InterActions: UCLA Journal of Education and Information Studies

Teaching is political and occurs in a milieu that is often harsh and unsympathetic to immigrant communities; schools and educators are indispensable in helping immigrant children navigate the often stressful process. Drawing on literature related to teacher caring as a source of social capital, critical and culturally relevant pedagogy, and book talk, this article focuses on two Latina in-service teachers from the U.S.-Mexico border participating in discussions of Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez (2009). The novel is a contribution to the current political climate on immigration.  In their discussion, the teachers made connections to their students lives, community, and larger discourse on immigration. Additionally, they examined the role of teachers in supporting acceptance of immigrant communities.