Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools: Lessons from the Field

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Todays public schools represent greater student diversity than ever before in the history of the United States, yet pedagogical approaches as mandated by state education agencies and school districts superimpose mainstream curricula and instructional practices which ultimately disadvantage the academic outcomes of the majority minority: African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students. Unfortunately, national report findings also heighten the educational crisis that exists for Black and Brown children with regard to reading and writing achievement. As a result, there is need to deeply explore the relationship between Black and Brown student literacy achievement and educational policy, teacher education program, curriculum, and assessment. This book seeks to provide some practical insights guided by conceptual and contextual knowledge by understanding how to teach urban African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students by discussing culturally appropriate instructional strategies that have demonstrated success among African American and Hispanic/Latino(a) students. This book will showcase successful models for teaching literacy to urban student through a discussion of topics that include: (1) increasing literacy achievement and motivation, (2) multicultural literacy practices, and (3) early and elementary literacy instruction.

Reviews

Teaching Literacy in Urban Schoolsis a book that stands on the academic pillars of culturally relevant pedagogy and comprehensive literary practices. Purdum-Cassidy and Scott have compiledresourcefulchapters that provide both research and practical information on effective literacy practices, activities, and experiences for preservice teachers as well as urban teachers and their students. The innovative way in whichTeaching Literacy in Urban Schoolsspeaks to both teachersand student teachers, across elementary, middle, and high school as well as how it has interwoven traditional literacy topics (e.g. phonics, illustration analysis, emergent writing, and comprehension) with nontraditional but culturally relevant literacy topics (writing and performing spoken word and building confidence in teaching literacy) makes this work timely, necessary, but most importantly useful. ThoughTeaching Literacy in Urban Schoolsprovides practical solutions for effective literacy instruction, the chapters are also harmoniously grounded in research which makes this book uniquely designed for both K-12 educators and the college classroom. -- Stephen D. Hancock, PhD, associate professor of Multicultural Education, assistant director, The Urban Education Collaborative, University of North Carolina Charlotte
Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools is an excellent resource for novice and experienced teachers! The authors effortlessly merge theory, research, and practice, while also interweaving critical perspectives in urban education. What is most impressive about Teaching Literacy in Urban Schools is the practicality of scholarship. The book provides tangible strategies for increasing literacy motivation and achievement, which is paramount for the future of education. This is a seminal collection of work. -- Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver, PhD, associate professor, Towson University
Teaching Literacy in Urban Schoolsis a must read for all teachers in urbanized settings who desire to be culturally relevant and affirming. The authors combine historical knowledge with modern research to address the need for enhanced literacy development across grades K-12. -- Brandon L. Fox, PhD, associate professor, Stephen F. Austin State University

Author Bio

Barbara Purdum-Cassidy, Ed.D., is clinical assistant professor in the School of Education at Baylor University. She currently teaches elementary languages methods and advanced methods of teaching writing courses to pre-service teachers and graduate students. Lakia M. Scott, Ph.D., is assistant professor of Urban Education and Literacy in the School of Education at Baylor University. Under her research framework of increasing educational access and opportunity for traditionally minoritized students, she currently teaches courses in social and cultural foundations, literacy, and research methods.