Book Studies

Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms

With Grading for Equity, Joe Feldman cuts to the core of the conversation, revealing how grading practices that are accurate, bias-resistant, and motivational will improve learning, minimize grade inflation, reduce failure rates, and become a lever for creating stronger teacher-student relationships and more caring classrooms. Essential reading for school-wide and individual book study or for student advocates, Grading for Equity provides: A critical historical backdrop, describing how our inherited system of grading was originally set up as a sorting mechanism to provide or deny opportunity, control students, and endorse a “fixed mindset” about students’ academic potential—practices that are still in place a century later; A summary of the research on motivation and equitable teaching and learning, establishing a rock-solid foundation and a “true north” orientation toward equitable grading practices; Specific grading practices that are more equitable, along with teacher examples, strategies to solve common hiccups and concerns, and evidence of effectiveness; and Reflection tools for facilitating individual or group engagement and understanding

Your Students, My Students, Our Students: Rethinking Equitable and Inclusive Classrooms

Your Students, My Students, Our Students explores the hard truths of current special education practice and outlines five essential disruptions to the status quo. Authors Lee Ann Jung, Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Julie Kroener show you how to: Establish a school culture that champions equity and inclusion, Rethink the long-standing structure of least restrictive environment and the resulting service delivery, Leverage the strengths of all educators to provide appropriate support and challenge, Collaborate on the delivery of instruction and intervention, Honor the aspirations of each student and plan accordingly. To realize authentic and equitable inclusion, we must relentlessly and collectively pursue change. This book—written not for "special educators" or "general educators" but for all educators—addresses the challenges, maps out the solutions, and provides tools and inspiration for the work ahead. Real-life examples of empowerment and success illustrate just what's possible when educators commit to the belief that every student belongs to all of us and all students deserve learning experiences that will equip them to live full and rewarding lives.

Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

The achievement gap remains a stubborn problem for educators of culturally and linguistically diverse students. With the introduction of the rigorous Common Core State Standards, diverse classrooms need a proven framework for optimizing student engagement and facilitating deeper learning. Culturally responsive pedagogy has shown great promise in meeting this need, but many educators still struggle with its implementation. 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. With a firm understanding of these techniques and principles, teachers and instructional leaders will confidently reap the benefits of culturally responsive instruction.

Professional Learning Communities

Implementing Culturally Proficient Literature

In this PLC, educators will research opportunities for enhancing culturally proficient literature in their classroom or course. Using research articles and best practices for identifying texts, they will develop a list of texts that can enhance the educational experiences of their students and prioritize those they wish to have purchased for further learning. (Purchase will vary based on budget and number of participants)

Educator Designed PLC

In this option, educators can work to design their own PLC with the focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Please submit your proposal to your building principal by September 23rd using the link here.