Teaching African American Learners to Read: Perspectives and Practices

The improvement of African American children's reading skills in general and their performance on standardized tests in particular has been the subject of much research and academic discussion. Although these issues have become a focal point of education reform efforts, African American children remain arguably the most miseducated students in the United States. This collection of original, adapted, and previously published articles fills a critical need for professional literature that documents research-based practices and programs that successfully teach African American learners to read. The editors have organized the book into four sections-Theoretical Foundations, Reading Methodologies, Cultural Considerations, and Assessment Issues. Altogether, these sections will assist you in formulating a comprehensive view of teaching African American learners to read by examining the role of education, identifying best practices, considering the significance of culture in the teaching-learning process, and investigating some difficult issues of assessment. The thoughtful current and historical commentary, research-based practices, and culturally appropriate and relevant instruction offered within the book demonstrate that African American learners can be taught to read successfully and that numerous examples of effective reading programs for African American learners exist. Teaching African American Learners to Read: Perspectives and Practices will guide teachers, teacher educators, and administrators in selecting the best research-based practices and programs for successfully teaching African American learners to read.