Your land, my land

the long version

Your Land, My Land is the story of four children's acculturation into elementary school, as seen by the author, the teachers, the parents, and the children. Clayton focuses on two primary questions: Is there some kind of underlying pattern of acculturation that the four students share? What is the role of the school and the classroom teacher in the process? Aged nine through eleven, Erik, Carina, Yevgeny, and Raina were all newly arrived and attending three different schools. Their exposure to English was nonexistent to minimal. With the help of translators, Clayton was able to reach these students and get their perspectives on what was happening to them, which she documents here. Your Land, My Land is a valuable resource for any teacher or administrator with students from diverse cultures. It sheds new light on the cultural adjustment these students must make, on the values teachers hold and students bring, and on theoretical and practical ways to reach across cultures.