This article explores the difficulties immigrant students face in achieving civic participation and a democratic life through the stories of two ninth- grade English classes in which all students participate in an inside-out approach to community-based writing for action.

While the overall school-age population grew by only 2.6 percent between 1995 and 2005, the number of English Language Learners (ELLs) grew by 56 percent--a number that can only be expected to grow considerably in the near future. Mainstream literacy professionals across the country, typically monolingual European American women, struggle to…

"Newcomers" are English learners who are new to the United States and arrive with limited or interrupted formal schooling. These students have below-grade-level literacy skills in their home language and do not speak English. Newcomers' arrivals to the middle school and high school classrooms often present a formidable "what to…

Suggests that students can do meaningful language research within family and society. Looks at language use and family discourse strategies in a 3-generation immigrant family in which language and culture separate the generations. Argues that many of the tensions created by language loss in this family can be seen in the educational domain. (SR)

Describes ninth-grade English classes interviewing international students regarding their experiences and feelings about the journeys that brought them to the United States. Discusses how students from diverse cultures began to know one another, and how the gathering and the publication of these stories helped faculty, administration, and students…

S.I. Hayakawa uses personal history to support his position that learning the English language is the key for immigrants who wish to become assimilated into America's open society in order to participate in the opportunities and self-realization that America offers. (NH)

Author discusses aspects of American culture that English teachers tend to ignore: American popular culture, immigrant (bilingual and bicultural) America, and American subcultures. (SP)

Describes an interdisciplinary unit combining eighth-grade language arts and U.S. history, based on the study of the immigrant experience and involving writing across the curriculum and role-playing. (MM)

Describes the "Postcards from America" project carried out by a class of high school students, all recent immigrants to the United States with little or no prior English. Discusses two events (an exhibit of students' photographs and writing, and a multimedia performance of nine performance pieces portraying personal stories of the immigrant…