Lori Hyland

EDU 280 - 3001

Chapter 8
Understanding Hispanic
American Children and
Adolescents
Understand the dangers of stereotyping Hispanic
American learners and know how to respond
appropriately in teaching and learning situations.
 The Stereotypes Teachers Have of
Hispanic American Learners
Hispanic students have
tendencies toward emotional and
violent behavior.
Hispanic students are not as well
behaved as Asian Americans, not
as intelligent as European
Americans, and not as peaceful
as American Indian students.
Hispanic students will have poor
academic success due to
language problems and poverty.
 The Dangers of Stereotyping
Hispanic Learners
When teachers hold stereotypes that Hispanic students
will achieve less and have behavior problems, this may
become the reality. In other words, Hispanic students
will only live up to the expectations educators set for
them.
 Statistics about Hispanic
Learners
As evidence of the dangers of stereotyping, fewer Hispanics aged
25 or older have completed high school than African and
European Americans.
By senior year, only 31% of Hispanic American high school
students enroll in college prep courses.
In 2000, the drop out rate for Hispanic immigrants was 44%
compared to 21% born in the U.S.
In 2001, only about 4% of school teachers were Latinos, while
Latinos were 15% of the student body.
Fewer Hispanic students take challenging academic courses than
European American students.
Many Hispanic students drop out of school to help the family or
stay home to take care of younger siblings or elders.
 VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8BCgqynglo
 Responding Appropriately in Teaching
and Learning Situations
Teachers should work toward
trying to understand and value
Hispanic American students and
their cultural background.
Teachers can help Hispanics
understand that they can
achieve personal goals while still
upholding family values.
Teachers should set high
expectations that all Hispanic
students should graduate and be Teachers should encourage
successful. the use of Hispanic students
native language while still
Teachers can plan lessons that
teach about Hispanic culture and helping them learn English.
achievements.
 QUIZ
Hispanic students are stereotyped to be more intelligent than European
Americans. T/F?

European American students take more challenging academic courses

than Hispanic American students. T/F?

There is a danger that stereotypes of low achievement for Hispanic

students may become a reality. T/F?

Teachers can promote positive self-worth among Hispanic students by

including lessons that teach about Hispanic culture and accomplishments.
T/F?