"While no check-list of attitudes, dispositions, behaviors, or actions can define what thriving teachers look like, the teachers interviewed here give us powerful examples of what it takes to face their profession with courage, their content with enthusiasm, and their students with love." -Sonia Nieto One in four public school students in the U.S. now speaks a language other than English at home, and the number of emergent bilingual and immigrant children in our schools continues to grow daily. What does it mean to be a teacher today, when students are more diverse in language, culture, race, and social class than ever before? What does it take to thrive, when the demands of teaching have never been greater? Sonia Nieto found and interviewed 22 teachers of varying backgrounds and school settings who help answer the question of what effective, culturally responsive teaching looks like in the real world. Their stories of success, failure, frustration and hope will resonate with everyone who has struggled to meet the needs of diverse students in our current sociopolitical context. Nieto explores the common themes that arose throughout the interviews, of teaching with a social justice perspective, the moral dimensions of teaching, advocating for students, and challenging the status quo. She raises a persuasive argument that teaching is an ethical endeavor, that we must honor students' identities and believe in their futures, and that ultimately teaching is an act of love. The stories of Nieto's passionate teachers will inspire and motivate you to find joy in teaching students of diverse backgrounds. Read a sample chapter

Why We Teach Now dares to challenge current notions of what it means to be a “highly qualified teacher” á la No Child Left Behind, and demonstrates the depth of commitment and care teachers bring to their work with students, families, and communities. This sequel to Nieto’s popular book, Why We Teach, features powerful stories of classroom teachers from across the country as they give witness to their hopes and struggles to teach our nation’s children. Why We Teach Now offers us the voices of teachers like 42-year veteran Mary Ginley, who wonders, “Why would anyone with any brains and imagination ever want to be a teacher?” Who then answers her own question affirmatively, “It’s because somehow, even today, even with all the insanity, all the rules, all the poorly designed textbooks, all the directives to teach to the test, there are kids out there who need good teachers.” At a time when politicians, policymakers, and philanthropists are quick to denigrate teachers’ work and arrogantly speak for the profession,Why We Teach Now offers teachers the room and respect to speak for themselves. Once again, Nietogives teachers and those who care about education the inspiration and energy to embrace their role as advocates—a role that is vital not only for the well-being of students but also for the future of the profession and our nation. Praise for Why We Teach: “These pieces reveal the passion and hope that keep people in the classroom. Inspiration and information, Why We Teach raises our understanding of the dedication that fuels people's commitment to this profession.” —Rethinking Schools “This collection of essays written by teachers from across the country demonstrates exactly why there is hope for our public schools. Their words reveal why--in spite of bureaucracy and low pay—they continue to teach. This book should be required reading for college students planning to enter the profession. Teachers already in the classroom, whether for five years or twenty-five, will be encouraged and inspired.” —VOYA

In the United States, higher rates of African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans fail to graduate from high schools than Caucasians. Adams and Buffington-Adams identify persistent, institutional racism as the cause, and they stress the need for teachers to acknowledge the limitations of their own cultural lenses and to recognize the validity of others’ views. Race and Pedagogy provides a retrospective glance at the authors’ experiences within the Equity Group, an organization created to provide teachers with the opportunity to talk about their own racial, cultural, and language backgrounds in order to identify, examine, and fix the failings of the current educational system. Natural, relational, and sustainable approaches are recommended which will enable educators to create classrooms and schools in which all students, regardless of racial, ethnic, or linguistic identity, are welcomed, challenged, treasured, and able to be academically successful. Book recommended for scholars of education and race studies, as well as practitioners.

Published by Routledge for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education This volume addresses the pressing reality in teacher education that all teachers need to be prepared to work effectively with linguistically and culturally diverse student populations. Every classroom in the country is already, or will soon be, deeply affected by the changing demographics of America’s students. Marilyn Cochran-Smith’s Foreword and Donaldo Macedo’s Introductory Essay set the context with respect to teacher education and student demographics, followed by a series of chapters presented in three sections: knowledge, practice, and policy. The literature on language education has typically been discussed in relation to preparing ESL or bilingual teachers. Typically, needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students, including immigrants, refugees, language minority populations, African Americans, and deaf students, have been addressed separately. This volume emphasizes that these children have both common educational needs and needs that are culturally and linguistically specific. It is directed to the preparation of ALL teachers who work with culturally and linguistically diverse students. It not only focuses on how teachers need to change but how faculty and curriculum need to be transformed, and how to better train teacher education candidates to understand and work efficaciously with the communities in which culturally and linguistically diverse students tend to be predominant. The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) is a national, voluntary association of higher education institutions and related organizations. Our mission is to promote the learning of all PK-12 students through high-quality, evidence-based preparation and continuing education for all school personnel. For more information on our publications, visit our website at: www.aacte.org.

Teaching for Joy and Justice is the much-anticipated sequel to Linda Christensen's bestselling Reading, Writing, and Rising Up. Christensen is recognized as one of the country's finest teachers. Her latest book shows why. Through story upon story, Christensen demonstrates how she draws on students' lives and the world to teach poetry, essay, narrative, and critical literacy skills. Teaching for Joy and Justice reveals what happens when a teacher treats all students as intellectuals, instead of intellectually challenged. Part autobiography, part curriculum guide, part critique of today's numbing standardized mandates, this book sings with hope -- born of Christensen's more than 30 years as a classroom teacher, language arts specialist, and teacher educator. Practical, inspirational, passionate: this is a must-have book for every language arts teacher, whether veteran or novice. In fact, Teaching for Joy and Justice is a must-have book for anyone who wants concrete examples of what it really means to teach for social justice.

"This book works to give teachers a tool for understanding how to examine their teaching methods and refine those methods to maximize student learning...Galton is a well known researcher...and he has valuable insights into tailoring teaching methods in ways to meet specific learning goals. This book is recommended for all elementary teachers looking for ways to maximize learning in their classroom." —EDUCATION LIBRARIES This unique text captures the profiles and cumulative records of six diverse students at early childhood, middle childhood, and then high school level. Intended for the preservice teacher, Building on Student Diversity: Profiles and Activities illustrates how to create a caring school environment; accommodate for special learning needs in instructional and assessments; and interact with families and communities.

A bold, brain-based teaching approach to culturally responsive instruction To close the achievement gap, diverse classrooms need a proven framework for optimizing student engagement. Culturally responsive instruction has shown promise, but many teachers have struggled with its implementation—until now. In this book, Zaretta Hammond draws on cutting-edge neuroscience research to offer an innovative approach for designing and implementing brain-compatible culturally responsive instruction. The book includes: Information on how one’s culture programs the brain to process data and affects learning relationships Ten “key moves” to build students’ learner operating systems and prepare them to become independent learners Prompts for action and valuable self-reflection

In Memoriam for Julia Gardner.

Teaching Science to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Elementary Students helps K-8 teachers implement culturally relevant instructional strategies to ensure that all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic class, can do science, like science, and become scientists if they choose. In America's increasingly diverse classrooms, science is not always presented in a way that is meaningful to all students. With this in mind, this book outlines 8 culturally relevant strategies for teaching science to help ensure all students have access to inquiry-based, interactive, and experiential science learning. Written to encourage inclusive practices, the book shows how to teach science using students' experiences, how to integrate science and literacy and how to use alternative methods to assess students' understanding of science. Includes 8 culturally relevant strategies for teaching science to all students-outlines inclusive practices that ensure all students have access to inquiry-based, interactive, and experiential science learning. Emphasizes family connections and teaching science to and through students' experiences-connects science activities and content to students' lives at home and includes a chapter on fostering family connections and family connections icons throughout the book. Offers examples of science and literacy connections-models how teachers can integrate science and literacy to enhance students' understanding of science. Includes case studies with reflection questions in each chapter-provides examples of culturally relevant science teaching in the K-8 classroom for teachers to analyze and discuss. Offers step-by-step descriptions of four science instructional models, including Concept Attainment, Concept Formation, Group Investigation and 5 Es Model. Devotes a complete chapter to alternative assessment with diverse learners-provides a variety of examples and assessment methods to help teachers gauge students' understanding of science. Presents book study questions-helps teachers discuss the book professionally and apply the information to their current science activities.