The Other Side of Assimilation: How Immigrants are Changing American Life by Tomás Jiménez (University of California Press, 2017)
Few books have enlightened and inspired me as much as this one. Jiménez argues that the beliefs, habits, and values of established Americans are the product of interactions with immigrants. This book made me realize that I, the grandchild of immigrants and an educator who works with students classified as English learners, had never truly understood how my identity has been shaped by my relationships with immigrants. I believe that reading this book has made me a more humble teacher, a more informed ally, and a more forceful advocate for my students and their families.
Altavilla’s latest Kappan article:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Altavilla
JENNIFER ALTAVILLA is a PhD candidate in Educational Policy at the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and affiliate faculty at the Alder Graduate School of Education. She is a former elementary- and middle-school English Language Development teacher and English Learner Program Director.
