This qualitative study examined the perspectives and experiences of seven focal families from Mexican immigrant backgrounds that participated in collaborative project-based learning in their children's bilingual classroom. Projects centered on children's experiential knowledge, and were created bilingually. Findings indicate that parents perceived…

Examined performance and error patterns of 50 bilingual Mexican-American third through fifth graders on the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (EOWPVT) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R). The EOWPVT had adequate concurrent validity with PPVT-R. On both tests, scores were almost two standard deviations below normative…

This study compared Spanish and English reading skill with concept usage and was directed at predicting oral reading level. A total of 144 bilingual migrant children, aged seven through twelve years, from six summer programs in Colorado were administered the Test of Concept Utilization (TCU) and the Silvaroli Informal Reading Inventory in both…

Confirms that i.t.a. can be an effective tool with which to teach beginning reading of English to Mexican-American children. (RB)

This article presents a practical approach to assessing Spanish-English bilingualism in Mexican-American children entering school. The general aim of bilingual assessment is discussed. The approach to assessment includes a method of selecting subjects, the use of a sociolinguistic survey, and tests for measuring bilingual communicative competence.…

Presents case promoting foreign languages in elementary schools using study conducted to explore relationships between bilingual and cognitive abilities of Mexican American children. Favors additive over subtractive bilingualism. (BK)

Indicates that i.t.a. can be an effective tool in teaching bilingual Mexican-American children to read. (RB)

Approximately 90 books, published between 1946 and 1969, related to Spanish-speaking people and their culture, are presented in this annotated bibliography. It is intended as a guide for schools wishing to develop literature selections depicting the culture and history of Spanish-speaking people at the elementary level. Books written in both…

Examines the phenomenon of code switching (when bilingual speakers use languages interchangeably) in Mexican-American first graders. Cites several reasons for code switching, and discusses implications for reading instruction. (MM)

Performance was better for children above six years of age and better in Spanish than English. It is suggested that the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test never be used to assess the general intelligence of Mexican American children, because it likely underestimates their ability. (Author)

The author takes issue with an unnamed supervisory educator who opposes bilingual education. Wilson points out that to avoid wasting human resources it is essential that better education be provided for Mexican-Americans in order to cut down the repeating of grades and dropping out by students whose "home language" is not English.…

A teacher of 15 educable mentally handicapped elementary school children (14 of whom were of Chicano descent) used informal and structured bilingual approaches to help children become aware of the value of their language and culture and lose their fear of working with two languages. (LS)

This observational study examined code switching, the alternation of language or dialects to convey social meaning, in 6-year-old Spanish-English bilinguals. Specifically, the study attempted to determine which of the five variables were associated with code switches: physical setting; type of activity; characteristics of the addressee (age,…