Niñas y Niños Acomedidos and Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy in Early Childhood Classrooms

• In Event: Ways of organizing learning in everyday settings: LOPI in Indigenous practices, values, and community collaboration

Abstract

Our research with young Latine immigrant children in preschools in the United States shows that, when afforded time, space, and support, children interact in the classroom in ways that reflect the Learning by Observing and Pitching In (LOPI) framework. Here, we present findings from a video-cued ethnographic study conducted in a bilingual preschool classroom in Central Texas, including dozens of examples of children engaging with each other, teachers, and families through the process of observing, paying keen attention, and pitching in without being asked. These culturally sustaining and sophisticated examples of Latine children enacting facets of LOPI in their classroom communities offer important possibilities for ways that teachers can support culturally sustaining and high-quality interactions with children and families.

Authors

• Kiyomi Sanchez-Suzuki Colegrove, Texas State University

• Molly E. McManus, San Francisco State University

• Jennifer Keys Adair, The University of Texas at Austin