Land of Opportunity

This book presents the experiences of immigrant children and their families in the US. We use the lens of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT), a pedagogy that recognizes the importance of including students' cultural references in all aspects of learning (Ladson-Billings, 1994). Teachers become culturally relevant when they intentionally acknowledge and incorporate the experiences of all their students. They ensure that all students feel welcomed in their classrooms, regardless of their cultural, racial or ethnic backgrounds. The ongoing negative debates surrounding immigrant populations, center on minority immigrants. We believe that all immigrant students can succeed in the US education system if given the most appropriate experiences to support their learning. We advocate for employing a culturally responsive stance to achieve this. To that end, this book shares diverse experiences from different minoritized immigrant groups, in the hope that these stories illuminate the importance of acknowledging and celebrating all students and their experiences in the school, home and community.

An important and timely book, this edited volume provides educators insights into the contemporary immigrant experience in America. This valuable contribution to the professional literature includes authentic immigrant voices, implications for instruction, and resources on immigrants and refugees for educators., Having come to a new country with dreams and ambitions for a better life, many immigrants and refugees find themselves struggling instead with prejudice and discrimination. Children are particularly vulnerable, as the language and cultural practices that have guided their lives now separate them from neighbors and peers. This book prepares teachers to understand and educate immigrant and refugee students through culturally responsive classroom practices.

Ruth McKoy Lowery, PhD, is professor of children’s literature and literacy, and associate chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning at the Ohio State University. Her current research focuses on immigrant and multicultural literature, the adaptation of immigrant and at-risk students in schools, and preparing teachers to teach a diverse student population. Rose M. Pringle, PhD, is an associate professor in science education in the School of Teaching and Learning at the University of Florida. Her research agenda extends into two parallel, yet related research areas in science teacher education. In one line, she focuses on the development of science teachers’ disciplinary content knowledge and the impact of professional development on their learning. Mary Ellen Oslick, PhD, is an assistant professor of literacy and reading at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in reading methods, children’s literature, and critical literacy practices throughout the content areas.