This conceptual paper presents a framework for supporting multilingual students’ mathematical discourse through teacher professional development grounded in design-based research (DBR). Drawing on sociocultural learning theory, the Integrated Language and Mathematics Project (ILMP) was co-developed with elementary educators to promote integrated instruction that simultaneously advances students’ mathematical understanding, language development, and cultural identity. The ILMP framework centers around three instructional pillars: attention to language, attention to mathematical thinking, and cultural responsiveness. Through collaborative inquiry cycles, educators engaged as learners, contributors, and designers of practice, iteratively enacting and reflecting on instructional strategies rooted in students’ linguistic and cultural assets. Teachers implemented discussion-rich mathematical tasks, supported by language scaffolds and culturally relevant contexts, to foster students’ mathematical reasoning and communication. This approach was particularly impactful for multilingual learners, whose language use and problem-solving strategies were both valued and elevated. This paper also discusses the opportunities and challenges of DBR and research–practice partnerships, including flexibility in implementation and navigating district-level priorities. Insights underscore the importance of practitioner agency, asset-based pedagogy, and the co-construction of professional learning. The ILMP framework offers a scalable, equity-oriented model for improving integrated language and mathematics instruction in diverse elementary classrooms and beyond.

This study examines the impact of a culturally responsive, garden-based STEM program designed for Latina girls (grades 5–6) and their parents. The “Our Plot of Sunshine” project integrates Family Project-Based Learning with garden education to create meaningful STEM engagement opportunities. Drawing on the science capital, science identity, and community cultural wealth frameworks, the program leverages families’ cultural and linguistic resources while developing science knowledge and identity. Nineteen families from low socioeconomic schools participated in three pilot implementations across two Western U.S. cities. Using a mixed-methods approach with repeated measures over 19 weeks, the study tracked changes in participants’ science identity, interest, and career aspirations. Results showed significant increases in science identity and career aspirations, with effects maintained at three-month follow-up. While interest/enjoyment showed positive trends, changes were not statistically significant. Parent ratings of program elements were consistently higher than daughter ratings, though both groups reported strong engagement. The successful integration of bilingual instruction emerged as a particularly valued program component. These findings suggest that family-centered, culturally responsive garden education can effectively support Latina girls’ STEM identity development and future orientation, while highlighting the potential of leveraging family and cultural resources in STEM education.

Children’s early exposure and participation with science activities may help reduce underrepresentation issues that are often seen later in some disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors and occupations. To help understand these trends, this study investigated the repertoire of parental support during hands-on science activities with their children with regards to ethnicity (Latiné families of predominantly Mexican origin and non-Latiné, primarily White, families) and gender. It was informed by work that examines gender, race, and ethnicity differences in STEM participation. Participants were 153 girls and boys, aged 8 to 12 years, and their mothers and fathers in the Southwestern United States. Each parent–child dyad’s behaviors during hands-on science activities together were examined. After controlling for family annual income and parental level of education, there were several variations by ethnicity and gender in parents’ support of their children (e.g., help and encouragement), children’s exploration of the activities, children’s talkativeness, and the amount of time they engaged in the activities. Suggestions for expanding STEM education programs to be more inclusive of underrepresented communities are discussed.

Currently, there are 1.3 million English Learners (EL) in California public schools (CDE 2018). The passage of Proposition 58, which presented multilingual education as key to students’ future economic success without every using the word bilingual, lifted the previous restrictions on bilingual education programs and increased the demand for programs and bilingual teachers. Recent studies have examined knowledge related to increasing the number of bilingual teachers (e.g. Martínez-Alvarez, P., I. Cuevas, and M. Torrez-Guzmán. 2017. “Preparing Bilingual Teachers: Mediating Belonging with Multimodal Explorations in Language, Identity, and Culture.” Journal of Teacher Education 68 (2): 155–178). A state-wide study of California school districts in 2017 showed that 58% intend to begin or expand bilingual education programs (Harris, V., and A. Sandoval-González. 2017. “Unveiling California’s Growing Bilingual Teacher Shortage: Addressing the Urgent Shortage, and Aligning the Workforce to Advances in Pedagogy and Practice in Bilingual Education.” Californians Together. 4–8). The research questions guiding this work were (1) Does the California Mini-Corps (CMC) program serve as a potential pool for today’s bilingual programs?, (2) If so, what cultural community wealth do tutors bring to teaching?, and (3) What support do tutors identify as critical in a teacher education credential program? In this quantitative study (n = 179), we examine how CMC tutors can address the critical teacher – shortage and identify the assets that graduates of the program bring to teacher education programs. We also explore the needed supports identified by the tutors as critical to their success in teacher credential programs.

The dual pandemic of 2020 that includes racism and COVID-19 demonstrates the need for students to become socially responsible and critically conscious world citizens. Students in the middle grades are developing their sense of identity while concomitantly trying to understand the complex world around them. While many teachers understand the need for critical pedagogy, many still struggle to find time to teach rigorous content standards while integrating social justice education. In this article, we propose the four pillars of Critical-Problem Based Learning (Critical-PBL). Using critical standards, critical problems, critical content, and critical discourse, we offer a framework to support teachers in creating a space for students to learn how to name injustices and work toward social transformation. As a white male, it is easy during these times for people to say, "These issues don't apply to me..." I shy away from those comments, and instead, place the responsibility on me to teach students culturally diverse and sensitive topics in order to empower more to learn about perspective and social studies as it applies to them. As I have started doing this more and more, I feel like I have touched many people, and made them excited to learn in my content area...

This research study was conducted to pilot an out-of-school family science program for fifth- and sixth-grade Latina girls and their parents. Program goals included encouraging parents in supporting their Latina daughters in science, increasing the girls’ interest in science and increasing the families’ participation in science experiences together. The 41 families participated in a 7-week Saturday program on either rocketry or gardening. Each week, the parent–daughter dyads engaged in hands-on Family Problem-Based Learning activities together and then the parents and daughters met separately in Conversation Groups. To measure the impact of the program, surveys were administered to the parents and daughters separately at four points: pre-, mid-, post- and delayed-post (three months after the program). Parents reported increases over time for several aspects of their support for their daughters in science and also increases in frequency of science experiences with their daughters. The daughters reported increases over time in their science identity and their discussions with their parents about jobs in science. In addition, the examination of video-recordings of a subset of the parent–daughter interactions during the activities revealed that parental and daughter behaviors evolved over the course of the program. Implications for engaging parents in science education are discussed.