Classroom Cultures: Equitable Schooling for Racially Diverse Youth - Softcover

Knight-Manuel, Michelle G.; Marciano, Joanne E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807759562 ISBN 13: 9780807759561

Publisher: Teachers College Press, 2018

Synopsis

This practical resource will assist secondary educators in creating equitable schooling environments for racially diverse youth. Classroom Cultures provides direct insight into the experiences, challenges, and successes of teachers and school leaders who were among more than 500 educators across 29 schools who engaged in professional development to better understand and implement culturally relevant educational practices. The authors identify key aspects of successful strategies and offer recommendations for tackling the many challenges of implementing effective school change. Short vignettes incorporate the perspectives of teachers, counselors, administrators, and the authors as they collaborate and reflect on their own practices. Each chapter includes critical questions to help readers reflect on their own experiences and perspectives with a view to strengthening their commitment to equity.

Book Features:

• Makes visible the successes, challenges, and actual classroom practices of educators implementing culturally relevant pedagogies.
• Draws clear connections between considerations of equity, race, and culturally relevant pedagogies and classrooms, school culture, and college access.
• Provides critical inquiry-based practices for the ongoing professional development of educators working with diverse student populations across urban, suburban, and rural communities.

About this title

From the Author

Michelle G. Knight-Manuel is an associate dean and professor of education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a former middle school teacher and high school college advisor. Joanne E. Marciano is an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education at Michigan State University. Joanne previously taught secondary English for 13 years at a New York City public high school. They are coauthors of College-Ready: Preparing Black and Latina/o Youth for Higher Education―A Culturally Relevant Approach.

Review

" Classroom Cultures is an important and useful volume not only for classroom practitioners and school administrators but for all individuals and organizations looking to improve their understanding of CRE and combat the notion of professional volunteerism in the field of education."

―Harvard Educational Review

"A beneficial resource for district, school, and teacher leaders committed to supporting students of Color in their schools. Knight-Manuel and Marciano’s text provides readers with substantial scaffolded learning opportunities across schooling contexts to build educator and schoolwide capacity for more equitable educational opportunities."

―Teachers College Record

“Using teacher vignettes, research studies, student artifacts and interviews, the authors effectively interlace theory, experience and plan of action in this a focused guide for any educator seeking direction in the field of culturally relevant education. Albeit a multifaceted issue, cultural relevance in the classroom is a necessary next step to equity in all schools for all students. Classroom Cultures is a valuable guide for the practice of culturally relevant pedagogy, and this reviewer will be keeping it close at hand.”

―Education Review /Reseņas Educativas

"Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Classroom Cultures" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to school district, college, and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies lists."

―Library Bookwatch

"This book is a must-read for those of us in the fight for social justice. Grounded in theory and the established research, this work is a welcome addition to scholarship, written in ways that are accessible to real pre- and inservice practitioners―teachers, counselors, leaders, coaches, and social workers. Every teacher in teacher education―pre- and inservice―should read this book."
―H. Richard Milner IV, professor of education and Cornelius Vanderbilt Endowed Chair of Education, Vanderbilt University

“This book is focused on how stereotypes, cultural identity, and culturally relevant learning influence personal and professional practice. It embraces diversity while assessing what we believe about ourselves and ‘other’ people’s children. It confronts inequalities and charges us to implement the social justice work that it takes to eradicate the stigmas that prevent our students from achieving their highest potential. We cannot close the achievement gap and raise scores without first respecting the learner’s social–emotional experience. It challenges the disproportionate educational outcomes that impact our scholars today. The social justice work of this book is about examining our beliefs, sharing our vulnerability, and facing fear together to authentically implement culturally relevant pedagogy.”
―Maria Ortiz, principal, Newark Public Schools

“Knight-Manuel and Marciano provide a comprehensive yet deep portrait of what culturally relevant education can look like when teacher educators and K–12 practitioners effectively collaborate to design instruction and educational opportunities for minoritized youth. This book is timely and is a must-read for school leaders and educators who are looking to cultivate and sustain pedagogical practices rooted in critical self-reflection, youths’ lived experiences, and examinations of power and privilege. A beautiful weaving of theory and practice for educational change!”
―Dorinda J. Carter Andrews, associate dean for equity and inclusion, Michigan State University, and co-editor of the Journal of Teacher Education

About this edition

• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Publication date: 2018
• ISBN 10: 0807759562
• ISBN 13: 9780807759561
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160