Cultural Diversity and Discourse Practices in Grade Nine

In the classroom, knowledge is widely distributed among the students and teacher, but is difficult to share across linguistic and cultural barriers. Seeking paths across these barriers, Lynne Wiltse meticulously explores the question: What is the discourse frame in which students and teachers work? Situated in a grade nine multilingual classroom, her work provides a rich description of the research process in the classroom. At the same time, she draws the reader sequentially through the analysis, revealing inferences in increasing levels of abstraction within a framework of “communities of practice.” She highlights issues related to second language acquisition, students’ immigration experiences, teaching, and learning, and points the way toward multi-vocal dialogues and practices that can forge a path across cultural and linguistic divides. Prologue, 1 Beginning The Story: Introduction, 2 Forget Your Perfect Offering: Theoretical Framework, 3 There Is a Crack In Everything: Methods, 4 That's How The Light Gets In: Illuminating Community Practices, 5 Let The Light Shine In: Disrupting Community Practices, 6 Ringing The Bells: Accept My Imperfect Offering, Epilogue, References