Description
Book SynopsisToday'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
Trade ReviewTeaching Literacy in Urban Schools is a book that stands on the academic pillars of culturally relevant pedagogy and comprehensive literary practices. Purdum-Cassidy and Scott have compiled resourceful chapters that provide both research and practical information on effective literacy practices, activities, and experiences for preservice teachers as well as urban teachers and their students. The innovative way in which Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools speaks to both teachers and student teachers, across elementary, middle, and high school as well as how it has interwoven traditional literacy topics (e.g. phonics, illustration analysis, emergent writing, and comprehension) with nontraditional but culturally relevant literacy topics (writing and performing spoken word and building confidence in teaching literacy) makes this work timely, necessary, but most importantly useful. Though Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools provides practical solutions for effective literacy instruction, the chapters are also harmoniously grounded in research which makes this book uniquely designed for both K-12 educators and the college classroom. -- Stephen D. Hancock, PhD, associate professor of Multicultural Education, assistant director, The Urban Education Collaborative, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools is an excellent resource for novice and experienced teachers! The authors effortlessly merge theory, research, and practice, while also interweaving critical perspectives in urban education. What is most impressive about Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools is the practicality of scholarship. The book provides tangible strategies for increasing literacy motivation and achievement, which is paramount for the future of education. This is a seminal collection of work. -- Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver, PhD, associate professor, Towson University
Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools is a must read for all teachers in urbanized settings who desire to be culturally relevant and affirming. The authors combine historical knowledge with modern research to address the need for enhanced literacy development across grades K-12. -- Brandon L. Fox, PhD, associate professor, Stephen F. Austin State University
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Part I: The Classroom as Community: Academic, Social, and Cultural Needs for Urban Learners Chapter 1: Still Keepers of the Dream: Lessons Learned from Elementary Literacy Educators Meredith Dana and Lakia M. Scott Chapter 2: Not So Elementary: Preservice Teachers Reflect on Teaching Urban Middle School Struggling Readers Lakia M. Scott and Randy Wood Chapter 3: The Power of the Pen: Writing with Spoken Word Poetry Lauren Bagwell, Karon LeCompte, and Brooke Blevins Chapter 4: Lovin the Skin I’m In: Advocating for “stories” via Young Adult Literature Mona Choucair Part II: Strategies, Approaches, and Models for Increasing Literacy Motivation and Achievement Chapter 5: Aesthetic Approaches for Teaching Writing to Upper Elementary Students Amanda Gardner and Evan Ditmore Chapter 6: The 3CO Approach to Writing Instruction Nancy P. Gallavan and Gloria L. Loring Chapter 7: Supporting Emergent Learners in Their Beginning Steps Toward Literacy Margaret Thomson Chapter 8: Using Picture Books to Engage Beginning Readers and Writers in Visual Literacy Jacqueline Easley About the Editors About the Contributors Index
