Becoming a successful urban teacher / Dave F. Brown.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brown, Dave F.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Teachers--United States.

Teachers.

United States.

Education, Urban--United States.

Education, Urban.

Effective teaching.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 261 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Westerville, OH : NMSA ; Portsmout, NH : Heinemann, [2002]

Summary:

What every urban teacher should know could take years of experience to learn and plenty of mistakes, discouragement, and frustrations along the way. Or it could simply mean learning from other teachers who have been there, done that, and succeeded. Veteran teacher Dave Brown has set out to make the lives of new urban teachers easier by sharing the stories of thirteen successful urban educators from grades one through twelve. These teachers provide practical advice on everything from effective instructional strategies, gaining students' cooperation, and managing a classroom, to developing curricula that match the interests and academic levels of the students they serve. Sensitive to the day-to-day challenges of urban teaching, Brown takes a microperspective on its practical aspects so that novice teachers have a clear picture of how to establish a comfortable learning environment from the start -- and how to maintain it. Integrating the stories of experienced teachers into every chapter, Brown addresses particular pedagogical and philosophical concerns. For urban teachers, this book will renew the joys of teaching in diverse and challenging environments and reinforce the notions that brought them to teaching in the first place, how promising, exciting, and personally and professionally satisfying urban teaching can be.

Contents:

The Difference between Surviving and Teaching xvii

1. Why Teach in an Urban School? 1

The Lives of Urban Teachers 1

What Are Urban Communities Like? 8

2. Rethinking Your Culture of Education 14

Culture Influences Educational Views 15

The Beliefs of Culturally Responsive Teachers 20

Realizing the Differences: Examples of Culturally Responsive Actions 24

Assessing Your Cultural Expectations 34

3. The First Year of Urban Teaching 42

First-Year Challenges 42

Enjoying the First Year 49

Changing for the Better after the First Year 54

How to Keep Your Sanity and Want to Stay a Second Year 55

4. Creating a Positive and Productive Learning Environment 63

The Challenges Urban Teachers Face 63

Developing Trusting and Caring Relationships 66

Communicating Effectively with Students 70

Establishing Behavioral Expectations 77

How Do Curriculum and Instruction Affect Management? 99

Limits of Responsibility 101

5. Choosing Appropriate Curricula 107

The Real Meaning of Curriculum 107

Asking the Right Questions to Choose Appropriate Curricula 112

Delivering Student and Culturally Responsive Curricula 112

What Should Students Know and Be Able to Do? 121

Involving Students in Determining Curricula 127

6. Responsive Instruction 135

Understanding Teachers' Responsibilities 135

Encouraging Risk Taking 138

Gathering Baseline Data 145

Instructional Needs of Diverse Learners 147

Differentiated Instructional Strategies 153

7. Language Considerations in Instructional Processes 165

Culturally Responsive Instructional Communication 165

Accepting Nonstandard English Discourse Patterns 167

Appropriate Instructional Activities 169

Communicating with Second Language Learners 170

Specific Instructional Strategies for Second Language Learners 176

Responding to Questions and Writing 178

Appropriate Questioning Strategies 180

8. The Real Meaning of Assessment 184

Critical Components of Assessment 184

Gathering Student Data 189

Establishing Reasonable Student Outcomes 200

Discovering What Students Learn 203

Genuine Assessment Activities 206

Providing Feedback

Promoting Growth 207

Student Involvement in Assessment 209

9. Reasonable Expectations or Impossible Standards? 215

What Are Standards? 215

Teachers' Perceptions of Standards 218

The Difference Between Expectations and Standards 222

Establishing Realistic Performance Expectations 223

Balancing Content Standards with Reasonable Expectations 227

How Do Teachers Measure Success? 229

10. Garnering Support from Colleagues, Caregivers, and Administrators 232

Support from Colleagues 233

Involving Parents and Caregivers 235

Gaining Assistance from Administrators 242

Gaining Additional Assistance 245

Securing Instructional Materials 246

Conclusion: Is This the Right Teaching Job for You? 249

Advice from Effective Urban Teachers 251

Assessing Personal Qualities 254.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0325003610

OCLC:

48263737