Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of peer mentoring through literature
circles on female Hispanic students. The intervention involved six sixth-grade female
Hispanic students and six eighth-grade female Hispanic students supervised by an eighthgrade
teacher and me. The student participants read the award winning book, Esperanza
Rising, in literature circles, meeting weekly for face-to-face discussion. Email was used
to communicate during the intervals between the weekly meetings. Prior to this study, a
literature review was conducted to determine specific educational issues affecting female
Hispanic students, the effects of literature circles, the use of email as a learning tool, and
to explore self-esteem and academic confidence of students. Data was collected through
observations of student participants as they read and discussed Esperanza Rising in
literature circles, through surveys to determine attitudes toward reading, literature circles,
self-esteem, and academic confidence, through informal and formal interviews, reviews
of email communication, and frequency of email communication. Findings suggested
that literature circles and email communication were an effective model of instruction
and helped students achieve improved self-esteem and academic confidence. The results
of the study were communicated to the learning community through a meeting with a
representative of the Schlecty Group and the Working on the Work Design Team from
South Habersham Middle School and through a multimedia presentation to teachers,
administration, and students. The multimedia presentation will also be displayed during
the school showcase of quality work in May.