Improve your grading and feedback practices to benefit your students and their writing development. This guide models a research-based, linguistically inclusive approach to grading writing so that you can incorporate equitable assessment and feedback into your everyday practice. A linguistically inclusive grading approach honors Black linguistic…

"Bridging Literacy and Equity" synthesizes the essential research and practice of social equity literacy teaching in one succinct, user-friendly volume. Extraordinary K-12 teachers show us what social equity literacy teaching looks like and how it advances children's achievement. Chapters identify six key dimensions of social equity teaching that…

This is an autobiographical account of a teacher's first day in an inner city high school; it contains a discussion of the importance of understanding the subculture of one's students. The teacher's dress and comprehension of slang are noticed by the students. Incidents are related that illustrate the effects of ethnocentrism (the belief in the…

This paper presents materials used in a "short course" on using Ebonics and bilingual code switching to facilitate clarification interactions in communication classrooms and multicultural public speaking. After beginning with a detailed agenda for the two-and-a-half hour short course, the paper presents seven speech communication…

Focusing on black communication skills in the classroom can be rewarding, instructional, and motivational for both black and white students when educators begin to build upon the effectiveness of black language patterns and usages. This packet of curriculum materials was designed for class, group, and individual instruction in the use of black…

All language dialects are legitimate but some dialects achieve social prestige. Standard American English (SAE) represents that language in the United States. Minority students who do not learn SAE do not achieve academically as well as those who do. The dialect individuals use is determined by income, social class, ethnic group, and level of…

Presents research on the situational dimension of linguistic power in social context and the relevance of this research within culturally pluralistic educational contexts. Offers suggestions for class activities that can engage standard and nonstandard speakers of English as well as those who do not speak English. (SRT)

Developed in conjunction with a graduate course and used in classrooms with all types of learners, this paper presents a 6-week unit of study on slavery based on two adolescent novels--"NIGHTJOHN" by Gary Paulson and "My Name Is not Angelica" by Scott O'Dell. After a brief introduction to the unit, the paper presents the 14 activities of the unit:…

Based on 4 years' experience in a Goodwill adult literacy program, this handbook offers insights to teachers who want to facilitate student-directed group learning. The handbook is organized in seven sections that cover the following: (1) comments on the nature of adult learning and the philosophy of the approach; (2) thoughts on progressive…

Noting that knowledge of grammar rules does not ensure correct usage in one's own writing, describes an approach used in a summer workshop to promote awareness of appropriate idiom where 35 highly motivated black students produced 'Snow White' using their own script, half in standard dialect and half in black dialect. (JG)

Recommends the use of Charlotte K. Brooks' book "Tapping Potential" by English teachers who deal with minority students. Discusses how the book treats everything from language development to reading and writing to literary criticism from the Black aesthetic point of view. (NKA)

How can teachers make sound pedagogical decisions and advocate for educational policies that best serve the needs of students in today's diverse classrooms? What is the pedagogical value of providing culturally and linguistically diverse students greater access to their own language and cultural orientations? This landmark volume responds to the…

Intended for teachers of black students at all levels, this book presents teaching approaches and methods that are known to be appropriate for blacks and that are based on both research and practice in the areas of language, reading, writing, and literature. Among the topics discussed in the 43 essays are the following: (1) language and the…

With more than 180,000 copies in print, the first volume of "Rethinking Our Classrooms" broke new ground, providing teachers with hands-on ways to promote values of community, justice, and equality--and build students' academic skills. This companion volume continues in that tradition, presenting a rich new collection of…