The Light in Their Eyes: Creating Multicultural Learning Communities (Multicultural Education Series) (Paperback)

by Sonia Nieto (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Sonia Nieto makes student learning the primary objective of multicultural education. She draws on a host of research in learning styles, multiple intelligences and cognitive theories to portray the way students learn. Nieto then takes the reader beyond individual learners to discuss the social context of learning, educational equity, the influence of culture on learning and critical pedagogy. Centering on multicultural education as a transformative process, the text includes many reflections of teachers who have undergone this process and whose experiences will be invaluable to other teachers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 207 pages
• Publisher: Teachers College Press (February 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807737828
• ISBN-13: 978-0807737828
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,816 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN IMPORTANT BOOK!, May 6, 2000

By A Customer

In this book, Sonia Nieto clearly makes known to the reader a thorough understanding of what it takes to teach in multicultural contexts. It is very rare for me to be so attached to a book that is embedded heavily in research and educational theories, without putting it down for a few days. Nieto was able to hold my attention with easy, readable language and personal narratives of other teachers, in addition to her own experiences as a Puerto Rican educator. In my opinion, Sonia Nieto demonstrates her ability as a leading theorist in the field of multicultural education and critical pedagogy in this text that is presented with wonderful clarity and expertise. If I were ever in a position to teach a college course on multicultural education, I would definitely select this book as required reading, an excellent choice for a textbook in multicultural education.

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a must read for educators!, March 27, 2001

By A Customer

sonia nieto does an extraordinary job of conveying not only the notion of multiculturalism, but also the understanding of what it takes to teach in a multicultural arena. nieto accurately describes the learning process as a reciprocal process between students and teachers, and students as teachers. nieto discusses the notion of "culture" as a verb, which i think is quite appropriate. the use of personal narratives, as well as her own experience as an educator in poor, urban areas, was very insightful and uplifting. one thing that struck me as prophetic, while seemingly obvious, was her statement "in order to become a multicultural teacher you must first be a multicultural person." well said. and well written.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Text for Multicultural Education, April 27, 2000

By A Customer

I elected to read this book, The Light in Their Eyes: Creating Multicultural Learning Communities, because I was interested in this particular author's work for my dissertation on Puerto Rican identity and literature. I was searching for material that would support my theoretical framework and rationale. In this book, Sonia Nieto clearly makes known to the reader a thorough understanding of what it takes to teach in multicultural contexts. It is very rare for me to be so attached to a book that is embedded heavily in research and educational theories, without putting it down for a few days. Nieto was able to hold my attention with easy, readable language and personal narratives of other teachers, in addition to her own experiences as a Puerto Rican educator. In my opinion, Sonia Nieto demonstrates her ability as a leading theorist in the field of multicultural education and critical pedagogy in this text that is presented with wonderful clarity and expertise. If I were ever in a position to teach a college course on multicultural education, I would definitely select this book as required reading, an excellent choice for a textbook in multicultural education.