Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons^™

Input And Output In An English Classroom: A Young Learner Corpus Of English (Yolecore), Thomas Zapounidis, Marina Mattheoudakis

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This article highlights the need for a new type of corpus that will combine both a learner and a pedagogic corpus. The need for such a type of corpus is underlined by the interaction between input and output and the expected impact of the former on the latter within all instructional settings. Such a corpus will allow us to collect data, including teacher language, learner language, coursebook content, etc. and relate it to students’ output at specific points in time. Our study aims to present and describe the Young Learner Corpus of English (henceforth,YoLeCorE), which is an …

Content Area Language And Literacy, Saadia Ali, Margaret A. Berg

Open Textbooks & Reviews

Content Area Literacy courses have long been a requirement in teacher education programs for pre-service teachers for the secondary level and, sometimes, for the elementary level. The 2020 World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Framework takes a genre approach that aligns well with the traditional Content Area Literacy courses in teacher preparation programs. WIDA argues for an educational approach that fosters (a) equity of opportunity and access, (b) integration of content and language, (c) collaboration among stakeholders, and (d) a functional approach to language development. This textbook examines the elements that make up the Simple View of Reading with adjustments …

Book Review: Transforming Educational Pathways For Chicana/O Students: A Critical Race Feminista Praxis. D. Delgado Bernal & E. Alemán, Jr. Teachers College Press, 2017. 126 Pages., James Gambrell

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This book follows the first decade of a university-school-community partnership—called Adelante—with bilingual/bicultural students and their families to form a college-going culture in an elementary school with a large Latin@1 student population. Created at Jackson Elementary in 2005, Dolores Delgado Bernal and Enrique Alemán2 chronical the path that the first group of students—L@s Primer@s–walked as they and their families participated in this partnership. One of the most important lessons outlined was to start small, recognizing the myriad assets and stakeholders that would be engaged to enact a sustainable partnership. Therefore, Delgado Bernal and Alemán commenced with a single dual-language kindergarten class, …

Rivers Of Change: The Wisdom Of The Rapids Within Transcultural Teacher Education, Jean Kirshner

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This manuscript describes the ongoing professional development project that involves educators from Belize and the United States. I argue that sustainable change within transnational and transcultural professional development is most effective when it involves Freirean-like dialogue, sharing life stories and sharing lifeworlds. I also explain how intentionally enacting Freirean-like dialogue, sharing life stories, and sharing lifeworlds, led to key changes in the professional identities and practices of all participants including my Belizean colleagues as well as members of Belize Education Project in the United States. Finally, I discuss the effects of changed relationships, identities, and practices on pedagogy and student …

Multiracial Identity From Theory To Praxis: A Literature Review For K12 Practitioners, Jackie M. Peng

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Multiraciality and mixed-race students have long been overlooked in K12 education discourse despite a significant increase in the number of students identifying as more than one race. Research that does address Multiracial students tends to focus on multiracial identity development of college students. However, educators and K12 school leaders must engage critically with how theoretical abstractions like ‘racial identity’ are being parsed and adopted in school policies, particularly as it pertains to mixed-race students. Having a deeper understanding how Multiracial identity is conceptualized and deployed makes it possible for K12 practitioners to better appreciate how race and racial identity operate …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Reflective Writing And Learning In Early Field Experiences, Deborah Romero, Mandi Leigh, Weihsuan Lo

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

As cultural and linguistic diversity (CLD) in schools increases so does the demand for more qualified teachers. Enrollment declines in teacher preparation programs and national teacher shortages, particularly teachers prepared to work with CLD students, further exacerbate the situation. As teacher preparation programs seek to meet the demands for teachers, this study addresses a gap in research and practice that examines pre-service teacher (PST) reflections conducted as part of a non-credit very early field experience (EFE). The study addresses two questions:1) How does participation in EFE shape PST learning and professional identities as expressed in written reflections? 2) In what …

Educational Experiences Of Multiracial Students: A Literature Review, Ashlea Campbell

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Mixed-race students have often been overlooked in research regarding racial identity development. Current research tends to focus on models of multiracial identity development and its implications for college instructors and support personnel, but very little research exists to identify the needs of multiracial students while they are in primary and secondary schools. For this reason, the literature review seeks to ask and possibly answer questions related to multiracial identity development and K-12 schooling.

The literature review provided evidence to suggest mixed-race individuals experience monoracism and microaggressions towards their multiracial heritage both systemically and directly at school, in their communities, and …

Pre-Service Teachers: Reflections On Observed Practice, Carolyn Casale, Adrainne Thomas

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Reflective practice serves as a powerful pedagogical strategy for teachers—especially those in low-resource, rural areas. This qualitative case study looked at secondary education pre-service teachers in their first education course. Analysis of focus observation essays data indicated that pre-service teachers were incorporating reflective practice in their field observations, but were not addressing issues of diversity – specifically race and socio-economic status. This study is significant for understanding how pre-service teachers engage in reflective practices with respect to diversity.

Maximizing Cross-Cultural Opportunities: Pre-Service Teachers And Pakistani Teachers Writing Together, Margaret Berg, Courtney Luce

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This qualitative and quantitative study examines a cross-cultural writing workshop between undergraduate pre-service teachers and Pakistani in-service teachers. The 27 undergraduate students were in their junior year in the teacher education program, and had focused majors in a variety of content areas including history, science, music, and language arts. The 17 visiting scholars from Pakistan were all secondary level classroom teachers, also from a variety of disciplines. The undergraduates completed a questionnaire before and after the workshop, and the Pakistanis participated in a focus group following the workshop. Findings demonstrate a shift in the undergraduates’ thinking of genre to forms …

Exploring Linguistic Space Occupied By The Teachers And Students Of An Esl Classroom In Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan: Comparisons Across Gender, Zaheer Abbas, Musa Ali, Safeer Hussain

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Classroom talk plays a key role in language learning especially in English as second language (ESL) classrooms. Therefore, in this study the linguistic space occupied by the teacher and students in an ESL classroom has been investigated. A descriptive and exploratory approach was employed and videotaping was used for data collection during five consecutive classroom lessons. Results revealed that the teacher occupied most of the linguistics space (60%) as compared to the students (40%). The average word count of boys (56%) was comparatively higher than that of girls’ word count (44%). This study reports important insights into the patterns of …

Connecting Students From Tajikistan To The World: A Teacher's Journey, Hamadony Muzafarov

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Implementing English language programs for my students in Tajikistan was a dream come true that opened an endless world of possibilities to them. Without knowing the English language, it would have been impossible for them to travel both physically and virtually to see the world, and build connections with people around the world. I try to make my students believe in themselves, dream big, and follow their dreams.

Improvisational Teaching For Emergent Bilinguals, Denchai Prabjandee

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

The present collaborative ethnographic case study was design to explore teaching practices for English Language Learners (ELLs) in the United States, hereafter called "emergent bilinguals" (García, 2009). Through the theoretical lens of ethnographic vulnerability (Behar, 1996), I conducted 40-hour observations, four interviews, and artifact collections. By using an impressionist tale writing style throughout this article (Maanen, 2011), this paper presents the journey of an elementary school teacher who tries to employ classroom practices, teaching strategies, and assessments to educate emergent bilinguals. Drawing on ethnographic data, I propose an effective teaching approach called improvisational teaching. This teaching approach may be beneficial …

A Global Experience: Teaching International Students In An International Setting, Dia Ruth Gary

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This study analyzed the four stages of acculturation and how an educator teaching abroad, instructing International Students, experienced the path of acculturation through the emotions of elation, resistance, transformation, and integration. Pedagogy is seen with new eyes, and a renewed passion is reignited through a global experience. A new understanding and empathy is developed for those living as an expat, far from their native country. Moreover, a limited view of the world changes from a view of egocentric selfishness to an appreciation of cultural diversity.

Perspectives Of Elementary Teachers On Refugee Parent-Teacher Relations And The Education Of Their Children, Keno Nagasa

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of elementary teachers who work with refugee students in a suburban school district in the Rocky Mountain Region. Teachers’ efforts to respond to the unique educational, socioeconomic, and emotional needs of refugee students in their classrooms were explored. It was noted that refugees have had limited and sporadic access to education prior to their enrollment in public schools in the United States. Additionally, they may have social and emotional issues and may deal with traumas of their past difficult life trajectories. The article pinpoints the obstacles experienced and the overtures made by the teachers …

Values And Wellness As Related To A Positive School Orientation Among Japanese Adolescents, Naoko K. Shimada, Robyn S. Hess, R. Brett Nelson

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

The relationship between positive school orientation and the psychological factors of values and wellness were examined in a sample of 319 Japanese middle school students. Participants’ perceptions of wellness were consistently related to a reported sense of school bonding, but not necessarily to attendance or participation in extracurricular activities. The relationship between values and positive school orientation was less clear; values appeared to be more aligned with voluntary actions such as participation in extracurricular activities. Gender differences in student values were noted in that males placed more emphasis on extracurricular activities, while females placed more emphasis on attendance. Implications for …

Self-Directed Learning Readiness Of College Students In Thailand, Denchai Prabjanee, Mahachart Inthachot

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

In the knowledge-based society, where information rapidly changes and disseminates worldwide, self-directed learning is an important ability for college students to possess. In the current study, self-directed learning readiness of college students in Thailand was investigated, and comparisons of this readiness were made across years of education and majors. Undergraduate students (n = 156) in colleges of education in Thailand completed an online survey. The results revealed that Thai college students reported having self-directed learning readiness at a moderate to high level. The two dimensions (creativity and openness to learning) were at a moderate level, but the other six dimensions …

Breaking Down Barriers: Successful Transition Planning For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Students, Kara F. Halley, Michelle Terese Trujillo

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

While transition services provided to the majority of students with disabilities may be seen as beneficial and as having the potential to lead to positive post-school outcomes, involvement and expectations of several students’ families are taking a backseat to the involvement and expectations of professionals in this process. Discrepancies between family and school expectations and desires can only lead to the failure of students’ transition plans. It is increasingly more likely that service providers who develop individual education plans and collaborate on transition planning teams will work with culturally and linguistically diverse students and families. Despite growing diversity in our …

Perspectives Of Two Ethnically Different Pre-Service Teacher Populations As They Learn About Folk Literature, Donita Massengill Shaw, Jackie Boyd, Diane Corcoran Nielson

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

The purpose of this study was to investigate pre-service teachers’ knowledge of folk literature in general and that of a selected country or culture in particular before and after studying it in a college children's literature course and completing an assignment. We specifically compared two sample populations: those of primarily European American descent at a research university and those of Native American ethnicity at an Inter-tribal Native American university to see if there were similarities or differences in their knowledge about and value of folk literature. Participants from each university were selected to complete a pre-post questionnaire and a post-interview …

Dreams Beyond Labels: Case Studies Of Four English Language Learners Who Are Beating The Odds, Julie Israelson

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Too often, English Language Learners are failing out or dropping out of school. However, there are ELLs that are enrolled in honors classes and on a college-bound path. This paper looks at four English Language Learners in Colorado who were beating the odds and experiencing high levels of academic achievement in school. Through in-depth case studies, these students identified the factors that were most influential in their educational routes. Parents, teachers, peers, and individual determination were described as significant factors.