Differences in cultures and economic status have historically divided the southwest, and the hostility and mistrust brought about by these differences still exist. It is the purpose of this book to present the problems of Spanish-speaking children, to point out basic relationships and trends, and to consider possible ways of meeting specific…

The study investigated the phenomenon of invented spelling in the original composition of 10 first grade and 10 second grade native Spanish speaking children enrolled in a bilingual program. From an examination of over 200 pieces of writing, categories of spelling have been suggested and examples of each are given. (Author/NQA)

This paper reports one aspect of the author's research on the phonology of the Spanish spoken in Tucson, Arizona. The specific aspect of the research considered there concerns "levels" of speech. "Levels" refers to the systematic variation in speech form that can be observed in the speech of one individual. The empirical…

The nine papers contained in this symposium report deal with changes in a wide variety of social, economic, and cultural patterns of the Indians and Spanish speaking peoples of the Southwest, with emphasis on land use practices. Historical perspectives are presented to illustrate the gradual shift of these peoples from a pastoral,…

A survey of health care issues among Hispanic Americans (469 adults and 235 children) in Arizona revealed that the poor health status and access to health care found for Hispanic Americans was even more pronounced for those whose language of interview was Spanish. (SLD)

Describes the need for bilingual library services to Spanish-speaking citizens and outlines funding, services, and projects in progress in Arizona for the Spanish speaking community. (CWM)

Language is the means through which mathematics is learned and mathematical reasoning is developed and expressed. Students' development of mathematical knowledge is dependent upon their codevelopment of language competencies. This study sought to understand the intersection of language acquisition and mathematical reasoning in a multigrade,…

There is a growing recognition of the need for Americans who are proficient in languages other than English; however, there is a great disconnect between these needs, state English-only education policies, and current federal education policy as realized through the No Child Left Behind Act (NLCB) of 2001. These policies are moving the country in…

Success for All (SFA) is a comprehensive reading, writing, and oral language development program for students in pre-K through eighth grade. Its underlying premise is that all children, including those with limited English proficiency, can and should be reading in English at grade level by the end of third grade. (SFA can impact Spanish literacy…

To determine the effect of books in Spanish and free reading time on reading abilities and attitudes of Hispanic students, 114 Hispanic children enrolled in grades 2 (Level I), 3 and 4 (Level II) in Tempe, Arizona, were placed in either experimental groups or control groups. Teachers in the experimental classes (E) were provided with books in…

This article explores the ways in which young emergent bilingual children begin to develop literacy in two languages, Spanish and English. Three case studies of four-year-old Mexican-background children and their families living in southern Arizona are presented from a qualitative socio-psycholinguistic perspective. The children's home and…

The inquiry illuminated the way in which specific schooling practices enhanced or negated effects by analyzing data on pupils in different placement groups having Spanish as their first language, with little if any English language proficiency at the time of entering school. If pupils were placed inappropriately low, the end-of-program scores…

The United States Commission on Civil Rights held hearings in San Antonio, Texas from December 9 to 14, 1968 under the authority of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. The purpose of the hearing was to collect information regarding the civil rights problems of Mexican Americans in the five Southwestern States. Of concern were the issues of education,…

Fiesta Project provides a classic example of action anthropology in broadcasting. The project involved the research and production of a Spanish language public television series designed to attract, retain, and realistically help a Mexican American audience in southern Arizona. The project used anthropological research in initial program…

Using play learning and real-world problem solving, an alternative Arizona program is cultivating confidence and love of learning in bilingual first-graders. Children learn by using their own language (Spanish), learning styles, and thought processes. Besides problem-solving, the "cube train" teaches estimation, number relationships,…