Tabors, P.O., Paez, M. M., Lopez, L.M. (2003). Dual Language Abilities of Bilingual Four-Year Olds: Initial Findings from the Early Childhood Study of langauge and Literacy Development of Spanish-speaking Children. NABE Journal of Research and Practice, Winter 2003, pp 70-91.
This article looked at the early literacy skills in Spanish and English for a sample of 344 bilingual children in MA, Maryland, and Puerto Rico and compared then to a control group of children. The results suggest that bilingual children are not different across groups on tasks of phonological awareness. Differences were found for the subgroup of students from MA and Maryland who scored significantly lower in oral language subtests of the Woodcock Language Proficiency battery in both languages when compared to the control group and the Puerto Rico subgroup. On average the children from Puerto Rico scored better that the MA and Maryland subgroup in Spanish oral language skills.
Read more by accessing the journal article. A follow up on this study is soon to come out as well!
The following article “Lost in Translation” came out in the Edutopia Magazine November 2005 Issue. The article provides great a summary of the population shifts and what this means for educators. If you want to make someone realize the state of the need then this is the one to print out as it provides good statistics on population shifts of ELL learners. The article also presents a summary of the bilingual battles and various ways and costs that several states have used to address the needs of ELL learners. I highly recommend that you read it.
http://www.edutopia.org/magazine/ed1article.php?id=Art_1390&issue=nov_05
The following link is a great resource that describes the characteristics and needs of students who are bilingual and need special education services. Baca and Cervantes are pioneers in the area and have a practical summary of the process for assessment and instruction for bilingual students having difficulties and possibly disabilities in our schools today. Follow the link to read the entire article.
Baca and Cervantes- LD Online Article
Feel free to use the response mode of this blog to provide any feedback regarding the article.