Latina Latino Special Education Teachers Their Unique Pedagogy To Reach And Connect With Their Students

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Latina/Latino Special Education Teachers: Their Unique Pedagogy to Reach and Connect with Their Students

Author : Susana Castro
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (98 download)

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Book Synopsis Latina/Latino Special Education Teachers: Their Unique Pedagogy to Reach and Connect with Their Students by : Susana Castro

Download or read book Latina/Latino Special Education Teachers: Their Unique Pedagogy to Reach and Connect with Their Students written by Susana Castro and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The benefits of giving minority students access to teachers of the same ethnic background has been widely documented. There is ample research that highlights how parents and students become more engaged when the teachers or other school staff are of their same cultural background (Cooper et al., 2010; De Gaetano, 2007; Mundt et al., 2015). Most of these studies also tell us how the teachers can connect with the students and parents; yet these studies have not specifically looked at special education teachers of color and their work with minority students with special needs (Redding, 2019, Stearns et al., 2013, Winstead & Wang, 2017). This study looked at how Latina/Latino special education teachers connect with their students receiving special education services. Moreover, this study focused on how Latina/Latino special education teachers use their language, customs, beliefs, traditions, values, and attitudes to reach and connect with their students. This study used a qualitative descriptive case study approach to explore the stories of four Latino/a special education teachers and their culturally responsive ways of teaching.The findings for this study can help Latina/o special education teachers and other non-Latina/Latino educators in developing a better understanding of how to reach and connect with Latino/a students with disabilities and establish a positive relationship that may lead to academic, social, and behavioral achievements. Due to the current social distancing guidelines because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the data for this study was collected using one-to-one interviews and focus groups via video conferencing. The participants were asked a series of questions that required them to reflect on their current pedagogical practices. The findings of my study showed that when Latino special education students and special education teachers share the same or similar cultural background learning is more relevant. This goes along with the findings of other studies where it has been found that teachers can use their ethnic identity as an asset in the classroom (Gonzalez & Moll, 1995, as cited in Albers and Fredrick, 2013) to connect with students and make learning more relatable. The individual and focus group interviews revealed that these special education teachers have a deep understanding of the role that culture plays in the lives of their students. Through culture, they have been able to make meaningful connections with their students and their families. These connections have helped students make academic, social, and behavioral achievements.

Learning from Latino Teachers

Author : Gilda Ochoa
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 0787987778
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (879 download)

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Book Synopsis Learning from Latino Teachers by : Gilda Ochoa

Download or read book Learning from Latino Teachers written by Gilda Ochoa and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2007-10-05 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learning from Latino Teachers offers insightful stories and powerful visions in the movement for equitable schools. This compelling book is based on Gilda Ochoa’s in-depth interviews with Latina/o teachers who have a range of teaching experience, in schools with significant Latina/o immigrant populations. The book offers a unique insider's perspective on the educational challenges facing Latina/os. The teachers’ stories offer valuable insights gained from their experiences coming up through the K-12 system as students, and then becoming part of the same system as teachers.

Latinization of U.S. Schools

Author : Jason Irizarry
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317257006
Total Pages : 204 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (172 download)

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Book Synopsis Latinization of U.S. Schools by : Jason Irizarry

Download or read book Latinization of U.S. Schools written by Jason Irizarry and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-12-03 with total page 204 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fueled largely by significant increases in the Latino population, the racial, ethnic, and linguistic texture of the United States is changing rapidly. Nowhere is this 'Latinisation' of America more evident than in schools. The dramatic population growth among Latinos in the United States has not been accompanied by gains in academic achievement. Estimates suggest that approximately half of Latino students fail to complete high school, and few enroll in and complete college. The Latinization of U.S. Schools centres on the voices of Latino youth. It examines how the students themselves make meaning of the policies and practices within schools. The student voices expose an inequitable opportunity structure that results in depressed academic performance for many Latino youth. Each chapter concludes with empirically based recommendations for educators seeking to improve their practice with Latino youth, stemming from a multiyear participatory action research project conducted by Irizarry and the student contributors to the text.

Discovering and Developing Talents in Spanish-Speaking Students

Author : Joan Franklin Smutny
Publisher : Corwin Press
ISBN 13 : 1452283591
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (522 download)

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Book Synopsis Discovering and Developing Talents in Spanish-Speaking Students by : Joan Franklin Smutny

Download or read book Discovering and Developing Talents in Spanish-Speaking Students written by Joan Franklin Smutny and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2012-08-02 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ¡Atención! Recognize the strengths of Spanish-speaking students! With the growing population of Hispanic students, it′s more important than ever to persevere beyond the language barrier and nurture their gifts and talents. This book provides teachers and leaders with the skills needed to uncover each child′s abilities and ultimately boost achievement for gifted Spanish-speaking students. Packed with strategies, suggestions, and materials teachers can use immediately to enhance instruction and assessment, this book shows how to: Recognize students′ unique strengths Identify and develop the gifts of bilingualism and different cultures Create challenging learning experiences for every student in the class Adapt tools and strategies to meet each learner′s unique needs Connect with parents and the greater Spanish-speaking community Included are testimonials from teachers and students; examples of communications with and from parents; selected poems from gifted students; and inspirational stories from adults who overcame language challenges to earn college degrees and achieve successful careers. Too often, Spanish-speaking students are overlooked, miscast into special education, or not recognized for their abilities. This book shows you how to uncover the creativity in each one of your students.

Growing Critically Conscious Teachers

Author : Angela Valenzuela
Publisher : Teachers College Press
ISBN 13 : 0807773964
Total Pages : 209 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (77 download)

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Book Synopsis Growing Critically Conscious Teachers by : Angela Valenzuela

Download or read book Growing Critically Conscious Teachers written by Angela Valenzuela and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2016 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To meet the needs of the fast growing numbers of Latino/a English learners, this volume presents an approach to secondary education teacher preparation based on the work of the National Latino/a Education Research and Policy Project (NLERAP). Renowned scholar and educator Angela Valenzuela, together with an impressive roster of contributors, provides a critical framework for educating culturally responsive teachers. They examine the knowledge, skills, and predisposition required for higher education institutions to create curricula for educating Latino/a children, children of color, and language minority youth. Growing Critically Conscious Teachers illuminates why growing our own teachers makes sense as an approach for not only addressing the achievement gap, but for also enhancing the well-being of our communities as a whole. Book Features: A community-based, university- and district-connected partnership model that fosters students’ critical consciousness. A framework for participatory action research (PAR) within teacher preparation that promotes community and societal transformation. A curriculum premised on sociocultural and sociopolitical awareness. The wisdom, experiences, and lessons learned from educators who have been change agents in their own schools, communities, and college classrooms across the country. “An enormous contribution to the field. It will also be a cherished resource and guide for Latino/a and non-Latino/a teachers alike, and for the university faculty and school- and community-based facilitators who help prepare them.” —From the Foreword by Sonia Nieto, Professor Emerita, Language, Literacy, and Culture, College of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst “Provides the elemental sparks for essential conversations about culturally responsive teaching and the well-being of youth in our communities. Through a variety of critical perspectives this volume raises significant questions that must be at the forefront of Latino/a education. This excellent volume is a must read for teachers truly committed to educational practices of social justice in schools today.” —Antonia Darder, Leavey Endowed Chair of Ethics and Moral Leadership, Loyola Marymount University

Quality Education for Latinos and Latinas

Author : Rita Portales
Publisher : University of Texas Press
ISBN 13 : 0292774273
Total Pages : 241 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (927 download)

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Book Synopsis Quality Education for Latinos and Latinas by : Rita Portales

Download or read book Quality Education for Latinos and Latinas written by Rita Portales and published by University of Texas Press. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As educators and legislators across the country debate how to improve public schools, the most vital factor often disappears from the equation—the relationship between the teacher and the student. According to veteran educators Rita and Marco Portales, this relationship is the central issue in the education of students, especially Latino/a students who often face serious barriers to school success because of the legacy of racism, insufficient English-language skills, and cultural differences with the educational establishment. To break down these barriers and help Latino/a students acquire a quality education, the Portaleses focus attention on the teacher-student relationship and offer a proven method that teachers can use to strengthen the print and oral skills of their students. They begin by analyzing the reasons why schools too often fail to educate Latino/a students, using eloquent comments from young Latinos/as and their parents to confirm how important the teacher-student relationship is to the student's success. Then they show how all educational stakeholders—teachers, administrators, state education agencies, legislators, and parents—can work together to facilitate the teacher-student relationship and improve student education. By demonstrating how teachers can improve students' reading, critical thinking, writing, and oral communication skills across the curriculum, they argue that learning can be made more relevant for students, keeping their interest levels high while preparing them for academically competitive colleges.

Creating Alternative Discourses in the Education of Latinos and Latinas

Author : Raul E. Ybarra
Publisher : Peter Lang
ISBN 13 : 9780820468013
Total Pages : 260 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (68 download)

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Book Synopsis Creating Alternative Discourses in the Education of Latinos and Latinas by : Raul E. Ybarra

Download or read book Creating Alternative Discourses in the Education of Latinos and Latinas written by Raul E. Ybarra and published by Peter Lang. This book was released on 2004 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While Latinos and Latinas are the youngest and largest U.S. minority group, they continue to be among the poorest and least educated. A major contribution of Creating Alternative Discourses in the Education of Latinos and Latinas is that it provides scholars, teachers, and practitioners with counter-hegemonic theories, methods, and pedagogies that challenge the mainstream assumptions about the education of this group. Drawing on rich ethnographic portrayals including life history interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, this interdisciplinary volume bridges diverse bodies of literature in an attempt to bring about changes in the education of Latinos and Latinas.

Latino Educational Leadership

Author : Cristóbal Rodriguez
Publisher : IAP
ISBN 13 : 1641133570
Total Pages : 237 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (411 download)

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Book Synopsis Latino Educational Leadership by : Cristóbal Rodriguez

Download or read book Latino Educational Leadership written by Cristóbal Rodriguez and published by IAP. This book was released on 2018-09-01 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Latino Educational Leadership acknowledges the unique preparation and support for both Latinx educational leaders and Latino communities needed throughout the education and policy pipeline. While leadership in communities exists for educational purposes, this effort focuses on the institutional aspect of Latino Educational Leadership across K-12 schools and university settings. The purpose of this book is to create a greater collaborative focus on Latino Educational Leadership by inviting scholarly contributions and insights from both established and up-and-coming scholars. Latino Educational Leadership also advocates for the preparation of all leaders as well as the preparation of Latinx educational leaders, to serve Latino communities. Our impetus on Latino Educational Leadership primarily stems from the changing demographics of our country. As of Fall 2017, Latinx student enrollment in K-12 schools reached an all-time high, with Latinxs comprising 26.8% of the nation’s public school enrollment. Postsecondary level Latinx student enrollment has also improved; rising from 25% in 2005 to 37% in 2015. Given this growth, particularly at the K-12 level, there has been an increasing urgency to prepare and support more Latinx educational leaders. Their rich cultural and linguistic connections to communities help them more readily understand and meet the needs of Latino students and families. Aside from enrollment growth, Latinxs have made record strides in postsecondary attainment; between 2003-04 and 2013-14, bachelor's degrees more than doubled from 94,644 to 202,412, master's degrees conferred rose from 29,806 to 55,965, and doctoral degrees rose from 5, 795 to 10,665. Despite such promising gains, concern has not waned over how to best address the challenges this diverse student population continues to face in accessing, persisting, and matriculating across the P-20 Pipeline. There is still work to be done, as only 11% of all bachelor’s degrees, 9% of all master’s degrees, and 7% of all doctoral degrees were awarded to Latinxs in 2013-14. In particular, there is increasing urgency to address how higher education institutions can better prepare, develop, and retain Latinx leaders and scholars, who will serve and meet the needs of Latinx college students to ensure their academic success. Thus, the purpose of this book is to advance the knowledge related to serving Latino communities and preparing Latinx leaders.

Latina Teachers

Author : Glenda M. Flores
Publisher : NYU Press
ISBN 13 : 1479886211
Total Pages : 272 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (798 download)

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Book Synopsis Latina Teachers by : Glenda M. Flores

Download or read book Latina Teachers written by Glenda M. Flores and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2017-06-13 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner, 2018 Outstanding Contribution to Scholarship Book Award presented by the American Sociological Association's Section on Race, Class, and Gender Honorable Mention, 2018 Distinguished Contribution to Research Book Award presented by the American Sociological Association's Latina/o Sociology Section How Latina teachers are making careers and helping students stay in touch with their roots. Latina women make up the fastest growing non-white group entering the teaching profession at a time when it is estimated that 20% of all students nationwide now identify as Latina/o. Through ethnographic and participant observation in two underperforming majority-minority schools in Los Angeles, as well as interviews with teachers, parents and staff, Latina Teachers examines the complexities stemming from a growing workforce of Latina teachers. The teachers profiled use Latino cultural resources and serve as agents of ethnic mobility. They actively teach their students how to navigate American race and class structures while retaining their cultural roots, necessary tactics in an American education system that has not fully caught up with the nation’s demographic changes. Flores also explores the challenges faced by Latina teachers, including language barriers and cultural acclimation, and professional inequalities that continue to affect women of color at work. An unprecedented look at an understudied population, Latina Teachers presents an important picture of the women who are increasingly shaping the way America’s children are educated.

Pedagogy of Latinos

Author : Raymond Falcon
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 20 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (16 download)

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Book Synopsis Pedagogy of Latinos by : Raymond Falcon

Download or read book Pedagogy of Latinos written by Raymond Falcon and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: High stakes testing in the state of Texas creates greater achievement gaps between Latina/os and White students. With the state adopting strict guidelines for graduation, Latina/os find it difficult to stay in school and proceed to higher educational institutions. Latina/os choose to drop out of schools with curriculums which do not embrace their potential and academic ability. This paper will construct an argument for schools to provide a critical mathematics education for Latino students. High stakes testing creates curriculums which are irrelevant leaving minority students to fail. With the No Child Left Behind Act, schools are pressured to perform academically causing Latino students to become de-sensitized to schooling, learning, and their future. Schools rather should embrace a curriculum of caring, creativity, culture, language, empowerment, critical consciousness, transformative, and agency. Schools must also change the place of teachers from technicians to engineers who analyze, create, apply, assess, and reform their curriculums to better cater to minority students. Teachers are better able to provide a mathematics education which acknowledges Latino students' culture and create real life connections to their learning. This paper will discuss factors involving high stakes accountability, a literature review, need for a study, purpose, methodology, a discussion, and recommendations.

Latina Bilingual Education Teachers

Author : Yukari Takimoto Amos
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351691236
Total Pages : 293 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (516 download)

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Book Synopsis Latina Bilingual Education Teachers by : Yukari Takimoto Amos

Download or read book Latina Bilingual Education Teachers written by Yukari Takimoto Amos and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-03-19 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Using critical race theory and whiteness studies as theoretical frameworks, this book traces two Latina bilingual education teachers in three different professional phases: as paraprofessionals, teacher candidates, and certified teachers. Grounded in a longitudinal case study, this book sheds light on the effects of institutional racism when Latina/o educational professionals attempt inclusion in white dominant organizations, such as schools. Revealing and analyzing the structural racism present in schools and the obstacles it creates for professionals of color, the author exposes the racist practices that are hidden from view and offer practical solutions to combat them.

Learning from the Teaching Practices of Successful Teachers of Latina and Latino Students

Author : Glori H. Smith
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (945 download)

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Book Synopsis Learning from the Teaching Practices of Successful Teachers of Latina and Latino Students by : Glori H. Smith

Download or read book Learning from the Teaching Practices of Successful Teachers of Latina and Latino Students written by Glori H. Smith and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The achievement gap between White students and students of color has long been a concern of educators. It is well established that critical pedagogy and culturally relevant teaching practices increase the possibility of academic achievement for ethnic minority students; yet, throughout the U.S., the implementation of such practices has been less than optimal. It is also clear that some teachers are doing an excellent job of teaching students of color. However, it is not clear what those teachers are doing and what their practices look like, particularly in secondary classrooms and for Latina/o students0́4the fastest growing ethnic minority population in the U.S. Are successful teachers of Latina/o youth engaging in critical pedagogy or culturally relevant teaching practices? Have they developed caring, empathetic relationships with students that result in greater engagement and academic success? Using a multifaceted theoretical framework of critical social theory, seen specifically through the lenses of culturally relevant pedagogy, empathy and false empathy, critical studies in Whiteness, and critical race theory, this ethnographic multiple-case study aimed to answer those questions. By observing and interviewing educators whom principals, teachers, and parents all nominated as 0́−successful0́+ for the Latina and Latino students in a particular school, and identifying the teaching strategies and classroom management routines they employed, I hoped to illuminate key practices and underlying attitudes that other teachers can emulate as they strive to reach and teach Latina/o students.

Learning from Emergent Bilingual Latinx Learners in K-12

Author : Pablo C. Ramirez
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317225392
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (172 download)

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Book Synopsis Learning from Emergent Bilingual Latinx Learners in K-12 by : Pablo C. Ramirez

Download or read book Learning from Emergent Bilingual Latinx Learners in K-12 written by Pablo C. Ramirez and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-11-03 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume, scholars, researchers, and teacher educators from across the United States present their latest findings regarding teacher education to develop meaningful learning experiences and meet the sociocultural, linguistic, and academic needs of Latino ELLs. The book documents how teacher education programs guide teachers to engage in culturally and linguistically diverse academic contexts and sheds light on the variety of research-based theoretical frameworks that inform teaching practices. A unique contribution to the field, Learning from Emergent Bilingual Latinx Learners in K-12 provides innovative approaches for linking Latino school communities with teachers at a time when demographic shifts are considerably altering population trends in the K-12 educational system.

Asset Pedagogies in Latino Youth Identity and Achievement

Author : Francesca A. López
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1317434129
Total Pages : 233 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (174 download)

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Book Synopsis Asset Pedagogies in Latino Youth Identity and Achievement by : Francesca A. López

Download or read book Asset Pedagogies in Latino Youth Identity and Achievement written by Francesca A. López and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-12-15 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Asset Pedagogies in Latino Youth Identity and Achievement explores the theory, research, and application of asset-based pedagogies to counter approaches that fail to challenge deficit views of youth. Presenting details on the role of teachers’ knowledge about students’ language and culture as strengths as opposed to deficiencies, Francesca A. López connects classroom practices to positive outcomes, preparing teachers to use asset pedagogies to promote academic achievement and implement asset-based teaching practices. Making thorough use of examples from research both in and out of the classroom and concluding with concrete applications from experienced educators, this book provides future teachers with a critical understanding of how to support Latino youth.

Learning from Latino Role Models

Author : David Campos
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1475825544
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (758 download)

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Book Synopsis Learning from Latino Role Models by : David Campos

Download or read book Learning from Latino Role Models written by David Campos and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2016-04-06 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learning from Latino Role Models provides teachers with instructional resources that can be easily used in classroom settings so that they are culturally responsive to their Latino students. The book has two parts: Part I offers 20 sets of activities designed around Latino role models, and aims to help students learn how Latinos offer unique contributions to this nation. It is expected that these resources can help Latino schoolchildren find inspiration to realize their own goals. Part II offers 20 sets of activities around select picture books that reflect the Latino community and cultural heritage. The activities are designed to help children come to identify with the stories’ controlling themes as they address Latino culture, history, values, and experiences. In all, the instructional sets are complete with questions that motivate critical thinking; activity ideas that reinforce the meaning or the intended message of the story; and vocabulary to enhance students’ communication skills. Additionally, each set comes with corresponding worksheets for the students to complete.

Handbook of Latinos and Education

Author : Juan Sánchez Muñoz
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135236682
Total Pages : 1251 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (352 download)

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Book Synopsis Handbook of Latinos and Education by : Juan Sánchez Muñoz

Download or read book Handbook of Latinos and Education written by Juan Sánchez Muñoz and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2009-12-16 with total page 1251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a comprehensive review of rigorous, innovative, and critical scholarship relevant to educational issues which impact Latinos, this Handbook captures the field at this point in time. Its unique purpose and function is to profile the scope and terrain of academic inquiry on Latinos and education. Presenting the most significant and potentially influential work in the field in terms of its contributions to research, to professional practice, and to the emergence of related interdisciplinary studies and theory, the volume is organized around five themes: history, theory, and methodology policies and politics language and culture teaching and learning resources and information. The Handbook of Latinos and Education is a must-have resource for educational researchers, graduate students, teacher educators, and the broad spectrum of individuals, groups, agencies, organizations and institutions sharing a common interest in and commitment to the educational issues that impact Latinos.

Funds of Knowledge

Author : Norma Gonzalez
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1135614059
Total Pages : 332 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (356 download)

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Book Synopsis Funds of Knowledge by : Norma Gonzalez

Download or read book Funds of Knowledge written by Norma Gonzalez and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2006-04-21 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The concept of "funds of knowledge" is based on a simple premise: people are competent and have knowledge, and their life experiences have given them that knowledge. The claim in this book is that first-hand research experiences with families allow one to document this competence and knowledge, and that such engagement provides many possibilities for positive pedagogical actions. Drawing from both Vygotskian and neo-sociocultural perspectives in designing a methodology that views the everyday practices of language and action as constructing knowledge, the funds of knowledge approach facilitates a systematic and powerful way to represent communities in terms of the resources they possess and how to harness them for classroom teaching. This book accomplishes three objectives: It gives readers the basic methodology and techniques followed in the contributors' funds of knowledge research; it extends the boundaries of what these researchers have done; and it explores the applications to classroom practice that can result from teachers knowing the communities in which they work. In a time when national educational discourses focus on system reform and wholesale replicability across school sites, this book offers a counter-perspective stating that instruction must be linked to students' lives, and that details of effective pedagogy should be linked to local histories and community contexts. This approach should not be confused with parent participation programs, although that is often a fortuitous consequence of the work described. It is also not an attempt to teach parents "how to do school" although that could certainly be an outcome if the parents so desired. Instead, the funds of knowledge approach attempts to accomplish something that may be even more challenging: to alter the perceptions of working-class or poor communities by viewing their households primarily in terms of their strengths and resources, their defining pedagogical characteristics. Funds of Knowledge: Theorizing Practices in Households, Communities, and Classrooms is a critically important volume for all teachers and teachers-to-be, and for researchers and graduate students of language, culture, and education.