Language Arts - Volume 95, Issue 1, 2017

Guided by a Community Cultural Wealth framework, which is based upon the notion that Communities of Color are filled with strong resources, the study reports on findings from a research project engaging a small group of Latina mamás in literature discussions about Latino children’s literature. Rather than view the ways of meaning making that families share with their children in their homes and communities as deficits, a CCW framework requires an examination of these forms of knowledge through an assets-based lens. The inquiry examined how it is possible for Latino families to be invited into schools.

Following a sustained involvement with the English language arts and reading standards revision process in their state, the authors reflect upon the political process, passionate determination, and participatory advocacy that shaped the work with their state affiliate. In this article, they discuss the events that occurred as the standards were revised under the leadership of the state board of education and the state education agency in conjunction with teacher workgroups and professional organizations. A chronological timeline is contextualized by the authors’ professional journeys toward advocacy and the future directions for implementing the revised standards in the state of Texas with general suggestions for how advocacy efforts could be implemented in other settings.

This column invites educators to consider taking an activist stance toward teaching by describing a wide range of activist projects that occur both inside and outside the classroom.

Peterson describes the power of problem-posing pedagogy that encourages teachers and students to think critically and become advocates for better schooling and social justice.

In this column, we review books that share examples of advocacy in its many different forms.

This article shares the perspectives of a preservice teacher and two teacher educators as they learn, through relationship and reflection, how to amplify and advocate for student voice.