What Is It About Me You Can't Teach?: Culturally Responsive Instruction in Deeper Learning Classrooms

by Eleanor Renee Rodriguez, James A. Bellanca, Deborah Rosalia Esparza

Overview

Now in its third edition, this powerful book features timely new content from innovative schools and teachers, focusing on reaching struggling students. The authors illuminate how to raise student achievement by upholding high expectations, while teaching with cultural responsiveness. Discover how to:

• Lead all students to deeper learning, grounded in critical thinking, creative problem solving, communication, collaboration—and the “5th C,” cultural awareness
• Support the latest standards for college and career readiness and English Language Proficiency/Development
• Incorporate technology into teaching and learning in innovative ways, adaptable to varying resource levels
• Implement K-12 lesson plans that support individualized, project-based learning

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506345642
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/23/2016
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	328
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Eleanor Renée Rodriguez, Ph D, a professional developer with Rodriguez and Associates, has provided consulting services and training to school districts, national associations, and state departments in 48 of 50 states and abroad. Her concentration is on research-based teaching and leadership strategies. She has served in positions from substitute teacher to superintendent, with assign­ments that included pre K through adult education and with an emphasis on meeting the needs of students with special needs. In addition, she has directed, reviewed, and evaluated seminars and institutes for the American Association of School Administrators. Her mission is to eliminate the achievement gap and to help educators believe, behave, and achieve so all truly means all.

James Bellanca is a life-long advocate for the principles and practices created by Reuven Feuerstein. As a Senior Fellow for the Partnership for 21^st Century Learning, he created and edits the innovative P21Blogazine. He is the editor of a series of 21^st Century Deeper Learning collections, has authored more than a dozen how-to books aimed to infuse critical and creative thinking across the curriculum and is President of the Illinois Consortium for 21^st Century Schools.

Deborah Rosalea Esparza is a retired teacher, principal and district administrator. In her years as practicing school leader, Deborah advocated for culturally responsive instruction for all students in a 21^st Century Learning framework. As an Area Education Officer in Chicago she guided her schools in the implementation of Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment program even as her district lead the city in high achievement scores. Currently, she is Executive Director of the Illinois Consortium and is leading an all-district implementation of the Mind Quest21 transformation model throughout the districts’ schools.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
A Special Note
1. I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
2. High Expectations for All: Practicing What We Preach
3. Two Sides of the Same Coin
4. Just What Do You Mean?
5. Rising Above It All
6. Stop and Think
7. Good to Go
8. Sharing Behavior
9. Who Is in Charge?
10. What's Your Goal?
11. Finding My Way
12. Meeting the Challenge
13. The No-Frills Pathway to Deeper Learning
Resources
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The authors are passionate advocates for all learners and the latest edition of this book provides a thoughtful, practical, and engaging exploration of how to ensure every learner’s experience is one that thrives on the 5Cs and makes 21st century learning come alive."

Tatyana Warrick

"This book provides educators with useful and relatively easy-to-use strategies to connect with students. There are a variety of tools educators can employ quickly in the classroom, with many more that can, and should, be implemented as part of a long-term planning process. "

Karen Carotta

"This book is extremely valuable for its application to African-American students’ achievement. A must-have resource for every educator in teaching and learning."

Diana Daniels

"This resource provides 'real' application of theory into practice. The strategies help enrich learning through student-friendly approaches that strengthen students’ skills and promote self-direction. After reading this book and applying the strategies, my students are better learners, and I am a better teacher."

Dennis Kowalski

"Educators who choose to employ these strategies have the potential to become architects of an achievement renaissance within their learning communities."

Yvonne L. Allen

"What Is It About Me You Can’t Teach? clearly explains best instructional practices and will be an excellent resource for me and my teachers. The lesson plans are great examples of the instructional practices presented and are very useful for teachers in the classroom."

Rosanne G. Henderson

"I appreciated the opportunity to read this book. It is quite powerful and adds to the literature on teaching students the skills to learn."

Barbara Rudiak

"Blends classroom expectations and standards with research-based practices to show teachers how to deliver high-quality education in any environment."

The Bookwatch