Breaking the Silence —
Abstract of

Introduction
Sociocultural Considerations for Students and Classrooms: The Case of Alicia Rodriguez

Catherine Compton-Lilly

In the Introduction to Breaking the Silence, Catherine Compton-Lilly tells the story of Alicia, one of her former first-grade students, who was part of a 10-year longitudinal case study. Alicia's story, as well as the stories of her classmates, can teach powerful lessons about the importance of sociocultural understandings about literacy and learning. Compton-Lilly describes incidents from Alicia's life to specifically clarify three key concepts relevant to sociocultural theory: historical precedence, literacy practices, and ideology. In addition, more of Alicia's story is shared to demonstrate how literacy and sociocultural considerations are interwoven and inextricable from each other throughout Alicia's journey as a reader and writer.

Compton-Lilly, C. (2009). Sociocultural Considerations for Students and Classrooms: The Case of Alicia Rodriguez. In C. Compton-Lilly (Ed.), Breaking the Silence (pp. 1-10). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.