Browsing by Subject "Bilingual Education"
Now showing 1 - 7 of 7
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item A Qualitative Study of Intergenerational Literacy Connection (ILC) Practices Among Korean ELL Families and Teachers(2012-07-16) Shin, Jee YoungThe purpose of this research was to examine the ways in which Korean families of English Language Learners (ELLs) and teachers supported literacy in young children, as well as the kinds of interactions between families and teachers that supported ELL children's literacy development. The sample for this study consisted of four Korean ELL students attending public early childhood programs in Texas, their teachers and families. A constructivist grounded theory-based approach to data generation was employed, utilizing a wide variety of data collection methods such as questionnaires, interviews, observations, photography, field notes, and video recording. Grounded analysis, content analysis, and narrative analysis were then used in order to analyze the data. The case analysis showed that the parents and teachers did their best using their own resources within their own contexts. However, their educational goals and practices were not noticed or shared by each other. The families' and teacher's challenges and limited resources resulted in the creation of invisible expectations of the other parties. However, by watching video clips about literacy practices and reading handouts about each person's literacy values, goals, experiences, and photo projects, the families and teachers recognized each other's literacy resources, negotiated different expectations, and mediated communication channels to facilitate ELL children's literacy development. In the cross-case analysis, one major theme emerged: the search for understanding two different social and cultural contexts to find an overlapping resource to support ELL children's literacy learning. In detail, the more sophisticated emergent description of literacy support of the Korean family participants was provided through the lenses of the sociocultural approach, bidirectionality, and intergenerational trajectories. With regard to the construction of literacy by the teacher participants, I found that behind their support is their own perception of a bilingual child: monolingual viewpoint vs. bilingual viewpoint. Furthermore, the teachers' bilingualism was related to parental involvement in the school curriculum. The analysis then found an overlapping resource to use to enhance ELL students' learning: the practice of classroom book reading. Finally, recommendations for future applications of the Intergenerational Literacy Connection (ILC) model and some future directions for research are also discussed.Item Examining Dual Language, Bilingual, and ESL Teachers? Knowledge, Professional Development Experiences, and Perceptions About Second Language Programs In Texas(2013-03-27) Franco-Fuenmayor, Susana ElenaThe rapid increase of the English Language Learner (ELL) student population in the United States and their continued lack of achievement means that research must focus on examining differences between the types of second language programs that are available in the U.S. to assist ELLs to learn a second language. The lack of research about teachers? knowledge and perceptions along with professional development practices in second language programs indicates the need to improve teacher training. This dissertation includes two research studies that followed a mixed-methods approach. Study 1 was conducted with 225 Bilingual and English as Second Language (ESL) teachers in a large suburban school district. Study 2 included 335 Dual Language and ESL teachers from forty school districts in Texas. Study 1 examined Bilingual and ESL teachers? knowledge of research on bilingual programs, instructional issues for ELLs, general instructional strategies, and second language development amongst bilingual/ESL teachers who work in different language programs. Also, the study considered the professional development opportunities provided to teachers of ELLs. In addition, it examined teachers? perceptions about administrators, program implementation, program features, school and community, and adequate training along with the degree of program satisfaction. Study 2 investigated whether the program of instruction, grade level, years of experience, types of route to certification, and feelings of pre-service teacher preparation made a difference on Dual Language and ESL teachers? knowledge and perceptions of second language programs. It also focused on the type of professional development that teachers receive and program strengths and challenges. Findings from both studies indicated significant differences in regards to teachers? knowledge and perceptions based on a number of variables examined. There were similarities and differences in regards to professional development experiences, program strengths and challenges. Findings indicated that a large number of teachers of ELLs are not receiving adequate training and that bilingual and Dual Language teachers know more than ESL teachers about research on bilingual programs and second language development. These findings have policy implications because they provide information about the type of knowledge and training that teachers are receiving and most importantly the deficits.Item ?Muestreme el dinero!: assessing the linkage between Latino school superintendents and English language learner program resources(2009-05-15) Theobald, Nick AndrewA central question in racial and ethnic politics is whether bureaucratic representation benefits minorities. The theory of bureaucratic representation suggests that passive representation?representatives sharing characteristics of the represented?can lead to active representation?acting in a manner that represents the interests of the represented group. A growing body of empirical research has found that bureaucratic representation leads to improved policy outcomes for minorities. Most of the evidence for active representation, though, comes from representation by street-level bureaucrats. We do not know the impact of representation by upper-level bureaucrats, however. In this dissertation, I examine the impact of school superintendents on the generation and distribution of resources to English language learner programs. In particular, I investigate whether the presence of Latino superintendents leads to greater resources for these programs. Additionally, I also explore the impact of these programs on the Latino dropout rate. Using data from the Texas Education Agency, U.S. Census, and National Association of Latino Elected Officials, I find that upper-level bureaucrats do actively represent the needs of represented groups. Specifically, Latino superintendents distribute more resources, in the form of teachers, to English language learner (ELL) programs. Additionally, Latino superintendents are more likely to distribute resources to bilingual programs relative to English as a second language programs. In regard to the impact of different types of ELL programs, I do not find evidence that program type predicts Latino dropout rates. However, I do find that serving the needs of limited English proficient students, regardless of program type, helps to decrease the Latino dropout rate.Item Phonemic Awareness and Its Impact on Emerging Spanish Literacy in Bilingual Classrooms(2011-10-21) Penn, Amber BradshawThis quantitative study has been derived from a five-year federal experimental research project entitled English and Literacy Acquisition (ELLA- R305P030032) which targeted Spanish-speaking English Language Learners (ELLs) receiving services in English immersion and bilingual program models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive power of Spanish phonemic awareness in kindergarten on Spanish reading ability in first grade among Spanish-speaking ELLs. Fifty-five students from typical practice bilingual classrooms were included in this study. Phonemic awareness skills were measured using blending phonemes and segmenting words, two subtests from Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (C-TOPP). Reading ability was measured using letter-word identification and passage comprehension, two subtests from Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery-Revised (WLPB-R). Data of phonemic awareness skills were collected at the beginning and end of kindergarten and data of reading ability were collected at the beginning and end of first grade. Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were performed to address the research questions. The data from this study present a picture of a predictive power of phonemic awareness skills on reading comprehension in Spanish. Results from this study suggest that both skill areas of phonemic awareness in kindergarten have a moderate predictive effect on reading ability at the beginning of first grade. However, phonemic awareness skills in kindergarten did not show a statistically significant relationship to Spanish literacy at the end of first grade. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.Item State Funding and the Equal Educational Opportunity of Language Minority Students: The Texas Public School Finance Mechanism and the Extent to Which English Language Learners Are Equitably Served(2012-02-14) Eason, Noelle RogersThis quantitative study examined state and local funding and district spending patterns for English language learning (ELL) students in Texas. The purpose of this study was to examine the vertical equity of the state public school funding system from 1997-2007 for purchasing educational resources for ELL students. Vertical equity was operationalized through a research-based framework that places ELL students at risk of academic failure. Regression analysis examined vertical equity through (a) the extent to which the quantity of ELL students within districts predicted the TPSFM funding output for ELL students in districts over 10 years and (b) the extent to which, when districts are grouped by like-sized populations of ELL students within each of the 10 years, the quantity of ELL students within districts with like-sized populations of ELL students predicted the TPSFM funding output for ELL students. The findings revealed that from 1997-2007, the ELL student funding component was not found to be a statistically significant predictor for district spending on ELL students in any given Texas district. The present study therefore concludes with a discussion of policy implications and recommendations for further study. Within the current punitive culture for student assessment results and annual yearly progress measures, these findings indicate that programs serving ELL students may be constrained to produce results in areas where they are not equitably funded to be able to do so. In the daily life of school operations, teachers and administrators may be well aware that the state's mechanism does not supply adequate funding for the education of ELL students, therefore the results of this study may serve policy makers to clearly see the elephant of inequitable funding standing in the classroom.Item The Effects of Bilingual Education on Language, Achievement, and Self-Efficacy of Hispanic Students(2010-01-14) Hewitt, Lisa A.Much controversy exists surrounding the education of Hispanic English Language Learners (ELLs). This large and growing group presents significant challenges to educators. Foremost among these challenges is the question of whether bilingual or English-only education is most appropriate for enhancing ELLs? language proficiency and achievement. Despite decades of controversy and research in the field of bilingual education, the debate is ongoing. Additionally, Hispanic ELLs are profoundly affected by other cultural and educational factors. One potentially important factor with limited research involves the academic self-efficacy of ELLs. This study examined the relationship of bilingual and English-only education to Hispanic ELLs? language proficiency, academic achievement, and academic self-efficacy. Participants were eighth-grade Hispanic students from a large southwestern school district. Data were collected from school district records, and a self-efficacy questionnaire was administered to a subsample of students. Analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and regression procedures to measure relationships between ELL students who received bilingual education (the Bilingual group) or English-only education (the Mainstream ELL group), as well as a Comparison group of non-ELL Hispanic students. It was hypothesized that the Bilingual group would demonstrate advantages over the other two groups in English proficiency, academic achievement, and academic self-efficacy. Analyses revealed few significant group differences. The Bilingual group did not attain significantly higher English proficiency than the Mainstream ELL group by third grade. The Bilingual group did not demonstrate significantly higher achievement scores than the Mainstream ELL group, but their scores were significantly higher than the Comparison group. There were no significant differences between groups on academic self-efficacy. Regression analyses indicated that the length of time spent in bilingual education did not predict students? language proficiency, achievement, or academic self-efficacy. A final analysis indicated that academic self-efficacy and third grade English proficiency scores were significant predictors of eighth-grade achievement. Conclusions indicate modest benefits for ELL students attending bilingual education, but more advantages may have been evident had more years of bilingual education been provided to students. Clearly, increased attention to academic self-efficacy and English proficiency may be appropriate regardless of the type of educational placement. Further studies should examine other factors affecting the quality of education provided to ELL students.Item The Effects of Bilingual Placement and Middle School Transition on the Sense of School Belonging in Hispanic Students(2011-10-21) Ney, Emilie A.Because bilingual programs provide a secure environment likely to promote school belonging, it was hypothesized that Hispanic students in a bilingual program would experience higher belonging than those in regular education and that they would experience a steeper drop in belonging at the transition to middle school. Participants were 277 Hispanic and White elementary and middle school students who were followed longitudinally from grade 4 to 6. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to compare the mean levels of school belonging across groups and measure the change in school belonging at the transition. Results suggested that Hispanic students both in bilingual and in regular education had higher belonging than White students and that groups did not differ in their change in belonging at the transition to middle school.