ERIC Number: EJ1210155
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0034-0553
EISSN: N/A
Scaffolding and Inequitable Participation in Linguistically Diverse Book Clubs
Lewis, Mark A.; Zisselsberger, Margarita Gómez
Reading Research Quarterly, v54 n2 p167-186 Apr-Jun 2019
The authors illustrate ways that diverse linguistic repertoires were constrained within a set of classroom book club discussions among sixth-grade students and their teachers in a public school setting. The study took place in a U.S. Mountain West middle school with a majority population of Latinx students, many of whom were emerging bilinguals (EBs). In these book clubs, 21 students and two teachers read one of four mystery novels. The groups comprised both native and nonnative English-speaking students and were grouped according to reading ability/level. Using discourse analysis strategies, the researchers analyzed the participants' talk across the book club discussions. The authors found that although a primary purpose of a literature discussion group is to provide more equitable participatory opportunities for EBs, in this case, the linguistic and discursive practices of the teachers and the native English speakers did not fully honor EBs' contributions. These practices led to EBs' ultimate withdrawal from discussions. Therefore, the implications suggest a cautionary tale for educators working with EBs to critically analyze and identify ways in which generic methods for English as a second language and "good" teaching practices may position EBs as incapable. Moreover, the authors suggest that teachers should develop more critical linguistically and culturally responsive practices that acknowledge the linguistic repertoires of EBs and (re)position EBs as communicatively competent.
Descriptors: Books, Clubs, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Bilingualism, Grade 6, Public Schools, Middle School Students, Grouping (Instructional Purposes), Reading Ability, English Language Learners, Native Language, English, Discourse Analysis, Group Discussion, Student Participation, Classroom Communication, Literature, Withdrawal (Psychology), English (Second Language), Teaching Methods, Culturally Relevant Education, Communicative Competence (Languages)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Middle Schools; Junior High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A