Theory Into Practice:“Connecting with Latino Learners”

By Kathleen Cotta

Theory

1. Students should build on “funds of knowledge”– Content-Area Cognates– Graphic Organizers– Incorporating Multiple

Modalities– Language Face-to-Face

Content-Area Cognates

1. What is a cognate?2. Can be used in all content

areas– Ex: geometry,

geography/history, English subject

3. Older ELL students more likely to apply Spanish vocab to English vocab

4. Warning: False Cognates

Graphic Organizers1. Text structures often

overlooked– Chronological sequence– Compare and contrast– Cause and effect

2. Good for visualization3. Help cognition

– access knowledge quickly– tap into prior knowledge– discern relationships– establish a hierarchy among

concepts– review information

4. Types of Organizers– Flow Charts– Cycle Charts

Incorporating Multiple Modalities

1. Students may not have adequate background knowledge on topics– Ex: US History

2. Visual/Audio aids- English captions

3. Variety of texts and genres

Language Face-to-Face1. Engaging with peers face-

to-face develops oral and written skills

2. Types of exercises:– Student Teams

Achievement Division– Teams-Games-Tournament– Jigsaw

3. Why this is helpful– Work together– All held accountable– Makes the task easier– Students assume roles

Final Notes

1. Remember: rely on funds of knowledge

2. Why this theory is necessary

3. How it relates to my topic

4. How it relates to all topics

Article Citation

• Rubinstein-Ávila, Eliane. "Connecting with Latino Learners." Helping Struggling Students 63.5 Feb. (2006): 38-43. ERIC (originally); dirkdavis.net. Web. 20 June 2011. <www.dirkdavis.net/./Connecting%20With%20Latino%20Learners.pdf>.

Photo Credits• http://vivacatalina.blogspot.com/2010/04/group-proje

cts.html• http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

background+knowledge• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/

newTMC_97.htm• http://www.auburn.edu/research/vpr/urfp/

checklist.html• http://lvhumanists.org/wordpress/?cat=6• http://vocablog-plc.blogspot.com/2009/11/

peripatetic-pan-cross-linguistic.html