Many school personnel pursue the goal of developing English language learners' English-language and literacy skills efficiently and this is most often implemented to the exclusion of supporting, developing, and maintaining students' heritage language skills. However, there is significant evidence that promoting bilingualism and biliteracy can significantly contribute to the effect that many school personnel want, that of efficiently developed English language and literacy skills, with the added benefit of students who can function and thrive in multilingual environments. In this article, we present research-based evidence in support of developing and maintaining bilingualism and biliteracy, and we submit that the empirical research support for the benefits of bilingualism and biliteracy should change language and literacy instruction. Strategies for teachers, especially teachers who do not speak the heritage language of their students, are provided and can be implemented to promote bilingual reading, writing, and language skill development.

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether a phonological awareness intervention promoted oral English proficiency more than a story‐reading condition for Spanish‐speaking kindergarten children, most of whom were limited English proficient. A second aim was to determine the extent to which change in English proficiency over the course of the intervention could be attributed to change in phonological awareness. Pre‐ and posttest measures included tests of oral English proficiency, receptive English vocabulary, and phonological awareness. Although both groups showed significant change in oral English proficiency over pretest scores, an analysis of covariance, covarying pretest scores, indicated the phonological awareness group showed greater change than did the story‐reading group. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with measures of sound discrimination, short‐term memory, and change in vocabulary and phonological awareness in the predictive model. Results indicated that changes in phonological awareness variables were the only significant predictors of change in oral English proficiency. These results suggest that phonological awareness instruction promotes oral English proficiency for Spanish‐speaking kindergarten children. Thus, a balanced reading program for limited English proficient, Spanish‐speaking kindergarten children, including story reading, should also include phonological awareness instruction for the added benefit of greater change in oral English proficiency.

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This paper reports on the findings of an investigation that explored teacher candidates’ (TCs) attitudes and beliefs about heritage language (HL) maintenance and variables that may predict their attitudes and beliefs. The participants were 270 TCs in Southwest Florida who completed an on-line survey with Likert-type statements and open-ended questions. Quantitative data was analyzed using factor analysis followed by linear multiple regression analyses. The constructs of TCs’ attitudes and beliefs toward HL maintenance were used as dependent variables in the multiple regression models. The level of preparation in multicultural and bilingual education was a statistically significant predictor of TCs’ views in regard to active teacher practices to maintain HL, benefits of HL at school, and the role of the schools. TCs’ ability to speak more than one language was found to predict their attitudes and beliefs about the benefits of HL at school. In addition, experiences with diverse cultures and languages outside the U.S. influenced TCs’ attitudes toward bilingualism. The qualitative analysis of TCs’ responses to the open-ended questions showed increased awareness of HL maintenance for TCs at the end of the teacher education program compared with those at the beginning. However, descriptions of teaching strategies in HL maintenance indicated TCs’ limited understanding of appropriate ways for supporting the HL. This gap between awareness and expected teacher behavior suggests the need for further preparation in the area of HL support.

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The purpose of this study is to document the experiences, services, and programs provided to displaced university students from Puerto Rico and to offer recommendations to educational and community agencies regarding effective integration after a natural disaster. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, this qualitative phenomenology study consisted of collecting oral histories of six displaced university students from Puerto Rico who relocated to Southwest Florida after Hurricane Maria. The analysis of the data indicated three themes, including (1) trauma after hurricane, (2) challenges and needs during relocation, and (3) conflicting feelings about the homeland and the United States. Although immediate, basic needs were met soon after relocation, in-depth, social-emotional needs, such as dealing with trauma and becoming acculturated in the new culture, remained unanswered. Recommendations are provided to higher education administration, professionals in education, and community agencies.

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