Theoretical Background

The evolution of this Research to Product Process came to encorporate many of the "best practices" located in the ESOL teaching literature (for Latinos) I've consulted - as blahwell as recommendations from material on mainstream ELA secondary school classes.

The Best for Our Children: Critical Perspectiveson Literacy for Latinos

Educating Latino Students: A Guide to Successful Practices

School Connections:  U.S. Mexican blahYouth, Peers, and School Achievement

Latinos and Education: A Critical Reader.

Article: "Connecting with Latino Learners" by Eliane Rubinstein-Avila in EducationalLeadership vol. 63 (2006) pages 38-43.

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Below are specific chapters I found of particular use:

Laliberty, Eloise Andrade.  “Hooked on Writing:  Linking Literacy to Students’ Lived Experiences.”  The Best for Our Children:  Critial Perspectives on Literacy for Latino Students.  Ed. John J. Halcon and Maria de la Luz Reyes.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2001: 142-152. 

Diaz, Esteban and Barbara Flores.  “Teacher as Sociocultural, Sociohistorical blahMediator:  Teaching to the Potential.”  The Best for Our Children:  Critial Perspectives on Literacy for Latino Students.  Ed. John J. Halcon and Maria de la Luz Reyes.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2001:  29-47. 

Bejinez, Livier F.  Margaret A. Gibson, Nicole Hidalgo, and Cony Rolon.  “Belonging and School Participation:  Lessons From a Migrant Student Club.”  School Connections:  U.S. Mexican Youth, Peers, and School Achievement.  Ed.  Patricia Gandara, Margaret A. Gibson, and Jill Peterson Koyama.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2004:  129-149. 

Ada, Alma Flor and Nancy Jean Smith.  “Fostering the Home-School Connection for Latinos.”  Educating Latino Students:  A Guide to Successful Practice.  Ed. Maria Luisa Gonzalez, Ana Huerta-Macias, and Josefina Villamil Tinajero.  Lancaster, Pennsylvania:  Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., 1998:  47-62. 

Gandara, Particia, Dianna Gutierrez, and Susan O’Hara.  “The Changing Shape of Aspirations:  Peer Influence on Achievement Behavior.”  School Connections:  U.S. Mexican Youth, Peers, and School Achievement.  Ed.  Patricia Gandara, Margaret A. Gibson, and Jill Peterson Koyama.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2004:  39-62. 

Contreras, Juan A., Julia Rosa Emslie, and Virginia R. Padilla.  “Transforming High Schools to Meet the Needs of Latinos.”  Educating Latino Students:  A Guide to Successful Practice.  Ed. Maria Luisa Gonzalez, Ana Huerta-Macias, and Josefina Villamil Tinajero.  Lancaster, Pennsylvania:  Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., 1998:  291-302. 

Gandara, Patricia, Margaret A. Gibson, and Jill Peterson Koyama.  “The Role of Peers in the Schooling of U.S. Mexican Youth.”  School Connections:  U.S. Mexican Youth, Peers, and School Achievement.  Ed.  Patricia Gandara, Margaret A. Gibson, and Jill Peterson Koyama.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2004:  1-17. 

Huerta-Macias, Ana.  “Learning for Latinos:  The Sociocultural Perspective.”  Educating Latino Students:  A Guide to Successful Practice.  Ed. Maria Luisa Gonzalez, Ana Huerta-Macias, and Josefina Villamil Tinajero.  Lancaster, Pennsylvania:  Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., 1998:  29-46. 

Houtchens, Bobbi Ciriza.  “Literacy Development of Latino Students:  Using Our Present Realities to Shape Our Futures.”  The Best for Our Children:  Critial Perspectives on Literacy for Latino Students.  Ed. John J. Halcon and Maria de la Luz Reyes.  NY:  Teachers College Press, 2001: 198-212.