By John Hilliard/Daily News staff
GateHouse News Service
In Framingham, a few educators are wrapping up some homework of their own – a new handbook to teach their colleagues more about the town’s Brazilian students and families.
“It’s a service to the Brazilian community as much as to educators,” said Esta Montano, director of Equity and Achievement at Framingham Public Schools. “The better educators understand their students, the better their academic (achievements) will be.”
The publication – “Framingham’s Brazilian Students and their Families- School, Culture, and Values: A Handbook for School Personnel” – was researched and written by five local educators to spread general knowledge about the town’s large Brazilian population.
The book covers immigration history between Framingham and Brazil, along with that country’s education system, culture and the Portuguese language. Three of the authors are from Brazil and brought experience of their own country, she said.“It would give educators an idea of the cultural strengths of Brazilian families… and how to respond to those strengths,” she said.
Framingham is one of the largest districts in the state with nearly 8,100 students during the last school year, and more than one-third – about 2,700 students – do not speak English as a first language.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1662561389
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=1308
http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=1070