Community-based Research Topic

What are schools doing to improve the academic success and integration of Latinos? How successful have they been in the last decade?

Throughout the school districts of Minnesota, it is evident that many areas are highly populated with Latinos. This especially affects school districts as the Latino youth attendance is increasing. It is important to analyze the ways in which these students are welcomed and taught. Many come from homes where the primary language is Spanish and are often not motivated to do well in school. I will research the school districts in these areas of high Latino population and determine what programs or policies are being used to help these students learn.

In order to do my research, I hope to use a variety of different sources. I will need to do observations inside classrooms and interview community members and school administration to receive information firsthand. Newspapers, school district websites, journal databases, and books concerning the rise of Latinos in public schools will also be useful.

September 26: A Big Step

Today my little greeted me with a smile and a giant hug! She seemed much more excited and talkative than last week. In the cafeteria, I told her I had brought a surprise with me: my computer! I showed her some pictures of my family and horses, and we also took some funny photos with the photobooth program! We both could not stop laughing! After a while, I could tell she was getting ansy. We made a trip to the library and found a quiet place to read a couple of books she had for homework. She read both of the books outoud, and though she had some difficulty with the larger words, she was able to sound them out and eventually say them correctly. This was a great opportunity to help her with her words and see what reading level she is at. She said she doesn't like "long" books, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks I can help her discover a love for reading longer books and possibly start reading a chapter book together.

After reading for almost forty-five minutes, we headed back to the cafeteria. I proposed the idea of keeping a journal where we would both have a notebook to write in throughout the week. Each Wednesday, we would be able to read through each others and ask each other questions about our week. She loved the idea! We now each have a notebook, and I hope this ongoing activity will help her open up more and gain more trust in me. This Wednesday was a huge growing step for both my little and myself. Something clicked; I realized that I have a purpose in getting to know my little and that this will be a successful experience. It is extremely important to come each Wednesday with confidence and a positive attitude.

Because she loves art, next time we may do an art project with paint or watercolors. I also want to know what she thinks of school. I have been asking her how her day has been, but we have not talked about her likes and dislikes. After knowing this, I can maybe find activities to help spark interest in the subject areas she is least comfortable with. I will also bring some M&M's for an icebreaker game!

Until next time. . .

September 19: The First Meeting!

While riding the bus to St. Charles for the second time, I remember thinking whether or not my little sister was going to come. Once we arrived, I headed straight to my little's classroom in hopes of finding her at her locker or still inside her classroom. There was a line of students waiting in the hallway, and the teacher pointed to my little. I had to quickly introduce myself because the line was moving, but at that moment I was really relieved that I had caught her before she left! One of the first things she asked me was if she had to come to Big Brothers Big Sisters every Wednesday. I said yes, but I was not really sure how to respond! She was probably hesistant about our first meeting because it was her birthday, and she probably really wanted to see her family. But instead of focusing on this, I started to ask her questions about school and her family. The first activity we did together was color pictures. I made her a birthday card while she colored a picture of a park. During the rest of our time, we talked a lot about our favorite things to do. We also played kickball with all the other bigs and littles, wrote in Spanish and drew horses with chalk, and went on a tour of the school building. She introduced me to her ESL teacher and showed me her locker and classroom. I could tell she really enjoyed school by the way she confidently showed me all of her favorite places! The most memorably part of our first meeting was when she was waiting for her mom to pick her up. She came on the bus with all of the other big sisters and was amazed at how big and "cool" it was!

I think our first meeting went really well. She is definitely not as quiet as I expected, and she definitely warmed up as we spent more time with each other. One of the last things she asked me before I left was, "Are you going to come to St. Charles everyday?" I sadly said no but would be there next Wednesday!

Next week, I am planning on bringing some art project ideas. She also really likes computers, so we may type up a story or take pictures with mine. I can't wait!

September 12: My First Day at St. Charles Elementary

The excitement one feels before meeting someone for the first time is indescribable. It's not only the nervous stomach butterflies that flutter endlessly, but also the inability to keep from smiling! I had been feeling this way all day, and the feeling only became more intense once I entered the EDUC 299 classroom at one o'clock in the afternoon. I felt like that class period was the "team prep" before the big game. We were all getting ready for a very important moment in our lives: the chance to finally meet and begin impacting our little sisters and brothers. Unfortunately, my little sister was not present at the first day of mentoring, but even though I was a little disappointed, I was able to use the time wisely. It was amazing to see the faces of the big sisters and little brothers who met for the first time. They all seemed to bond right away, and the endless stories on the ride home were priceless! During the hour and a half we had at the school, I wrote my little sister a short letter telling her how excited I am to meet her next week. It was also a great opportunity to contact her teacher. I learned about her habits in class and how she interacts with other students. This week, I am going to think of some fun activities that will hopefully help her open up and become comfortable around me during our first meeting. I hope she will trust me as a friend, and I cannot wait to see her smile! One thing I have learned this past week is to expect the unexpected. Most of life experiences are unpredictable; I will always be running into obstacles and finding ways to overcome them. As a mentor, I must encourage challenges and not be afraid to learn through the conversations and activities my little and I will experience together throughout the next year.