Elephant in the Classroom is an exploration of the vast complexity of teaching as it is described by research and experienced by teachers. The reality of a job so vital to the proper functioning of a society should not be as mysterious as teaching continues to be. This book takes readers on a guided tour of 13 competencies and practices that are a critical part of teaching.
Purposeful, intentional racial bias poses an obvious threat to the possibility of real equity in schools. In this volume, antiracist educators explore an equally troubling, but insufficiently explored threat: the racism upheld by schools and districts that claim an antiracist commitment. These institutions perpetuate disparities by enacting that commitment through surface-level and soft diversity and inclusion goals and popular initiatives that are more equity optics than antiracism. This book asks: How is racism perpetuated through actions, programs, practices, and initiatives that might appear to be inclusion-oriented or “progressive,” but never quite get around to eliminating racism? How do these efforts pose as racial equity while protecting systems of advantage and disadvantage—creating a sort of equity inertia? The book then asks: What would antiracism look like if we enacted a deeper antiracist approach? What is a truer vision for racial equity? A diverse collection of authors apply these questions to an equally diverse assortment of programs and practices, such as trauma-informed care, social-emotional learning, restorative practices, anti-bias work in early childhood education, Montessori schooling, “inclusive” social studies curricula, and toxic positivity and “niceness” as stand-ins for racial equity. Book Features: Illustrates how K–12 educators can adopt more authentically justice-oriented approaches to antiracism.Draws on existing theoretical frameworks such as critical race theory, critical whiteness studies, culturally sustaining pedagogies, and equity literacy.Examines concepts such as white fragility, racial battle fatigue, white privilege, and interest convergence.Includes a range of authors, from racial justice scholars to classroom teachers. Offers an engaging and accessible format that combines narrative with theoretical grounding, bridging critical analysis to visions for moving forward. Contributors: Tracey Benson, Alina Campana, Elisabeth Chan, Lavette Coney, Jeanne Connelly, Jennifer C. Dauphinais, Addison Duane , Heidi Faust, Betty Forrester, JPB Gerald, Simona Goldin , Paul C. Gorski, Daisy Han, Debi Khasnabis, Katie Kitchens, Amelia M. Kraehe, Anna Kushner, Lindsay Lyons, Cheryl Matias, Andréa C. Minkoff, Theresa Montaño, Jenna Kamrass Morvay, Crystena Parker-Shandal, Cherie Bridges Patrick, Maria Gabriela Paz, Brianne Pitts, Chris Seeger, Greg Simmons, Daniel Tulino, Katherine Wood
15 million adults in England alone struggle with maths, why is this and how can teachers and parents change that with the next generation? This is a pratical explanation of what has gone wrong and a positive approach to improving how students of all abilities can learn mathematics.
Discusses how to make mathematics for children enjoyable and why it is important for American children to succeed in mathematics and choose math-based career paths in the future.
All too often, race discourse in the United States devolves into shouting matches, silence, or violence, all of which are mirrored in today’s classrooms. This book will help individuals develop the skills needed to facilitate difficult dialogues across race in high school and college classrooms, in teacher professional learning communities, and beyond. The authors codify best practices in race dialogue facilitation by drawing on decades of research and examples from their own practices. They share their mistakes and hard-earned lessons to help readers avoid common pitfalls. Through their concrete lesson plans and hands-on material, both experienced and novice facilitators can immediately use this inclusive and wide-ranging curriculum in a variety of classrooms, work spaces, and organizations with diverse participants. “Race Dialogues: A Facilitator?s Guide to Tackling the Elephant in the Classroom is a scholarly, timely, and urgently needed book. While there is other literature on facilitation of intergroup dialogues, none are so deeply and effectively focused on race—the elephant in the room.” —From the foreword by Patricia Gurin, Nancy Cantor Distinguished University Professor and Emeritus Research Director, University of Michigan “This brilliant book is a gold mine of wisdom and resources for teachers, facilitators, and student dialogue leaders. It summarizes, explains, and elaborates upon everything I have ever been taught about what makes for great facilitation. With experience and compassion, the authors have written a clear, user-friendly guide to facilitation of race dialogue for both youth and adults. I will recommend this book to every facilitator and teacher I train or hire.” —Ali Michael, director of the Race Institute for K–12 Educators and author of Raising Race Questions: Whiteness and Inquiry in Education
There's an elephant in the room, and it's doing society a great disservice. Often we're made to believe that diversity doesn't exist within intellectual history or accomplishments - or at the very least that most records of such work have been lost. This is not the case. From 19th century literary societies to today's ed-tech company creators, these elephants (aka Black scholars and innovators) exist everywhere. Their glaring absence from school curricula and media becomes that much more shameful when faced with their clear existence. Jolie Radunich's Elephant Prints: Reconstructing Our Image of Brilliance is a wake-up call. Now is the time to extract elephants from obscurity. We need to use their stories to: become knowledgeable about the past. spread awareness in the present. and offer hope that the network of existing elephants will continue to grow in the future. Frequently, the spotlighted accomplishments of elephants are treated as anomalies. There's so much more to honor, so much more innovation to encourage. We need to instill in the next generation a desire to inclusify their vision of brilliance, but this can only be done if they're aware of inspiring elephant legacies.
The Elephant in the Staffroom is the survival guide that every busy teacher needs for practical advice on teacher wellbeing. Written in an informal, conversational style, the book is divided into 40 bite-size chunks, covering a range of essential topics from understanding and avoiding burnout, to successful working patterns, and even surviving the school holidays! Complemented by a host of top tips, the book focuses on five key themes: the psychology of the teacher teacher identity emotional and physical energy keeping focused and investing in yourself colleagues, students and inspection Chapters are designed to be easily dipped in and out of, with each exploring the unique nature of the teaching profession and how to cope with, and conquer, a variety of stress triggers and psychological aspects of teaching – ‘elephants’ in the staffroom – to survive and succeed. Written by a head of department with over twenty years of classroom experience, this essential guide offers a wealth of practical advice on stress, work-life balance and organisation, and is a must-read for practising teachers.
A poignant story of a 15 year veteran teacher who has lost his ability to touch the lives of today's kids. Through the help of an unlikely hero, he finds his love of teaching again.
A friendship unlike any other! After retiring from the circus, Tarra became the first resident of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. When other elephants moved in and developed close friendships, only Tarra remained alone—until the day she met a stray mixed-breed dog named Bella. From then on, the two were inseparable. Color photographs of Tarra and Bella at home in the Elephant Sanctuary deftly illustrate this inspiring story of inter-species companionship.
