Teaching & Learning in Spring 2023 - Teaching Latino Students

Teaching & Learning in Spring 2023

Teaching Latinx

Students

By : Jennifer Gomez Hernandez

Chapter learning goals:

The student should define the struggles Latinx students face in Education.
The student should explain different ways teachers can assisst Latinx students succeed.
The student should name programs designed for Latinx students.

Introduction to the Latinx Education

Latinx Student Struggles

Poverty

The Latinx population has very high rates of poverty, it is shocking to learn that almost one-third of Latinos in public schools live at or below the poverty level (Gaitan, 2013). One-thrid may not seem like a large number, but to put it in perspective there are about 62.5 million Latinos in the United States. Most of these students that fall under the poverty threshold attend low-income schools that do not prepare the students for higher education, continuing the poverty cycle to oncoming generations.

Language

In some parts of the country with the fastest-growing Latinx populations, almost 35% of families have limited English proficiency (Gaitan, 2013). English is typically spoken as a second language for these students making it difficult to learn and comprehend lessons at school.

Discrimination

Although the United States has come along way when it comes to racial discrimination it continues to be a issue. Some Latinx students may be see as less when compared to other students in their learning capabilities. An example is Latinos "reside in our two most-populous states — California and Texas. But while 1 in 5 U.S. students call these states home, California and Texas have access to only 4 percent of the national spots at the National Geographic Bee, the U.S. Academic Decathlon, Letters About Literature, the Presidential Scholars Program award and several other iconic academic competitions" (Oberhaus, 2017).

How do teachers help Latinx students?

Teachers can help play a big role in supporting their Latino students. Educators can, for example, enable students to exit ESL programs quickly, and offer bilingual advanced and honors courses (Howe, 1994). Teachers who push their students no matter what race they may be or what disabilities they may have will always have higher success rates. Teachers may need to go a little bit above and beyond for their Latino students but it should be every teacher's end goal for all of their students to succeed.

Programs Created for Latinx Students

Padres Comprometidos

They have trained more than 200 facilitators and helped over 3,400 parents support their children’s academic success by giving them the skills to effectively engage with schools and play a leading role in their child’s education. The program meets parents where they are, using families’ language and culture as assets upon which skills, confidence, and empowerment are built.

ParentChild+

ParentChild+ is LCC’s early childhood home visiting program. The program, designed for children ages 2-4, aims to break the cycle of poverty for low-income families by helping parents engage with their toddlers early in life via home visits focused on literacy, mathematics, school readiness, and parent-child interaction.

ESL

ESL schools help students become more fluent in English by breaking down concepts and language rules. Many programs teach mathematics, science, and history classes in a way that is easier for students who are non-native speakers. Oftentimes, these programs are located in English-speaking countries to give students a real immersion experience.

Reflection and Conclusion

While Latino high school graduation rates have improved in the last decade, only 15% of Latino adults hold a bachelor’s degree (The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, 2014). This is most likely due to the lack of support these students received when they were younger from their parents and the education system. They remain the most undereducated major segment of the U.S. population,” asserts the National Council of La Raza (De La Rosa and Maw 1990). If awareness is spread about all struggles these Latinx students face and they receive the proper assistance they can and will be very successful.

Chapter Review

What is one struggle Latinx students face?

A. Emotional support

B. ESL

C. Lack of teacher support

D. Poverty

If a Latinx student is struggling to understand the English used for class in what program will they most likely have to participate in?

A. ESL

B. Padres Comprometidos

C. ParentChild+

D. Special Education

References

Howe, C. (1994, May). Improving the achievement of Hispanic students. ASCD. Retrieved

February 3, 2023, from https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/improving-the-achievement-of-hispanic-students

Calder, M. (2000). Helping Hispanic Students Reach High Academic Standards. Ed.gov.

(2000). Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www2.ed.gov/offices/OUS/PES/Hispanic/chapter4.html

Gaitan, D. (2013). Creating a college culture for Latino students: Successful programs, practices, and strategies by Concha Delgado Gaitan.

Taylor & Francis. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15348431.2014.887471

Latino Education and Economic Progress: Running Faster but Still Behind. (2017). YouTube. Retrieved March 13, 2023, from https://youtu.be/3gfkTEhPGYU.

Lincoln, N. (2019, January 22). Challenges and strategies for assisting Latino students with college access and completion. Independent Education

Consultants Association. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.iecaonline.com/quick-links/ieca-news-center/resource library/college-

focused-publications/challenges-and-strategies-for-assisting-latino-students- with-college-access-and-completion/

Oberhaus, C. (2017, October 25). The hidden discrimination facing Hispanic students. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-hidden-discrimination-facing-hispanic-students/2017/10/25/8d3c5a58-a21b-11e7-ade1-

76d061d56efa_story.html

ANSWER KEY

1. B

2. C

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