1. Latinos and Language Development
A Need for Improvement in the American Education System

2. What is Literacy?
Language and literacy are interactive processes, integrating individual learners’ cognitive and linguistic abilities with the need to communicate meaningfully with others in the social environment (Pérez 20).

3. Where is Literacy Important?
Diverse Communities
Daily Interactions
Careers
Starts in the schools

4. Some Statistics
Rise of Latino population: 12.7% in to 19.8% in
80% of the English language learner population
4th grade: 47% are behind in reading when compared to white classmates

5. What Did I Want to Learn?
Why do Latinos have lower literacy rates than their non-Latino classmates?
What factors are present in a public school setting that affect Latino student literacy?
What can specifically be done to increase literacy rates?

6. Why is Literacy an issue with Latinos?
Different cultural context
NOT their fault!

7. What is the Problem? Subtractive Schooling
Proposition 227 and downplay of bilingual education
Home language vs. school language
Poor communication
Challenge for teachers:
Full spectrum of Spanish- and English-language skills
Effects of Prop. 227: 10,894 to 5,670
Fix vs. heal

8. Becoming Aware... ALWAYS!
Emerged as a hot topic when certain laws were being passed
When I first became aware:
With Latinos: classroom observation in Waukegan, IL
ED 299 Classroom discussions: ESL programs, Latino education
Mentoring in St. Charles

9. The Interview: Cindy Duley
Assistant of the Education Department at University of Wisconsin- Lacrosse
Some of her experiences with education:
elementary teacher
certified reading specialist in early literacy
ELL instructor at WSU
Variety of different levels, abilities, and backgrounds

10. Questions from the Interview
How do issues of superiority and inferiority affect the relationship between Hispanic and non-Hispanic students?
Human connection
Differences
Fear and insecurity

11. Questions Continued...
How has the rising Latino population specifically affected public schools, and what is needed to make the education process more enjoyable and worthwhile for these students?
Wisconsin schools
“culturally responsive”
“build on each individual's experience”
“educating the families and sharing our expectations”
“safe and positive learning environment”

12. Other Questions I Would Have Liked to Ask:
Experience in schools in Mexico:
Different structure?
Acceptance of peers and differences?
Expansion on programs she mentioned, including ESL or ELL classrooms, Responsive Curriculum, and sheltered immersion

13. ...So What? Importance of Native Language
It is very important for students to stay efficient in their native language when learning a second language. Why is this so?
“The transfer is easier between languages when a child has a strong foundation to build on. Learning to read in the first language is also the preference when possible because of the background knowledge that has already been developed” (Duley).

14. So What? FOCUS on needs of children Benefits of bilingual system
Dual-language programs
Sheltered English
Teacher Quality and funds of knowledge
Parent involvement

15. The Writing Process Struggles Too much information! Organization
How to Incorporate the interview
What Came Easily
Passionate words and thoughts
Describing the problem
Reaffirming Information
Surprising Information

16. An Ending Thought... Cindy Duley’s personal story....
What really matters