Race+and+Socioeconomic+Status+Articles

I found three articles and a video that I thought connected well with things we have been discussing in class. Hope you find them useful!

The //New York Times// article, [|"Why Don't We Have Any White Kids?,"]discusses the fact that the majority of schools in the United States are highly segregated today. The article points out the negative effects this segregation has for both academics and adequately preparing students for the future. It includes eye-opening perspectives from middle school students and teachers.

Another article I found is from //NPR//. It is called "[|Small Change in Reading to Preschoolers Can Help Disadvantaged Children Catch Up]." I found it interesting because it discusses a study done in Washington D.C. that investigated what impact focusing preschoolers to text when reading would have on their reading abilities. The theory behind the study is that when children are read to at home, they are typically sitting on their parents' laps and are able to view the text and therefore begin to learn how to read (reading from left to right, letters make sounds that form words, etc.). Disadvantaged children may not have the same reading exposure at home so being asked questions that directs their eyes towards the print of a book during a read aloud can provide them with the background necessary to read. The study found that asking students questions that would have them look at the text in a story does improve their reading ability.

[|"Raising Latino Achievement Seen as 'Demographic Imperative'"] is an article I found on //Education Week//. The article states that Latino achievement is lower than any other ethnic group and gives some startling statistics about Latinos in the U.S. It is expected that there will be approximately 58.5 million Latino students in the U.S. by 2020. The article discusses that Latino achievement is an issue that we must discuss and find a solution to for our country to be successful in the future.

I also want to share with you a video I watched during another class. It is called "The Danger of a Single Story" and it focuses on Chimamanda Adichie's experiences coming to college in the United States after growing up in Africa. She warns how dangerous it is to make assumptions about a culture without realizing that not everyone will fit the most common story. I thought this video complements our discussion on race because it relates to making judgments about others and our discussion of "mirrors and windows." media type="custom" key="19610714" align="center" Alicia Campellone