Lisa M. Dorner, Ph.D.

teacher, researcher, life-long learner

Critical Consciousness in Two-Way Immersion Education

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From research studies to school websites, it is often written that two-way dual language (TWDL) bilingual education programs share three core goals: academic achievement, bilingualism and biliteracy, and sociocultural or intercultural competence. Colleagues (Deb Palmer, Claudia Cervantes-Soon, and Dan Heiman) and I have been thinking: this isn’t enough! Building upon our research review (RRE 2017), we proposed a fourth core goal: critical consciousness.

Although TWDL programs are designed to integrate students from diverse language, culture, and race backgrounds, equity is unfortunately still a challenge. We argue that centering critical consciousness—or fostering among teachers, parents, and children an awareness of the structural oppression that surrounds us and a readiness to take action to correct it—can support increased equity and social justice in TWDL education. In our most recent publication in the journal Theory Into Practice, we elaborate four elements of critical consciousness: interrogating power, critical listening, historicizing schools, and embracing discomfort. We illustrate these elements with examples from TWDL research and practice. In addition, we describe how such consciousness impacts and radicalizes the other three core goals, in turn supporting the development of more successful, equitable, and socially just TWDL schools.

Please take a look and let us know your ideas: how might these ideas work in your bilingual school or classroom? How can this help create more equitable and welcoming educational experiences, especially for children from immigrant families?

Immigrant Family Engagement Grows in Carthage MO

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As part of the SEE-TEL project to strengthen equity and effectiveness in “English Learner” education in Missouri, teachers and school leaders across the state are working to enhance family engagement with multilingual, immigrant parents. One tactic is hosting family conversations among educators and parents, in small groups, where parents have a chance to share their educational perspective and experiences. In a story about Carthage School District’s participation in SEE-TEL, The Joplin Globe reported that families rarely have such opportunities. We truly need to ‘flip the script’ on typical parent programs in our schools. Rather than ask “What do we/the school need to ‘give’ to parents?” schools should more often ask families: “What would you like to share with us?”

Besides an immigrant parent panel about raising children in US schools, SEE-TEL educators attended presentations about new ways to value multiple languages and literacies at the SEE-TEL Summer Institute. About this work, Emeli Jimenez, a dual language teacher in Carthage, Missouri said: “Hearing the parent panel motivated me more to be part of this program, because it is my job to set the foundation to make sure that Spanish has a status that is higher than what it’s being given.” As someone who grew up speaking Spanish, she added: “I want to make sure that kids see me as a professional, and I want them to know and realize that Spanish is important and that people that speak it are also important and have value.” Over the next four years, SEE-TEL will study whether and how such programming shapes school climate, culture, and student outcomes; check back for updates!

Addressing an Ever-Changing Immigration Context in Schools

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My colleague, Emily Crawford, and I recently wrote an article for EdWeek that addressed what educators should consider in this historical moment of ever-changing immigration law and policies. As professors who help to prepare school leaders and language teachers in Missouri, we offered some practical advice in four areas: (1) What are educators’ legal and ethical responsibilities to im/migrant, refugee, and transnational students and families? (2) How can schools and teachers prepare themselves for newcomers and for situations like nearby raids from Immigrant and Customs Enforcement? (3) How can educators prepare themselves and their students to develop critical media literacy in an era of “fake news”? (4) What do we need to do to cross boundaries, develop empathy, and encourage love in our teaching and learning?

Overwhelmingly, this country is made of individuals who have traversed oceans, climbed mountains, and weathered incredible hardship to build a new life for their families. Historically, the most recent newcomers — no matter where they come from — are viewed with suspicion, but eventually they develop strong bonds with long-time residents and contribute significantly to their communities. We know we can do better than building walls; we know strong societies are integrated societies built upon frameworks of understanding and love, not gates and isolation. We depend upon schools — and ourselves — to work toward a brighter future than blurs rather than builds boundaries.

The Immigrant Learning Center

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On July 11, The Immigrant Learning Center offered a two-day webinar focused on best practices for immigrant student success. I gave a 20 minute talk about developing critical consciousness: we discussed five things that educators can do to support multilingual, im/migrant, and refugee families and communities. This talk was based on a forthcoming article in Theory into Practice by colleagues and I:

Palmer, D., Cervantes-Soon, C., Dorner, L. & Heiman, D. (forthcoming, 2018). Bilingualism, biliteracy, biculturalism and critical consciousness for all: Proposing a fourth fundamental principle for two-way dual language education. Theory into Practice.

The Immigrant Learning Center is a non-profit organization that offers English language education as well as programs for the public to learn more about im/migrants’ contributions and experiences in US society. In addition to their outreach and education efforts, they partner with George Mason University on research projects (see more here). Such programming is essential in our country right now, with its particular political climate that often sets up boundaries between individuals and groups, rather than recognizing the humanity that connects us all.

SEE-TEL at Cambio de Colores

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On June 8, 2018, Dr. Kim Song and I presented one of the plenary talks at the Cambio de Colores – Change of Colores annual conference in Kansas City, Missouri. In the Cambio Center’s own words: “Cambio de Colores is a multistate conference about integration of immigrants in new destinations. People from various fields who work with Latinos and immigrant communities come together to share research and best practices that facilitate the integration of newcomers.” It’s one of my favorite conferences because it brings together researchers and practitioners from a huge variety of fields: truly the only way we can solve the grand challenges of our society is to collaborate across fields and social agencies, and Cambio de Colores is a space that helps us do this!

Kim and I were asked to provide the education-focused plenary, and so we decided to share the background and framework for our current project, SEE-TEL: Strengthening Equity and Effectiveness for Teachers of English Learners. We felt it was important to highlight key terms (why we might prefer the phrase “emerging bilinguals” over “English Learners”), describe our own histories and how we came to work together, explain the goals of our current grant, and then conclude with two key pillars we believe are essential in helping educators, immigrant families, and their children succeed: Collaboration and Translanguaging.

Take a look at our presentation here and then please join us in our journey to enhance equity and excellence for all of our students! 2018 Cambio Plenary Dorner Song