Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools: Lessons from the Field

Today’s public schools represent greater student diversity than ever before in the history of the United States, yet pedagogical approaches as mandated by state education agencies and school districts superimpose mainstream curricula and instructional practices which ultimately disadvantage the academic outcomes of the majority minority: African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students. Unfortunately, national report findings also heighten the educational crisis that exists for Black and Brown children with regard to reading and writing achievement. As a result, there is need to deeply explore the relationship between Black and Brown student literacy achievement and educational policy, teacher education program, curriculum, and assessment.

This book seeks to provide some practical insights guided by conceptual and contextual knowledge by understanding how to teach urban African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students by discussing culturally appropriate instructional strategies that have demonstrated success among African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students. This book will showcase successful models for teaching literacy to urban student through a discussion of topics that include: (1) increasing literacy achievement and motivation, (2) multicultural literacy practices, and (3) early and elementary literacy instruction.

Barbara Purdum-Cassidy, Ed.D., is clinical assistant professor in the School of Education at Baylor University. She currently teaches elementary languages methods and advanced methods of teaching writing courses to pre-service teachers and graduate students.

Lakia M. Scott, Ph.D.,is assistant professor of Urban Education and Literacy in the School of Education at Baylor University. Under her research framework of increasing educational access and opportunity for traditionally minoritized students, she currently teaches courses in social and cultural foundations, literacy, and research methods.