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Students Defining Cultural Relevance: Learning from Text Selection in Bilingual Book Clubs

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Title: Students Defining Cultural Relevance: Learning from Text Selection in Bilingual Book Clubs
Language: English
Authors: Laura Beth Kelly (ORCID 0000-0003-3378-4609), Bailey Santos
Source: Reading Teacher. 2026 79(5).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 5
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Culturally Relevant Education, Bilingualism, Books, Clubs, Childrens Literature, Literacy Education, Elementary School Students, Hispanic American Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Student Reaction, Spanish, English, Picture Books, Reader Text Relationship, Racism, Immigration, Culture
DOI: 10.1002/trtr.70038
ISSN: 0034-0561
1936-2714
Abstract: This study explored culturally relevant literacy instruction through bilingual book clubs with Latinx fourth and fifth graders at a dual-language elementary school. Using the framework of culturally relevant pedagogy--academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness--we examined students' responses to Spanish-English bilingual picturebooks by Latinx authors. Analysis of book discussions revealed how students connected with texts and how facilitators either supported or missed chances for deeper engagement. Cultural relevance goes beyond matching books to cultural labels and should instead reflect students' experiences. Some texts sparked personal and critical conversations on racism, immigration, and language, while others fell flat, highlighting the complexity of Latinidad. This study emphasizes the role of student voice in cultural relevance and calls for a more nuanced view of culture in literacy instruction.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497504
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Students Defining Cultural Relevance: Learning from Text Selection in Bilingual Book Clubs
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+Beth+Kelly%22">Laura Beth Kelly</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3378-4609">0000-0003-3378-4609</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bailey+Santos%22">Bailey Santos</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Reading+Teacher%22"><i>Reading Teacher</i></searchLink>. 2026 79(5).
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  Label: Availability
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
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  Group: Src
  Data: 8
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culturally+Relevant+Education%22">Culturally Relevant Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bilingualism%22">Bilingualism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Books%22">Books</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Clubs%22">Clubs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childrens+Literature%22">Childrens Literature</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literacy+Education%22">Literacy Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hispanic+American+Students%22">Hispanic American Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Reaction%22">Student Reaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spanish%22">Spanish</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English%22">English</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Picture+Books%22">Picture Books</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reader+Text+Relationship%22">Reader Text Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Racism%22">Racism</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Immigration%22">Immigration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culture%22">Culture</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/trtr.70038
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  Data: 0034-0561<br />1936-2714
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study explored culturally relevant literacy instruction through bilingual book clubs with Latinx fourth and fifth graders at a dual-language elementary school. Using the framework of culturally relevant pedagogy--academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness--we examined students' responses to Spanish-English bilingual picturebooks by Latinx authors. Analysis of book discussions revealed how students connected with texts and how facilitators either supported or missed chances for deeper engagement. Cultural relevance goes beyond matching books to cultural labels and should instead reflect students' experiences. Some texts sparked personal and critical conversations on racism, immigration, and language, while others fell flat, highlighting the complexity of Latinidad. This study emphasizes the role of student voice in cultural relevance and calls for a more nuanced view of culture in literacy instruction.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1497504
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1497504
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        Value: 10.1002/trtr.70038
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Culturally Relevant Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bilingualism
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Books
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      – SubjectFull: Clubs
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      – SubjectFull: Hispanic American Students
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      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
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      – SubjectFull: Student Reaction
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      – SubjectFull: Spanish
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      – SubjectFull: English
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      – SubjectFull: Picture Books
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      – SubjectFull: Reader Text Relationship
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      – SubjectFull: Racism
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      – SubjectFull: Immigration
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      – SubjectFull: Culture
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      – TitleFull: Students Defining Cultural Relevance: Learning from Text Selection in Bilingual Book Clubs
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