The Inner World of the Immigrant Child [Paperback]

Cristina Igoa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995 | ISBN-10: 0805880135 | ISBN-13: 978-0805880137 | Edition: 1

This powerful book tells the story of one teacher's odyssey to understand the inner world of immigrant children, and to create a learning environment that is responsive to these students' feelings and their needs. Featuring the voices and artwork of many immigrant children, this text portrays the immigrant experience of uprooting, culture shock, and adjustment to a new world, and then describes cultural, academic, and psychological interventions that facilitate learning as immigrant students make the transition to a new language and culture.

Particularly relevant for courses dealing with multicultural and bilingual education, foundations of education, and literacy curriculum and instruction, this text is essential reading for all teachers who will -- or currently do -- work in today's school environment.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Igoa brings us to the understanding that academic achievement can not be divorced from the child's affective dimensions. Her results are often remarkable, sometimes disappointing. But even the disappointments move us closer to understanding these children, and their world.
—Multicultural Education

Readers who are concerned about the education of immigrant children in today's schools will find this book very inspiring.
—Multicultural Perspectives

Unique in the recent North American literature on bilingual/multicultural education....Original and powerful....The voice and struggles of the author are expressed eloquently and speak directly to the many thousands of teachers who are struggling to adjust to a radically new demographic reality. For mainstream teachers who are looking for ideas and inspiration the book has some very important messages.
—Jim Cummins
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Highly readable, engaging, and free of educational jargon....Absolutely essential for today's teachers....I kept thinking as I was reading how lucky her students were, and how I would want all immigrant children to have Cristina Igoa as their teacher.
—Sonia Nieto
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Presents the immigrant children's stories in an easily readable and understandable fashion....Has a lot to offer both new and veteran teachers who are faced with increasing diversity in our schools.
—Henry T. Trueba
University of Wisconsin/Madison

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805880135
• ISBN-13: 978-0805880137
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.5 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful, and useful, must-read for any and all teacher September 16, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Cristina Igoa helps us to understand the inner world that immigrant children in the United States often conceal and suppress while acculturating/assimilating to our society. This book is enjoyable and insightful as well as useful for teachers in our ever-changing, diverse schools.As a teacher it will help you to better understand and serve our immigrant youth. I would recommend this book for all who care about education, but also for anyone living in a multi-cultural society. It enlightened and touched me and has become unlimitedly useful reading.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read for Any Educator March 12, 2006

By Nana HQ

Format:Paperback

The American educational system is changing through the introduction of immigrant children. These children need teachers and other adults in their lives to stop and hear their voices. Igoa allows these voices to speak loudly to her audience.

Visiting with the children later in their lives helps to confirm Igoa's assumptions and educational practice. Stop and listen to their voices as you are taken into the children's frustrations, joys, and struggles as they attempt acculturation.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone learns together December 10, 2012

By sherry

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The Inner World of an Immigrant Child is all about experience - of the students, teachers, classmates, Administration, reader, and author. The narrative form allows the reader to easily understand and follow both Igoa and the students from the beginning of their journey to four years later, when the students were older and able to share their reflections about earlier experiences. I am left with two enlightening and important reminders after reading and thinking about the book: (1) to always remain aware that the academic achievement of immigrant children cannot be separated from their affective dimensions and; (2) they must have a sense of personal power while learning. The book shares the author's discovery that empowerment through expression is what allowed the students to begin learning. The book engages the reader in a process of observation, personal reflection, and then inquiry into their own practices. I will probably read the book multiple times over the coming years as my students change and move on, and will discover something new to consider each time. It is simply a great book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Inner World of the Immnigrant Child September 1, 2012

By Mabel

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A good book for teachers, future teachers and school administrators. Easy to understand and very practical. I love the classroom story section; it makes you reflect on our second language learners.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The inner world November 9, 2006

By Jessie Swimeley

Format:Paperback

This book has many helpful insites in to the world of our immigrant children. It also has many great ideas that will work in any classroom.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! July 11, 2010

By angeleah

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I received this book quickly from when I placed my order and it was perfect!

4 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR TEACHERS/EDUCATORS April 15, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is an excellent book. Please, be aware, that Cristina Igoa doesn't state that she is using the Language Experience Approach (LEA)for early emergent readers, but she is.