Engaging the Hispanic Learner: Ten Strategies for Using Culture to Increase Achievement

About the Book

Every year a new group of students walks through the classroom door and the question arises: what can I do differently to better help my Hispanic students? This is one of the most fundamental questions every teacher must ask. The reason being, quite simply, that the percentage of Hispanic students in U.S. classrooms is increasing dramatically each year.

In the past, education’s overall approach was to let Hispanic learners simply adapt to the typical U.S., Anglo–dominated classroom culture. The expectation was they would acclimate themselves to the current norms. In fact, it was almost as if there was an unspoken rule that it was the student’s responsibility to figure out how to fit in. If, arguably, that indeed was the situation, it is certainly no longer true. Given the seismic shift in percentages, it’s time for schools and teachers to proactively develop learning environments that will support these students in the best possible way.

In Engaging The Hispanic Learner, Dr. Michele Wages helps education take an enormous step forward in addressing this increasingly complex issue. The research she cites is almost shockingly compelling. After reading this book there should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that the issue is real, the issue is important, and that successfully dealing with it—soon—is critical.

Table of Contents:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Glossary of TermsP. 4

PrefaceP. 5

BackgroundP. 8

About The AuthorP. 19

Strategy 1: Culturally Responsive TeachingP. 20

Strategy 2: Generally Effective Teaching StrategiesP. 27

Strategy 3: Cooperative LearningP. 40

Strategy 4:Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI)P. 46

Strategy 5:Creating Instructional ConversationsP. 51

Strategy 6: Technology Enriched InstructionP. 58

Strategy 7:Creating a Sense of Classroom CommunityP. 65

Strategy 8:The Need for Follow up and Professional DevelopmentP. 71

Strategy 9:Complex InstructionP. 77

Strategy 10: Emphasizing CitizenshipP. 84

ConclusionP.

ReferencesP. 90

About the Author :
Dr. Michele Wages is an instructional specialist serving on title one campuses in the DFW area since 1993, including a bilingual campus with an eighty-six percent Hispanic student enrollment and a free and reduced lunch demographic of ninety-six percent. During her twenty-four-year career, she has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, language arts facilitator and has provided staff development training for teachers.

Review :
Engaging the Hispanic Leader presents ten practical, applicable and achievable strategies that can be easily implemented in multiple content areas. The book provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the link between culture and learning needs. An interesting read! Engaging the Hispanic Learner 10 Strategies for Using Culture to Increase Achievement is an easy read that will give teachers clear and concrete examples of how to effectively use best practices to reach our growing population of students. Societal changes of late have led to a drastic increase in the number of English Language Learners in our classrooms. It is vital for teachers to be equipped with techniques and strategies to meet the needs of this ever-growing group of students. This book is an excellent resource for teachers-full of ideas, suggestions and strategies. The ten strategies for teaching Hispanic/ELL students will undoubtedly empower teachers to reach this growing population. The easy to use format makes this book an invaluable resource.