Success with Latino families and students

Latino students’ expectations for education 

It is common for Latino students to prefer a model of schooling that considers respectful

caring relationships with teachers to be the foundation for learning.

Strategies:

• Spend time talking
• Share your life experiences
• Smile, demonstrate open body language
• Welcome people, anticipate and plan for the need to build a relationship
• Inquire about students lives
• Fair is what is needed, not "the same" for all
• Work to develop trust and connection
• Send clear messages
• Demonstrate that value for the language and experience students bring

Many teachers see  Latino students/families as not sufficiently caring about school, while many

Latino students see teachers as not sufficiently caring for them.

Latino parents’ expectations for education 

The importance of a good education is universally recognized by American and Latino

parents alike.  While this  mutual desire for a good education is possessed by both Latino and

American parents, the requirements for a quality education are varied in each culture.

It is critical that as a teacher you understand that the definition of a good education, or una

buena educación, held by Latino parents is far more comprehensive than the dominant

American definition of a good education. For Latino parents, the term una buena

educación is a term used to refer to the broad education of a child rather than the solely the

schooling of a child. In fact, the term in Spanish meaning “well-educated” is synonymous

with the term ser gente decente, or “to be a good person” (Respectful, responsible etc.)

In addition to the American definition of a good education, which refers to a standard of

knowledge, critical thinking skills, and level of literacy, Latino educational expectations are far more

comprehensive. Latino parents view teachers as highly honored and expect a level of

professionalism, and maturity in supporting their child's growth, as parents often put a lot of weight

on what a teacher communicates as a highly esteemed partner in raising the child.

Strategies:

• Learn about and maximize the diversity of each family's world view
• Spend time talking
• Smile, demonstrate open body language
• Welcome people, anticipate and plan for the need to build a relationship
• Inquire about parents desires for their children
• Fair is what is needed, not "the same" for all
• Work to develop trust and connection
• Send clear messages

Contact the Bilingual Department with any support you might need, X1009.

Adapted from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: