This factsheet provides information about young people from ethnic minorities in Britain. In spring 1997, 48% of the ethnic minority population of Britain was under 24 years of age, in comparison with 31% of the White population. Twenty-two percent of the ethnic minority population was of compulsory school age, compared with 14% of the White…

Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are often interested in a number of demographic characteristics of students, such as race and ethnicity, language background, immigration status, and poverty. For example, the federal "No Child Left Behind" (NCLB) legislation requires schools and districts to report student test scores…

Identifies concerns of teachers working with isolated bilingual students, outlining key principles for ensuring that they are seen as learners who must learn what all others students learn and still develop bilingually. The context is that of the south of England, but the concerns may be common to all educators. (SLD)

Describes the efforts of a teacher in a British class for limited English speakers to learn the home language of her language-minority students and the students' reactions to her approach. Attempts to use the children's language provide a context for discussions of language differences and English structure. (SLD)

Research studies fail to support bilingual education theory, despite Hispanic parents' extensive lobbying to have their children taught in Spanish. Many Hispanic parents now realize that bilingual education has not served their best interests. The vast majority of limited-English-proficiency students receive English-as-a-Second Language…

Mathematics teaching and subject matter acquisition were studied with 66 linguistic minority children and 104 dominant language speaking students in a monolingual second-language class and a traditional bilingual education model in Oslo (Norway). Results indicate that linguistic minority students benefit from bilingual mathematics teaching. (SLD)

This article provides an overview of the family information gathering process in early intervention and the effect of cultural and linguistic diversity on family information gathering. Practical strategies that early intervention providers can use in interviews, surveys, and observations are discussed, as well as implications for personnel…

This article examines how to interpret reading problems among individuals with a home language (L1) that is different from the language of instruction in school (L2). A tentative model is proposed where the various factors involved in L2 reading are specified, providing guidelines for assessment strategies. (Contains references.) (CR)

Studied the relationships of socialization, child rearing, and primary cultural experiences and the impact of the acculturating experiences of living in the United States on the cognitive styles of 150 Laotian Hmong intermediate, middle, and high school students. Findings suggest that traditional socialization at home is being modified by these…

A study of general and English-as-a-Second-Language elementary classrooms investigated teacher and student functional uses of language. The need to use dynamic assessment procedures and ethnographic observations to distinguish between a language disorder and typical difficulties associated with second-language acquisition is discussed. (Author/CR)

Uses data from interviews with parents of Asian American students, observations, and literature reviews to identify cultural and language issues that must be considered in teaching this population. The paper discusses the history of Asian immigrants, attitudes toward education among Asians, the relationship between teaching styles and Asian…

Case study of second language acquisition presents a Chinese mother's observations of her daughter over a 5-month period following immigration to Hawaii. Language minority parents' positive attitudes toward both first and second languages and cultures, and supportive interactions with their children at home are important to the children's…

Describes how passage of Proposition 227, California's initiative restricting bilingual education, has influenced teacher preparation to authorize specialized instruction for limited English proficient students. The response to Proposition 227 by San Diego State University's College of Education is explored to illustrate the reaffirmation of a…

Describes English reading processes among native and non-native English speakers, offering a set of recommendations for teaching English learners to read in English. The paper discusses diversity among English learners and notes the importance of considering English language proficiency, prior knowledge and experiences, and primary language…

This article urges educators and administrators to collaborate closely with families of students with disabilities from diverse linguistic, racial, and cultural backgrounds and participate in training activities that stress best practices for facilitating the participation of the family. The role of the Individualized Education Program in forging…