Transforming Education by Putting Kids First |
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IDRA Newsletter – This Issue's Focus:
Culturally Sustaining Instruction
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In This Issue
The Innovation of Translanguaging Pedagogy Enables Students to Use All of Their Tools
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Let the Youth Speak for Themselves – Fostering Substantive Conversations and Advocacy in the Classroom
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Families Celebrate Excellent Biliteracy Programs
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An Introduction to Culturally Sustaining Practices in the Classroom
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What do you think about school dress codes?
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We're Hiring and We're Looking for Interns!
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Recent News, Videos & Podcasts
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The Innovation of Translanguaging Pedagogy Enables Students to Use All of Their Tools |
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by Lizdelia Piñón, Ed.D.
Translanguaging is a culturally-sustaining educational practice used for language development. It emerged in response to the common practices that create artificial barriers to language use in the classroom. Translanguaging involves educators recognizing students’ dynamic bilingualism as an asset in the classroom rather elevating English above all other languages. It can allow emergent bilingual students to use their linguistic and cognitive resources to better understand educational content provided to them in a language they have just begun to learn.
Implementing translanguaging includes actions like using bilingual texts for read-aloud opportunities and actively engaging with emergent bilingual students to share vocabulary in their home language.
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Let the Youth Speak for Themselves –
Fostering Substantive Conversations and Advocacy in the Classroom
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by Paula Johnson, Ph.D.
Teachers use a number of strategies to engage students in dialogue and conversations that build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Yet in our current social climate, a large number of adults are leaning more toward a “children should be seen and not heard” attitude.
Across the nation, loud politicians, parents and activists are weaponizing legislation to censor a growing list of books they have labeled “pornographic,” “divisive” or “incendiary. These books are largely written or about LGBTQ individuals or are on race and racism. In addition to silencing their voices, banning these books can also prevent students and educators having necessary conversations.
We should be amplifying student voices, yet it seems when marginalized, underserved and underrepresented youth speak out about controversial issues, they face opposition if it is not in line with the adults making the decisions. We should want their input. The only way to ensure that the next generation achieves educational justice and equity is to let them contribute to the goals and objectives that will impact them the most.
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Women's History Month
See the award-winning PBS series about unsung women who changed history. It is now available with Spanish subtitles. IDRA is partnering with Unladylike2020 to share inclusive materials for students.
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Families Celebrate Excellent Biliteracy Programs |
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by Aurelio M. Montemayor, M.Ed., & Alejandra Salazar Gonzalez
The value of biliteracy extends far beyond a student’s ability to secure a stable career. Self-concept, self-value and family connections blossom when a student’s home language and culture are maintained in tandem with English fluency and literacy. Students who are encouraged to graduate fully biliterate build their own self-worth while maintaining their family connections and preparing for a bright future.
In the South Texas border region, school districts with comprehensive K-12 bilingual-biliterate programs are making the dream of biliteracy a reality. When it seemed that the school board might cut its unique program, families came together to meet with the school board and shared their experiences in hopes of making the biliteracy program permanent. As a result, the school board unanimously passed a policy statement for its K-12 biliteracy program to ensure its stability. And families saw the impact of their action for the good of all students in their district.
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See video of Education CAFE members who testified before their
school board to support the K-12 bilingual-biliterate program.
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An Introduction to Culturally Sustaining Practices in the Classroom |
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by Sulema Carreón-Sánchez, Ph.D.
Culturally sustaining instruction is a research-based approach that links students’ cultures, languages and life experiences within the classroom environment to help learners thrive academically across a rigorous curriculum and develop higher-level academic skills. These practices create inclusive classrooms, with instruction that embraces students’ native language and their families as assets.
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Introductory culturally sustaining practices include connecting with students personally, using sensory modalities (listening, speaking, reading and writing, movement), listening to students and bringing in their cultural traditions, choosing resources that reflect the cultures of students, and building authentic relationships. |
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What do you think about school dress codes? |
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If you are a parent or caregiver of a current or recent public school student, you can help! The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent, nonpartisan agency of Congress, has been asked to study dress code policies and the enforcement of these policies in public schools.
To help it better understand the impact dress codes can have on students and families, the GAO is asking for volunteers to fill out a short questionnaire if you:
- Have one or more children currently enrolled in a public school with a dress code or uniform policy; or
- Had a child or children enrolled in a public school with a dress code or uniform policy as recently as the 2019-20 school year.
The questionnaire should take less thean 10 minutes to complete. The deadline is April 15, 2022.
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Consultants
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IDRA EAC-South Consultants
- Grant Writer Consultant
- Computer Science or Game Design Curriculum Consultant
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We're Looking for Interns! |
IDRA’s internship program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students who will develop work projects and learn with our diverse staff.
Summer positions include
- Communications Intern
- Research Intern
- Educational Practice Intern
- Policy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement Intern
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New Classnotes Podcast Episodes
Podcast Episode 220
Ways to Listen
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Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news! |
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The Intercultural Development Research Association is an independent, non-profit organization. Our mission is to achieve equal educational opportunity for every child through strong public schools that prepare all students to access and succeed in college. |
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