ABSTRACT

The concept of “funds of knowledge” guides the discussion in the first chapter. Funds of knowledge, investigated by Luis Moll, Norma Gonzalez, and others (Gonzalez et al., 2005; Moll & Gonzalez, 1994), argues that Mexican American schoolchildren will perform better academically if schools as institutions and classroom teachers in particular make an effort to invite into the classroom the home culture and language from which the students come. Home culture and language can serve as an educational resource upon which to build a range of lessons and educational experiences. Part of the benefit of a funds of knowledge classroom falls to students as they are able to use their prior knowledge and language from home as a basis for educational experience in school. Teachers, who may not know about or understand the Mexican American culture and language of their students, also benefit from teaching in a funds of knowledge classroom by gaining a greater understanding of their students and how to teach them. One way to bring home culture funds of knowledge into classrooms that serve Mexican Americans is to invite students to read culturally relevant young adult literature portraying Mexican American characters, values, situations, and language.