Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
6-2017
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
Urban Education
Advisor
Ofelia García
Committee Members
Ceclia Espinosa
Nicholas Michelli
Patricia Velasco
Subject Categories
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | Curriculum and Instruction | Educational Methods | First and Second Language Acquisition | Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching | Language and Literacy Education | Other Teacher Education and Professional Development
Keywords
language ideology, bilingual education, curriculum, professional development, narrative writing, Latino
Abstract
This dissertation examines a teacher’s language ideologies, their impact on curriculum modifications and bilingual Latinx middle schoolers’ storytelling, to understand how a bilingual pedagogy builds on their cultural and linguistic resources. This qualitative study was conducted in a sixth grade writing workshop class in New York City as the focus teacher taught the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Personal Narrative Unit of Study. The first two findings center on the factors that influence a teacher’s stance on language practices and bilingual pedagogy, and how these contributed to curriculum modifications that included using students’ full linguistic and cultural repertoires, integrating culturally relevant texts, modifying pedagogical approaches, and sharing teacher demonstration writing. The third research finding focuses on the role of writing as release and revealing of language practices when a bilingual pedagogy is implemented. The study also found that a bilingual pedagogy revealed the tensions experienced by students as they face pressures, pride, and shame connected to their language practices when negotiating various aspects of their identities. This study has implications for language policy, teacher preparation and professional development, partnerships across institutions to support educators’ and students’ language ideologies and writing journeys, and pedagogy that embraces bilingual students’ identities and stories.
Recommended Citation
Espana, Carla, "Escribiendo para desahogarme: Release and Resistance in a Middle School Bilingual Writing Workshop" (2017). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2119
Included in
Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Methods Commons, First and Second Language Acquisition Commons, Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching Commons, Language and Literacy Education Commons, Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons