Minority Report [April - June 2005 Archive]
Learning from the Teachers
A survey from the Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning explores the needs of teachers of English-language learners. The survey explores their experiences, needs, and challenges in serving this population. You can find out more about the survey and access the report here:
www.cftl.org/whatsnew.php
What's in a Name?
Quite a lot, actually, if you happen to be an African-American student whose parents gave you a "creative" name. A recent study finds that children with unusual names are less likely to get attention from teachers and to succeed in school. Low-frequency names with certain beginning and ending sounds, this study found, were more often given to children of poorly educated mothers, which sets up teacher expectations for the students' performance that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy:
www.newswise.com/articles/view/511720
Reading—En Espanol
The Partnership for Reading recently announced a Spanish-language translation of its popular pamphlet, "Put Reading First: Helping Your Child Learn to Read—A Parent Guide." The booklet, in both English and Spanish, provides a brief overview of the National Reading Panel's findings on reading education and gives parents an idea of what to expect from a school's reading curriculum, as well as ways they can help at home. The Spanish pamphlet is available here (PDF file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader):
www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/pdf/PRF_espan_.pdf
and in English here:
www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/Parent_br.pdf
More than Just Language
At the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, one speaker argued that sometimes the only thing Latino/a students have in common is language. The differences in their cultural background and other issues important to helping Latin American students excel are discussed here:
ascd2005conference.blogspot.com/2005/04/rivera-urges-dont-treat-all-latino.html
It Takes A Parent....
What do social workers, Columbia University, and the College Board have in common? A desire to help African-American parents, regardless of affluence, get involved in their children's education—and they're putting their money, and effort, where their mouths are. A joint venture launched in the 2003-04 academic year aims to get parents participating in their children's schools and helping them find meaningful out-of-school activities—two techniques for enhancing children's academic performance that have solid research behind them. The program is already showing signs of having an effect on at least some parents—and their children:
www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2005/03/28/black_parents_tackle_a_gap_1111989692
Zero-tolerance... For What?
In the wake of the Columbine school shootings and other similar incidents, many schools adopted "zero-tolerance" policies to possession of weapons, drugs, and other behaviors. Many schools are now modifying their policies, owing to concerns that they are enforced disproportionately against minority students, as well as being unfair to younger students:
www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=18518
