About the Authors Acknowledgments Introduction Part I. Do You Really Love All of Them? Assessing Your Teaching Self-Confidence About Working With Various Types of Students Chapter 1. Fear, Income, Gender, and Other Issues: Why Your Teaching Self-Confidence Matters Chapter 2. Teaching in a Racially Diverse World: Examining Your Teaching Self-Confidence About Working With Students of Color and White Students Chapter 3. "Oh My Gosh, He Can't Even Read!" Examining Your Teaching Self-Confidence About Working With Struggling Students Part II. Student Empowerment-Teacher Empowerment: Increasing Your Teaching Self-Confidence and Your Teaching Efficacy Chapter 4. This Stuff Is Hard! Improving Your Classroom Management Skills Chapter 5. A Recipe for Success: Effective Instructional Practices Chapter 6. Can't We All Just Get Along? Using the Curriculum to Improve Race Relations in Class Part III. Getting Help From the "Village": How to Maximize Your Relations With Parents, Colleagues, and School Leaders Chapter 7. Bridging the Great Divide: How to Create a Win-Win Situation With Parents, Especially With Nonwhite Parents Chapter 8. Ties That Can Bind: Forming Strong Working Relationships With Colleagues of Color Chapter 9. Ask and It Might Be Given: Getting What You Need From School Leaders Conclusion: Don't Throw in the Towel--How to Keep Going When You Feel Like Giving Up Appendix A. Background Information About the Teacher Confidence Study Appendix B. Demographic Information About the 293 Teacher Confidence Study Participants Appendix C. Questionnaire Results From the 293 Teacher Confidence Study Participants Notes Index
An all-in-one toolkit that empowers new teachers to meet the needs of diverse learners When novice teachers are assigned to teach disadvantaged students, the results are predictable: growing tension and frustration on both sides, leading to disengaged students and disillusioned educators. Gail and Rufus Thompson are renowned experts on bridging the instructional gaps between teachers and students who don't look like them. In this book, the authors show new teachers how to flourish by building on the assets of their students and the students' families. Yes, You Can! holds up a mirror to deeply-held beliefs about race and other variables of difference. Through interactive exercises, readers gain confidence and empathy that translate to success for students. The book includes: Powerful vignettes about real teachers and students that help promote teacher empathy and understanding Original research conducted by the authors on the confidence levels of new and experienced educators Targeted strategies for many student profiles: African American, Latino, Asian American, White, high-achiever, low-achiever, and more Before learning can take place, there must be mutual understanding and respect between student and teacher. Yes, You Can! ensures these critical links are strong. "This is one of the most useful books I have read in some time! Whether novice or veteran, if one truly wants to be successful in teaching children of color, this exciting book is an invaluable tool. From their extensive experience as successful classroom teachers, researchers, and leaders of professional development, the authors combine authentic scenarios, reflection activities, and suggested strategies that empower educators in being effective with students at all grade levels and from all demographic groups in our society." -Randall B. Lindsey, Professor Emeritus California State University, Los Angeles
Dr. Gail L. Thompson, Founder & CEO of Inspirations by Gail LLC, is a critically acclaimed author of many articles and books; former secondary school teacher; and former Executive Director of Equity at Illuminate Education. During her years as the Wells Fargo Endowed Professor of Education at Fayetteville State University, she created and served as Director of the Black Men Teaching (BMT) Program, and supervised doctoral students. In addition to creating and implementing "The Literacy Club," an afterschool reading incentive program for struggling readers at several schools, Dr. Thompson has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including PBS Television's "Tony Brown Journal." Dr. Thompson books include the award-nominated The Power of One: How You Can Help or Harm African American Students; Through Ebony Eyes: What Teachers Need to Know but are Afraid to Ask About African American Students; and Up Where We Belong: Helping African American and Latino Students Rise in School and in Life. Rufus Thompson is a retired educator. He wrote part of the Heath (now Houghton Mifflin) Middle Level Literature series and High School Anthology. Starting in 1988, he trained teachers throughout California on how to implement technol-ogy into the curriculum using best practices and sound classroom principles and taught middle school for 17 years before becoming the technology coordi-nator of the Mountain View School District in Ontario, California. He also served as a representative on the San Bernardino County BestNet Advisory Board to Superintendents, and his Middle School Journalism program was recognized by the National Middle School Association as one of 80 innovative programs in the United States. Mr. Thompson, who has a mas-ter's degree, has taught courses at the University of Redlands, Chapman University (under contract with Webmedia Solutions), Claremont Graduate University, and California Polytechnic University, Pomona as an adjunct. He has also provided extensive professional development workshops for teachers and school administrators, organized conferences, and given presentations at several conferences, including the National School Board Association, the National Middle School Association, Computer Using Education (CUE), and California Educational Technology Professional Association (CETPA). Mr. Thompson recently retired and is the owner of Tech Guy in a Box, a technology and best-practices consulting company.