Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction 1. CIVICS: An Agenda for Our Schools Courage Inclusion Value Integrity Cooperation Safety 2. Schools as Communities The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum 3. Sharing Ourselves With Others The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum 4. Knowing Others Well The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum 5. Places Where We All Belong The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum 6. Setting Goals and Giving and Getting Support The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum 7. Working Together to Learn The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Implementing Inclusive Cooperative Learning Links to the Curriculum 8. Speaking Truth and Acting Powerfully The Vision Challenges to the Vision Reframing Our Work How to Begin Links to the Curriculum Final Thoughts: First Steps for New Beginnings References Index
The achievement of high academic standards is inextricably linked to creating school environments in which students feel welcomed, seen, included, and cared about. This long awaited revision of a highly acclaimed book emphasizes the critical need for teachers and administrators to create warm, welcoming inclusive classroom communities. Author Mara Sapon-Shevin skillfully blends expository text with compelling vignettes, sample classroom activities, and current resources to help teachers actualize her powerful vision of a better world. This book includes: - principles of community building for inclusive classrooms - strategies, resources, and activities that inspire and transform - stories that illustrate inclusive classroom communities.
Mara Sapon-Shevin is Professor of Inclusive Education in the Teaching and Leadership Department of the School of Education at Syracuse University. She teaches in the University's Inclusive Elementary and Special Education Teacher Education Program that prepares teachers for inclusive, heterogeneous classrooms. She frequently consults with districts that are attempting to move towards more inclusive schools and respond more positively to student diversity, providing workshops and support for teachers, students, parents and administrators. Mara presents frequently on inclusive education, cooperative learning, social justice education, differentiated instruction, friendship, community building, school reform, and teaching for diversity. She works with other educators and community members to design workshops and learning experiences to help participants build relationships across ethnic and racial groups and collaborate for friendship and peaceful co-existence. Mara can often be found leading conference groups in community building, singing and dancing. The author of over 150 books, book chapters and articles, Mara is also the co-author of a seven session curriculum entitled, "Endracism/Endinjustice: Challenging Oppression, Building Allies" designed for high school and college students. She is the co-producer of a DVD entitled "and nobody said anything: Uncomfortable Conversations about Diversity" that explores critical teaching incidents on social justice for faculty in colleges and universities. Her most recent book is Widening the Circle: The Power of Inclusive Classrooms (Boston: Beacon Press, 2007).