Describes a component in the Spanish curriculum of a middle school in Illinois in which students make field trips to two Hispanic neighborhoods in Chicago. The trips teach students about the Hispanic community and culture and help them to see Spanish as a living language. (SED)

Discusses how Scott O'Dell's books that deal with pre-Columbian Hispanic cultures reveal his limited views of those cultures and his use of stereotypes in describing the pre-Columbian, Mexican, and Spanish people.

Mexican-American college students (N=109) with varying commitments to Mexican-American or Anglo-American culture rated their preference for an ethnically similar counselor. Results showed preference for counselor ethnicity and willingness to self-disclose in counseling were related to cultural commitment. Females were more willing to use…

Claims that schools in the Southwest have created a culturally-biased atmosphere damaging to children of Hispanic descent. Recommends the establishment of Hispanically-oriented schools to introduce barrio children to Anglo culture gradually, without threatening their cultural identity. (SK)

Latina female and Latino male college students completed self-report surveys regarding family of origin experience, including sexual communication with parents growing up. Latino parents of this sample tended to use direct rather than indirect strategies for communicating about sexuality. Analyses provide information regarding sexual communication…

Describes how the integration of reading and writing strategies in a learning unit on Mexican American culture heightens eighth graders' awareness of their heritage and helps them improve their literacy. Describes how cooperative meaning making with literature, making connections to home and community, and using literature that is culturally…

Carpinteria High School, California, has restructured its educational program to meet the needs of an increasing number of Mexican immigrant students. Making minority students feel that they are part of their school included getting the students involved in school activities, enlisting a parent support group, and rewarding students for good…

Studies four distinct groups based on language and nativity within the Mexican-descent population in the U.S. Reports significant differences among groups on (1) demographics; (2) self-labeling in the family and among others of Mexican descent; and (3) perceptions of how others label them. (TES)

Examined Chicana child-rearing practices and their relationship to child behaviors as well as the relevance of demographic variables in Mexican American family environment in maternal practices in rearing children. Observed 47 mother-kindergarten child dyads during structured teaching task in family home. Results showed diversity in child rearing…

Tamarind Institute, a center for fine art lithography in Albuquerque, trains master printers from around the world, but also reaches out to work with Hispanic and Native American artists from New Mexico, to introduce young children and high school students to lithography, and to bring together indigenous people from South Africa and New Mexico's…

Using data from the 1990 Panel Study of Income Dynamics Latino sample, examines three competing hypotheses for understanding extended family living among Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban immigrants. Findings indicate no significant relationship between living with extended kin and cultural indicators. Extended family living represents a resource…

Presents an approach to language and culture instruction for North American students of Spanish that centers on student-led investigations of cultural identity in the Americas, designed to allow students to overcome possible stereotypes and generalizations concerning the target culture(s), and to examine their own cultural identities at the same…

Describes how using the Hispanic tale "La Llorona" can help teachers connect cross-culturally with their students for enhanced literacy instruction. Describes ways "La Llorona" may be used in courses for preservice education majors and in elementary and middle-grade classes. Includes an annotated list of seven printed versions of "La Llorona." (SR)

The article discusses nine detrimental and six distinguished books about Hispanic people and cultures, published since 1979 for young readers. It is suggested that many recent books that depict Hispanic people and cultures repeat the same stereotypes, misconceptions and insensibilities that were prevalent in books published in the 1960s and early…

A "gallant Jewish liberal" teacher describes the complexity of cultures in classroom conflict. A native Spanish-speaking girl in remedial English challenged his assumptions about the importance of written texts and acceptable teacher-student interactions. (CJH)