Parent involvement has been shown to be one of the keys to student educational success, their ability to perform at a high level and persevere. The latest government statistics reveal that 53 million Hispanics now reside in the United States and 75 % of this population speaks Spanish at home [Cooper, M. (2014). "Hispanics in America and in…

Coming to understand how cultural differences influence interactions between educators and students and their parents is a complex and perhaps life-long discovery. Culture helps to define groups' belief systems and expectations for appropriate behavior, often at a hidden level. Pre-service teachers need multiple opportunities to interact with…

Personal reflections provide snapshots on Patricia Mason's journey from third grade to higher education and highlight family, teacher, and school influence on her academic growth. Integrated Catholic school and community experiences shaped the cultural and social dimension of her present teaching philosophy. Recollections of childhood school…