Caught Between Regulations and Meaning: Fifth Grade Students and Their Teachers
Respond to Multicultural Children's Literature
Many students are being taught by teachers who have little background in the
children’s culture and language. This study explored how authentic ethnic literature
could supplement core curriculum in the classroom in an effort to help teachers and
students connect across their cultural and linguistic differences. This was a study of fifthgrade
students’ responses to two different types of text. The two White (not Hispanic or
Latino) fifth-grade teachers read aloud all stories to their classes of predominantly
Mexican-American students. Following each whole-group read-aloud lesson, each
teacher gave six students in their respective classes an opportunity to meet as a small
group. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the basal reading
program on the teacher-led whole group discussions and the differences between whole
group and peer group literature discussions of two different types of text. The eightmonth
research process revealed answers to these questions that can be contextualized in
the light of the influence of laws, district mandates, and scripted curriculum.
Both fifth-grade teachers relied on core curriculum directives when reading aloud
and leading whole class literature discussions around multicultural stories included in the
basal. Pacing demands eclipsed expansion of literary understanding negotiated betweenteachers and students during class discussions. However, implementation of the core
curriculum varied significantly between the two classrooms.
Latino picture book read-alouds and discussion reflected a transfer of core
curriculum directives. Peer group discussions demonstrated similarities to whole class
discussions with regard to topics of discussion. Significant differences between peer
group discussions and whole class discussions included negotiation of meaning among
students, sophisticated critique of illustrations and sustained reading for enjoyment. Peer
group discussions of Latino picture books were characterized by enthusiastic reading and
playing with Spanish text together with shared understanding of story situations which
resulted in students personal connections to story text.
This study found that teachers’ dependency on core curriculum influenced their
use of children’s literature in the classroom. In addition, students benefitted from
participating in peer group literature discussions and the use of culturally relevant texts.