Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap: Liberating Mindsets to Effective Change

by Anthony Muhammad

Overview

Ensure learning equality in every classroom. Investigate previous and current policies designed to help close the achievement gap. Examine predominant mindsets that contradict school missions to promote equal academic opportunities, and consider the psychological impact this has on students. Explore strategies for adopting a new mindset that frees educators and students from negative academic performance expectations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936763276
Publisher:	Solution Tree Press
Publication date:	07/02/2015
Series:	Classroom Strategies
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

Table of Contents

About the Author xi

Preface xiii

The Conference Call xvi

The Doctor's Visit xvi

The Editorial xvii

Introduction 1

What This Book Isn't 3

An Attempt to Devalue the Past 3

An Attempt to Place Blame and Cause Division 4

An Extension of a Political Agenda 5

What This Book Is 6

An Attempt to Rekindle and Resurrect the Issue of Equality 6

A Challenge to the Status Quo 7

A Call for Discomfort 8

A Voice for the Voiceless 9

The Achievement Gap Trap 9

Chapter Overviews 10

Chapter 1 The Historical Context of the Achievement Gap 13

The Facts 14

Racial Inequalities 15

Public Opinion 17

Critical Race Theory 19

African Americans 21

Latinos and Hispanics 26

Income Inequality and Poverty 30

Poverty by the Numbers 31

Poverty and the Achievement Gap 31

Past Attempts to Close the Achievement Gap 33

Conclusion 35

Chapter 2 A Practical Commitment to Equality 37

Egalitarianism 37

Meritocracy 39

Functional Hypocrisy 40

Functional Inequality 44

Functional Hypocrisy and Inequality in Closing the Achievement Gap 45

Standardized Test Scores 46

Adequate Yearly Progress 47

Accountability Ratings 48

Conclusion 49

Chapter 3 Mindset and Cultural Change 51

The Anatomy of a Mindset 52

The Development of a Theoretical Framework Mindset and the Transforming School 55

Culture Framework 56

Team Players 58

Technical Versus Cultural Change 60

Conclusion 61

Chapter 4 The Superiority Mindset 63

Theories About the Superiority Mindset 64

Components of the Superiority Mindset 66

Paternalism 67

Competition 69

Authority 71

Conclusion 74

Chapter 5 The Victim Mindset 77

Theories About the Victim Mindset 78

Components of the Victim Mindset 80

Irresponsibility 81

Low Motivation 83

Low Expectations 87

Conclusion 90

Chapter 6 The Liberation Mindset 91

Theories About the Liberation Mindset 92

Components of the Liberation Mindset 94

Equality 95

Case Study: Seneca High School (Louisville, Kentucky) 96

Responsibility 101

Case Study: Kendrick Middle School (Jonesboro, Georgia) 102

Advocacy 104

Case Study: Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary (Hanford, California) 106

Diagnostic Tools for Developing a Liberation Mindset 108

Conclusion 109

References and Resources 123

Index 141