This study explores the role that language plays in the academic and social transition of Haitian children and parents to urban U.S. schools across multiple school settings, demographic groups, and languages. Semistructured individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with groups of 12 Haitian American teachers, 12 Haitian parents of…

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study that investigated home-school communication practices from two school districts in north Florida. Specifically, this study focuses on communication between education professionals and Spanish-speaking parents who were immigrant and migrant farmworkers. In this paper we use the term…

A literature review of effective strategies for involving Hispanic families explores some basic misunderstandings; discusses logistical, attitudinal, and expectations barriers to involving Hispanic parents, particularly those who are migrants or immigrants; and presents strategies that resulted in successful experiences with these parents.…

Partly because of mobility, but mostly because of poverty, migrant children are systematically denied their right to equal educational opportunity. This review covers migrant families' immigration and illegal immigration, migration patterns, poor living conditions, impact of migrant workers on the U.S. economy, children as migrant workers, impact…

A monolingual English-speaking teacher and bilingual researchers analyzed the discursive practices in a third-grade classroom that affected the literacy learning opportunities available to a monolingual Spanish-speaking migrant student. Literacy learning opportunities were shaped and influenced by the specific contexts in which the student acted…

An innovative English and Spanish instructional program for grades six through eight in a south Texas district integrates language and content areas, uses both languages, implements literacy strategies typical of elementary programs, accommodates varying Spanish and English proficiency and limited prior schooling, and employs Mexican teachers as…

In a financially pressed elementary school, 1 bilingual teacher meets the varying needs of over 60 children through collaboration with homeroom teachers and innovative delivery. Children with no English receive most instruction from the bilingual teacher in a "semi-self-contained classroom," while limited-English-proficient students…

The absence of a language policy in a rural central Illinois school district with a rapidly growing population of migrant Spanish-speaking students seriously affected the academic achievement and social inclusion of newcomer students. A case study focuses on attitudes and reactions of three teacher groups: English-only teachers, "bridge…

A bilingual teacher in a multiage 4th-6th-grade classroom has met the special academic needs of limited-English-speaking migrant students who immigrated from Mexico with little previous schooling. Her strategies and techniques include an accepting classroom environment, high expectations for every student, building on student background knowledge…