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)

This volume, fourth in a series, is devoted to a study of the depression years of the 1930s, a crucial period in the history of the Hispanic land-grant-villages. It places northern New Mexico in a broad regional and national context, examining the major currents of social and political thought in American society that influenced Hispanic New Deal…

A discussion of the use of Spanish first names as a tool for teaching Hispanic culture first looks at a survey of names existing in a small New Mexican town in the 1880s and examines the usefulness of this information in classroom teaching. The frequency, definitions, and cultural implications of male, female, and double-gender names are outlined:…

Songs and poems with origins in Hispanic-American cultures are presented for the classroom use of Spanish teachers. Some information about the selections, their characteristics and idiosyncracies, and their specific uses in instruction is provided. (MSE)

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…

In progressing toward the development of adequate instructional resources for use by the schools to capitalize upon the unique strengths of children with Hispanic-heritage language and cultural assets, Southwest Regional Lab (SWRL) Research and Development has produced or is in the process of producing the following assessment and instruction…

The Education Services Department of the Illinois Commission on Human Relations developed this bibliography on Hispano American history and culture. There are 145 entries written between 1945-69 designed for children and students, teachers, librarians, parents, and people interested in learning about Hispano Americans. Included are: (1) an…

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)