The history and issues leading to the Supreme Court decision which recognized the special educational needs and rights of limited English speaking students is traced in this article. Also discussed are the ensuing community struggles for the right to fashion the appropriate relief mandated by the Supreme Court and for the right to have quality…

This study examined how journal writing could improve language minority students' language acquisition. Participants were Serbo-Croatian and Laotian second and third graders from two elementary schools. Initial student surveys and writing assignments, conducted in September to document the problem, found that students lacked writing skills,…

This book addresses the lack of research and scholarly discussion on multicultural literacies. A common theme across chapters is the ways in which elements of difference--race, ethnicity, gender, class, and language--create tensions that influence students' literacy experiences and achievements. Sections explore the relationships among culture,…

Illustrates ways in which science activities that utilize culturally familiar materials can help bilingual students gain insight into the scientific concepts which underlie the functioning of cultural artifacts and tools. Specifically indicates how nine categories of materials familiar to Chinese and Hispanic cultures can be used in science…

Examined the ways in which language and context are socially and culturally constituted events through a three-year ethnographic study of bilingual (English and Spanish) primary and middle school classrooms utilizing writing process literacy instruction. An analysis of journal sharing activities revealed particular social relationships, normative…

Data from an auditory lexical decision experiment with English-Dutch bilinguals are compared with data from a similar experiment using visual lexical decision to determine the effect of language proficiency, mode of presentation, and cognateness of lexical items on lexical processing. The results indicate significant within and between-language…

Three studies extend earlier research that showed the potency of nonlanguage factors such as ethnicity in affecting undergraduates' reactions to university teaching assistants who are nonnative speakers of English. Results indicate that intercultural sensitization for undergraduates must complement skills training for nonnative teaching…

A study examined writing proficiencies of eight bilingual fifth-graders and their teachers' beliefs about their writing. Writing skills of strong second-language writers equalled those of strong first-language children. Weak second-language writers were not significantly behind first-language writers. Family literacy experiences and the…

This article examines the literacy of Latino students and related educational issues, including the need for more informed educators, the distinctive nature of instruction for Latino students, alternative literacies, facilitating the transfer of information from first language and life experience to school-based tasks, xenophobia and linguicism,…

This document presents a description and explanation of the MUSE module, a multimedia, computer-supported, problem-based learning (CS-PBL) unit that provides users with a simulation of the special education referral process. The module, developed by Leafstedt et al. (2000) depicts an elementary Hispanic student who is limited in English…

An Austin, Texas, program regarding the identification and placement of Hispanic, limited-English-proficient (LEP) elementary school students is reported. They were assigned to one of three programs: bilingual education; English as a Second Language (ESL); or Language Arts Mastery Process (LAMP). The Austin Independent School District evaluated…

Alternative resources, which differentiate language differences from language disorders among bilingual children, are needed for assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse students. Standardized testing is especially troublesome when there are few testing substitutes and no translations in their language, which may incorrectly identify…

This paper describes three case studies of interactions between mothers and their kindergarten children. Mothers and children were of Puerto Rican descent and lived in a midwestern city. Children were bilingual, but used English more competently than Spanish. During the children's kindergarten year, researchers observed mother-child interactions…

This 3-year project provided support services to 16 sites (in 8 states) which implemented the BEACON model (Bilingual Early Assessment and Curriculum Outreach Network) to screen, evaluate, and serve young (ages 2-8) bilingual children with disabilities and their families. Major components of the BEACON model are: (1) bilingual children with…

Program results emerging from policy changes concerning identification and placement of limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in one school district are evaluated. The policy changes permitted students classified as bilingual, English-dominant, or English monolingual to be placed by committee in an appropriate instructional program (bilingual,…