The brilliance of Black boys : cultivating school success in the early grades / Brian L. Wright with Shelly Counsell ; foreword by James Earl Davis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wright, Brian L., author.

Counsell, Shelly, author.

Contributor:

Rosengarten Family Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

African Americans--Education (Early childhood).

African Americans.

African American boys--Education--Social aspects.

African American boys.

African American boys--Education.

Social aspects.

Physical Description:

xiv, 153 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Teachers College Press, [2018]

Summary:

This much-needed book will help schools and, by extension, society to better understand and identify the promise, potential, and possibilities of Black boys. Drawing from their wealth of experience in early childhood education, the authors present an asset- and strengths-based view of educating Black boys. This positive approach enables practitioners and school leaders to recognize, understand, and cultivate the diversity of social skills of Black boys in the early grades (pre-K-3rd grade). Each chapter begins with a vignette to illustrate what is lost when Black boys are prevented from participating freely in boyhood, having to instead attend to adult and peer interactions and attitudes that view them as "bad boys" and "troublemakers." This accessible book provides teachers with classroom strategies to help young Black boys achieve their highest potential, along with other resources for supporting their social-emotional development, such as a reading list of authentic multicultural children's books with Black boys as protagonist. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Black Boys' Experiences in School and out of School 10

Black Boys in School and out of School 11

Consequences of Perceptions of Culpability of Black Boys 13

Education Denied: Statistics on Suspensions and Expulsion 13

Race and Gender in the Classroom 14

The Broken Pipeline: Black Boys and Teacher Attitudes 16

How the Pipeline Is Primed: Underrepresentation in Gifted Education, Overrepresentation in Discipline and Special Education 17

A Culturally Responsive Strengths-Based Approach 20

Quality Early Education and Care: An Overview 21

Conclusion 23

2 Early Childhood Experiences of Black Boys in School 24

Preschool Education 25

School "Discipline Hubs" and Black Boys 26

Black Boys: A Closer Look 27

Black Boys and Teacher Attitudes 28

Rethinking School Readiness (For Whom? And for What?) 31

Valuing "Everyday" Language Practices 33

Black Boys and STEM 36

Conclusion 38

3 Creating a Culture of Success 40

Classroom Culture: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter? 42

A Classroom Cultural Framework: A Continuum of Three Models 44

The Intersection of Attachment and Expectations with Epigenetics 47

Teacher Candidates and Teachers Discounting Data: A Case in Point 50

Boot Camps and Factories Dominate Black Boys' Experiences 52

Constructivist Teachers: Empathetic Community Mentors 55

Conclusion 62

4 Developing Self-Identity and Agency in Black Boys 63

Who Are Black Boys? Ending Deficit-Oriented Narratives 66

The More We Know, the Less We Make Up 67

Self-Identity, Agency, and Community 68

Agency and Black Boys 69

Mirror Books Versus Window Books: Reflection Matters 70

National Council for the Social Studies Standards 72

Engaging Black Boys Using Multicultural Children's Literature 73

Authentic Children's Books Promote Self-Identity and Agency 80

Conclusion 88

5 Classroom Strategies for Success with Black Boys 98

High-Quality, Evidence-Based Approaches Used in Constructivist, Culturally Responsive, Democratic Learning Communities 99

Conclusion 115.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.

Other Format:

Online version: Wright, Brian L. Brilliance of Black boys.

ISBN:

9780807758922

0807758922

OCLC:

1021081925