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Ayude a su Hijo a Tener Exito en la Escuela Guia Especial para Padres Latinos: Help Your Children Succeed in School: A Special Guide for Latino ... / Practical Guides)
This title helps Latino parents understand the U.S. school system, as well as how to get the most for their children from the system. It begins with an overview of the U.S. system, and continues with the differences and similarities to the familiar Latin American countries' educational systems. It encourages the parents to set aside their fears and directs them to work with the appropriate person within the school facility.
128 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2006
About the author
Mariela Dabbah
13 books2 followersI’ve been writing stories since I was nine years old.
It all started with a birthday gift: a book from my beloved Oma. And then another, and another—for every birthday that followed. From Anne of Green Gables to The Chronicles of Narnia and Heidi, I devoured novels and soon felt inspired to write my own.
At nine, not yet able to use a typewriter, I handwrote my first series of novels on large, unlined orange sheets of paper my father—an orthopedic surgeon—brought home from the hospital. These sheets, meant to separate X-ray films, became the canvas for my diagonally written stories, complete with illustrations, stitched binding, and handmade covers crafted from the backs of my coloring books.
My passion for storytelling only grew. Early fiction led to poetry and short stories, and after emigrating from Argentina to the U.S., I began writing non-fiction to help Latinos navigate the path to success. My books, published by Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, became bestsellers and garnered awards, earning me national media attention on topics ranging from education and job search to career development and leadership.
My book Find Your Inner Red Shoes sparked the launch of the Red Shoe Movement, a leadership development company and global community focused on mutual support for career success.
In recent years, I’ve returned to my first love—fiction—writing novels and short stories in Spanish. In 2025, I published The Postcard, my first novel originally written in English. It was inspired by a secret I read on PostSecret.com that haunted me for years: “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I’m dead.” That single line became the seed for a gripping novel about loss, identity, and reinvention.
I still hope the person who submitted that secret reaches out—and shares the real story.
It all started with a birthday gift: a book from my beloved Oma. And then another, and another—for every birthday that followed. From Anne of Green Gables to The Chronicles of Narnia and Heidi, I devoured novels and soon felt inspired to write my own.
At nine, not yet able to use a typewriter, I handwrote my first series of novels on large, unlined orange sheets of paper my father—an orthopedic surgeon—brought home from the hospital. These sheets, meant to separate X-ray films, became the canvas for my diagonally written stories, complete with illustrations, stitched binding, and handmade covers crafted from the backs of my coloring books.
My passion for storytelling only grew. Early fiction led to poetry and short stories, and after emigrating from Argentina to the U.S., I began writing non-fiction to help Latinos navigate the path to success. My books, published by Sourcebooks and Penguin Random House, became bestsellers and garnered awards, earning me national media attention on topics ranging from education and job search to career development and leadership.
My book Find Your Inner Red Shoes sparked the launch of the Red Shoe Movement, a leadership development company and global community focused on mutual support for career success.
In recent years, I’ve returned to my first love—fiction—writing novels and short stories in Spanish. In 2025, I published The Postcard, my first novel originally written in English. It was inspired by a secret I read on PostSecret.com that haunted me for years: “Everyone who knew me before 9/11 believes I’m dead.” That single line became the seed for a gripping novel about loss, identity, and reinvention.
I still hope the person who submitted that secret reaches out—and shares the real story.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 5, 2012
I think families who have moved from a Central or South American Country to the U.S. would find this book very helpful. Even as a seasoned parent in the U.S. school system, I found much value in the book. I liked the grey-highlighted areas that addressed cultural differences. I lived in Honduras for 18 months and I could understand the differences described and considered them thoughtful, insightful and helpful. I liked the question suggestions given to parents for parent teacher conferences (p. 63) and the advice to talk with kids, not just give orders. The effects of computer or screen entertainment in excess were listed as intolerance, inability for dialogue, less skill in interpersonal negotiation, and less charity in accepting differences between people. The book finishes with a list of rights parents have in the U.S. school systems (one of which I wish I had known about: the right to observe your child's classes at whenever you wish. I admit feeling a little intimidated, but probably should have made some visits to one of my child's classes this past year) along with the parent's responsibilities to help their child be ready for school (physically, socially, mentally etc.).
There is definite emphasis on being involved in the school and in your child's schooling. I appreciated the advice in one paragraph (p. 95): Talk with your children when they are young and never stop communicating with them. Find out their interests, their worries, their dreams, and their fears. Make them feel loved, important and that they're worth the effort. Help them reach their maximum potential by staying in school.
I was a little shocked to learn that in 2001, 65% of hispanic students graduated from High School. That should not be!
As for reading it in spanish, it was very accessible. New words for me included destreza, pandillas urbanas and a few more.
There is definite emphasis on being involved in the school and in your child's schooling. I appreciated the advice in one paragraph (p. 95): Talk with your children when they are young and never stop communicating with them. Find out their interests, their worries, their dreams, and their fears. Make them feel loved, important and that they're worth the effort. Help them reach their maximum potential by staying in school.
I was a little shocked to learn that in 2001, 65% of hispanic students graduated from High School. That should not be!
As for reading it in spanish, it was very accessible. New words for me included destreza, pandillas urbanas and a few more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review