature for both parents and professionals, in order for them to make informed decisions about this population, and to encourage the development of bilingual services and …

Factors That Influence Teachers' Utilization Of Siop Learning Strategies When Teaching English Language Learners, Courtney R. Stuart

Theses and Dissertations

Despite standardized certification tests and popular English Language Learner trainings, the strategies and methods used in two educators’ classes would not be identical. In this case-study we look to see what variables cause teachers to utilize certain strategies and how these variables affect the number of strategies used consistently when teaching ELLs. We study the effect of teachers’ language experiences, certifications, participation in SIOP trainings, education levels, perceived preparedness, and years spent in the classroom.

Using quantitative and qualitative data we conclude that dual-language fluency and professional advancements can lead to teachers using more ELL learning strategies in their classrooms, …

Theory Of Mind Performance Among College Students At Hispanic Serving Institutions, Mauricio Alejandro Yanez

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has yielded mixed findings about relations among sociodemographic variables and Theory of Mind (ToM) performance. The current literature lacks robust studies that utilize multiple types of ToM assessments. Additionally, most ToM research has assessed samples of young, white children and adolescents. The present study addresses these limitations by examining the association between sociodemographic variables and ToM performance among Hispanic emerging adults, utilizing three ToM measures across two sites. Participants included 867 college students from two Hispanic serving institutions who completed questionnaires including an embedded false belief task, Strange Stories, and the Constructivist Theory of Mind (cToM) task. All …

Transatlantic Triangulations: Genre And Traumatic Memory In The Novels Of Esmeralda Santiago And Alejandro Zambra, Amanda A. Taylor

Theses and Dissertations

When a traumatic event collectively happens to a group or body of people, be that geographically, emotionally or physically, an imprint is left behind which impacts a part of a culture or society. The larger the scale of the incident, the wider the scope in terms of lives affected and memory established, which creates a new history for many.

In Alejandro Zambra’s (2011) Ways of Going Home, Zambra remembers his traumatic childhood growing up under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in war torn Chile in the 1980s. While this postmodern novel uses memory and historical perceptions from a child’s …

Enlaces In Reflections And (Re)Memberings As Latina Border- Crossers: Journeys Of Childhood And Professional Un/ Welcomings, Ana Carolina Díaz Beltrán, Paty Abril-Gonzalez, Cinthya M. Saavedra, Michelle Salazar Perez

Mexican American Studies Faculty Publications

We are humbled to be part of this special issue honoring the life work of Jonathan Silin. His scholarship and activism have opened spaces for future generations, like our own, to share our testimonios. We are straddling between being former early childhood teachers and current teacher educators—between our profe lives and our everyday lived experiences as Latina border crossers. Testimonios, which we engage in for this piece, have herstorically captured intimate tellings that connect individual struggles and strengths to the larger collective (Delgado Bernal, Burciaga, & Flores Carmona, 2012; Latina Feminist Group, 2001). It is in these testimonios that women …

Using The Schmahmann Syndrome Scale To Assess Cognitive Impairment In Young Adults With Metabolic Syndrome: A Hypothesis-Generating Report, Eithan Kotkowski, Larry R. Price, Cheasequah J. Blevins, Crystal Franklin, Mary Woolsey, Ralph A. Defronzo, John Blangero, Ravindranath Duggirala, David C. Glahn, Jeremy Schmahmann, Peter T. Fox

School of Medicine Publications

The posterior cerebellum is the most significantly compromised brain structure in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) (Kotkowski et al., 2019). In light of this, we hypothesized that cognitive decline reported in patients with MetS is likely related to posterior cerebellar atrophy. In this study, we performed a post-hoc analyses using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the form of voxel-wise tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS), biometric, and psychometric data from young participants with (n = 52, aged 18–35 years) and without MetS (n = 52, aged 18–35 years). To test the predictive value of components …

A Qualitative Study Of Intercultural Friendship Through New Social Media, Yanrong (Yvonne) Chang

Communication Faculty Publications

Applying Casmir’s Third Culture Model (TCM) of intercultural communication (Casmir 1993, 1999), the current study examines the ongoing interaction between two international participants mediated by one social medium: WeChat. It describes the dialogic communication patterns between the participants that enabled them collaboratively to construct a shared and mutually beneficial third culture that brought about a productive intercultural friendship. It demonstrates ways WeChat helped transform their interactions and facilitated their friendship development.

Cervical Cancer, Human Papillomavirus (Hpv), And Hpv Vaccination: Exploring Gendered Perspectives, Knowledge, Attitudes, And Cultural Taboos Among Mexican American Adults, Daisy Y. Morales-Campos, S. A. Snipes, Edna K. Villarreal, L. C. Crocker, A. Guerrero, M. E. Fernandez

Physician Assistant Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Gendered perspectives may be particularly important in shaping norms and values around HPV and HPV vaccination, as previous research suggests that sexuality taboos (e.g. promiscuity) may contribute to low perceived risk among adolescent and young adult Hispanic females. However, research to date focuses primarily on Hispanic mothers, adolescent females, and women of HPV vaccine-eligible age. Hispanic father's perspectives are relatively unknown despite father's important role in shaping norms for their female children.

Objective: To close this gap, this study examines gendered perspectives in knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about HPV and HPV vaccination from Hispanic parents (mothers and fathers), women …

Translanguaging For Equity, Xiaodi Zhou

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

“All Enemies, Foreign And Domestic”: The Presence Of Anti-Latinx Political Rhetoric And Latinxs As Third World Threats In Secondary U.S. Citizenship Curriculum, Christopher Busey, Álvaro José Corral, Erika L. Davis

Political Science Faculty Publications

Background/Context

Anti-Latinx political discourses have long positioned Latin America and, by extension, U.S. Latinxs as economic, sociocultural, and political threats to the general welfare of the United States. In formal school curricula, this threat narrative has become one of the many political curricular discourses for codifying citizenship as White, and noncitizens as Other (read Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American).

Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study

The purpose of this study was to illustrate how collapsible Latin American tropes and current anti-Latinx sentiments are reproduced in social studies curricula across the United States. Drawing from and expanding upon Leo Chavez's notion of the …

David E. Dematthews And Elena Izquierdo (Eds.): Dual Language Education: Teaching And Learning In Two Languages, Alcione N. Ostorga

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This edited volume includes the contributions of a respected community of scholars, many well-known figures in the field of bilingual education. The book presents a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of dual language (DL) education, an additive bilingual education approach for English language learners, currently identified as emergent bilinguals (EBs). Although the focus of this volume is on DL and the bilingual education context in the state of Texas, and particularly along the US–Mexico border, it nevertheless provides information for principals, teachers and teacher preparation programs with implications that are relevant for other states within the US. Written in three parts, …

Contextual And Organizational Factors In Sustainable Supply Chain Decision-Making: Grey Relational Analysis And Interpretative Structural Modeling, Zhaojun Yang, Xiaoting Guo, Jun Sun, Yali Zhang

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Sustainable supply chain emerges as a major business trend essential to long-term competitive advantage. Relevant corporate decisions concern a broad range of factors and require novel analytical models for critical control. This study conducts mathematical analyses to identify the factors that are vital yet receiving insufficient attention from researchers and practitioners. Valid survey observations were collected from 113 enterprises in China, the biggest emerging economy that faces the dilemma between development and sustainability. Grey relational analysis (GRA) and interpretative structural modeling (ISM) assess the importance levels of contextual and organizational factors and explore their joint effects. Validated with conventional expert …

News - Congratulations To Aubrey Villanueva, Starting Ma In Linguistics At Uc Boulder, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Corpus Bilingüe Del Valle

Corpus Bilingüe del Valle (CoBiVa) - News Releases

No abstract provided.

News - Cobiva At Virtual Aaal 2021, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Corpus Bilingüe Del Valle

Corpus Bilingüe del Valle (CoBiVa) - News Releases

No abstract provided.

News - Summer 2021 Cobiva Team, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Corpus Bilingüe Del Valle

Corpus Bilingüe del Valle (CoBiVa) - News Releases

No abstract provided.

News - Congratulations To Kimberly Regalado, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Corpus Bilingüe Del Valle

Corpus Bilingüe del Valle (CoBiVa) - News Releases

No abstract provided.

Similarities Of Expressing Disagreement By Chinese And American College Students, Yanling Yu, Yanrong (Yvonne) Chang, Zhan Long

Communication Faculty Publications

To explore the ways in which modern Chinese and Americans express their disagreement in intercultural communication and to reveal the reasons for their usage from the perspectives of sociolinguistics and persuasive communication and with the rapport management as the theoretical framework, this paper focuses on the discourse analysis of implicit disagreement expressions between 11 pairs of Chinese and American college students. The analysis of the four-month communication corpus reveals that Chinese and American students tend to use implicit disagreement when they disagree with each other and there are more similarities than differences in the usage of implicit disagreement. The reasons …

Flipping A Virtual Efl Public Speaking Class Integrated With Moocs During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Zhuo Li, Xiaodi Zhou

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This case study explored Chinese undergraduate EFL students’ attitudes to and perceptions of an online English public speaking course, which employs a virtual flipped classroom model and MOOCs during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Since all classes were moved online, a previously flipped public speaking course integrated with MOOCs was converted into a virtual flipped classroom. All 25 participants of the study were undergraduate students in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field. Zoom, Blackboard, and QQ instant messenger were platforms utilized in instruction. There were weekly two-hour Zoom meetings with learning activities using MOOCs on Blackboard. The study collected …

Acknowledging And Affirming University Students’ Linguistic And Cultural Capital In An Education Course, J. Joy Esquierdo

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

In order to effectively prepare K-12 teachers to serve linguistically and culturally diverse students, it is vital to provide opportunities for them to develop their intra- and intercultural understandings. This paper describes how a faculty member designed and delivered a teacher preparation class centered on culturally relevant approaches. Students enrolled in this course completed assignments that were designed to guide them through an intracultural reflection to then expand their understandings to an intercultural context. Considering the students’ diverse linguistic and cultural experiences, assignments and projects provided opportunities for them to recognize their linguistic and cultural wealth in order to build …

Myth Busting: Low-Income Latinx Immigrant Parental Involvement, Kathy Bussert-Webb, María E. Díaz

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

This longitudinal qualitative study, involving low-income parents and children, tutorial-agency staff, and one college student (all Latinx), took place in a city along the U.S./Mexico border. Data sources included field notes through participant observation, questionnaires, and interviews. The authors asked, “How are parents involved in their children's education? What limitations or barriers do they express?” Using a social justice framework and grounded-theory data analysis, these types of parental involvement emerged: academic, social skills, school volunteerism, extracurricular activities, community, and college enrollment. Conversely, parents expressed involvement obstacles. Implications relate to changing the deficit discourse regarding low-income, immigrant parents' involvement. Collaborating with …

Is First Impression Relevant In Online Health Support Communities? Preliminary Investigation Of The Effects Of Social Presence, Joseph A. Manga, Emmanuel Wusuhon Yanibo Ayaburi, Francis Andoh-Baidoo

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Patients’ initial impression can influence the kind of reactions they receive and their subsequent participation. Prior studies use inference models to examine participation as a continuum phenomenon. In the online health supporting communities (OHSCs), distinguishing giving participation from receiving participation provide interesting insights at the granular level. Using social presence theory, this study identifies and uses social presence cues in the initial post of 168 patients to predict patients’ giving and receiving participation in a prominent OHSC. Findings reveal that the social presence cues affected the two participation dimensions differently. Specifically, while intimacy is the most important predictor of giving …

Comparison Of Voluntary Versus Mandatory Vaccine Discussions In Online Health Communities: A Text Analytics Approach, Massara Alazazi, Bin Wang

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Vaccines are vital health interventions. However, they are controversial and some people support them while others reject them. Social media discussion and big data are a rich source to understand people’s insights about different vaccines and the related topics that concern most of them. This study aims to explore the online discussions about mandatory and voluntary vaccines using text analysis techniques. Reddit social platform is popular in online health discussion and thus data from Reddit is analyzed. The results show that different aspects are discussed for different types of vaccines. The discussion of mandatory vaccines is more interactive and is …

“Don't Give Me Bullshit”: Constructing A Framework Of Response To Fake News, Genevieve Garcia De Mueller, Randall W. Monty

Writing and Language Studies Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Mental Health Of Latinx Adults In The United States During The Coronavirus Pandemic: A Snapshot Of Anxiety, Depression, And Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Bianca T. Villalobos, Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

The current study documented levels of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, and COVID-19 fears and impacts among Latinxs in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants of this cross-sectional study were 388 Latinx adults who completed an online survey between June and November 2020. Almost half of participants showed clinical levels of anxiety and depression and more than a quarter of participants showed clinical levels of posttraumatic stress. Latinxs reported on average 22 types of negative pandemic life impacts. Group differences based on gender, educational attainment, income, vulnerability to COVID-19, and essential worker status were found for mental health symptoms. Severity …

The Power Of Words In Crowdfunding, Yuanqing Li, Sibin Wu

Management Faculty Publications

In this chapter, the authors first provide an overview of the crowdfunding phenomenon. Through the literature review of crowdfunding success factors in the four models, the authors then summarize that the current entrepreneurial research focused on success factors has failed to sufficiently examine how the power of words would affect crowdfunding. Therefore, the authors propose that non-verbal and verbal cues are crucial to entrepreneurial financing success. Based on the insufficient research related with those cues, especially the non-verbal ones, the authors open an area of study on non-verbal and verbal cues in the entrepreneurial financing process by conducting and writing …