week 12 reflection of article

    I agree with the view of researchers in Literacy Instruction for Bilingual Latino Students: Teachers’ Experiences and Knowledge,   "teacher voices and perspectives must be considered in a thoughtful, respectful, and rigorously systematic fashion. "

    From the three sites, Chicago, El Paso, and Washington, DC, I saw some features in common. The bilingual teachers recognize the importance of their role and the influence they radiate to their students. They are unequivocally cultural ambassador to bridge the family, school, community, and society contexts. They have high expectation on their students, but like the article mentioned, the understanding should not only from the trained bilingual teachers, it's better "by teachers from mainstream backgrounds."(p.145)

     The seasoned teachers strive to utilize the proper strategies or materials in their curriculum, instruction, assessment, and home-school relations. I am moved by the efforts that teachers make to upgrade students' bilingual capability. I agree with "writing" is a practical way having students advance their literacy learning slowly but surely. "The song, music, art, drama, dance, and poetry" (p.149) are powerful to up students' motivation, and the passion should last not only in the phase of the beginning but into advanced level. But the bilingual teachers often encounter the dilemma of the shortage of appropriate materials, texts or lessons, which hinders their passion for instruction. Hanging over by the present policy and stereotype from the mainstream is the pressure that many bilingual teachers carry on now.

     From the article, it brings up another facet that extant in-service teachers should consider--assessment. How to understand students' authentic ability is a crucial domain for the educator to adjust the teaching. When teachers make most of the curricular integration, thematic teaching, culturally relevant curriculum realia, hands-on activities and cooperative grouping, it points out the assessment should be more reflective on their various way of comprehension and expressing the understanding.

     The home-school relation is the undeniable element for bilingual students' success.  Three sites have very empirical strategies share with me are getting parents into the classroom and communicating bilingually. The more parents understand, the more they engage. Parents can even emulate the teaching and continue supporting their children at home.

      Teachers are at the frontline in the education system, they face the difficulties every single day. Through their observation and experiences, we can have a more authentic understanding and then solve the problems more accurately.  Just like a jigsaw puzzle, teachers' perspective not only outlines the big picture but also provides clues for other relevant people to evaluate.