Change My Life Forever: Giving Voice to English-language Learners

As a public school staff developer in New York’s Chinatown, Maureen Barbieri realized that the 1,400 students in her new middle school had stories to tell, questions to ask, and opinions to share. Their challenge was adapting to a new home and a new language. Hers was helping them use English literacy skills to bridge their memories of China to their hopes for the future. Through case studies and classroom vignettes Barbieri reveals the power of literacy to change students’ perspectives and give them hope. In Change My Life Forever you will meet Yi, Cong, and Jun Jie. Hearing these and other stories, you will discover new ways to make room for your students’ diverse voices while improving their literacy in English.