Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years
Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan
(Author)
Description
There has been much attention given to the achievement gap between white and minority students, especially African American children. Through research and years of experience, the author breaks down the cultural influences on children's learning styles and provides a practical approach to helping black children thrive in the classroom.
For black children, which Sullivan defines as those of African descent, there is a disconnect between learning preferences and learning environments that must be bridged before the achievement gap can be closed. This hands-on resource is filled with effective strategies and best practices to help early childhood educators expand their toolbox for supporting children.
Increasing cultural intelligence will allow us to work across the many differences in our classrooms. As our schools become more diverse, cultural competency will be an increasingly important skill for teacher's efficacy and children's success. By cultivating the individual genius of each child and meeting children where they are today, we can invigorate the education system and provide children high-quality early education experiences.
Age focus: 3-9
Product Details
Price
$29.95
Publisher
Redleaf Press
Publish Date
March 29, 2016
Pages
184
Dimensions
6.9 X 9.9 X 0.5 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781605544052
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Debra Ren-Etta Sullivan, EdD, is the Dean of Applied Behavioral Science at Seattle Central College and the President of the Seattle Affiliate of the National Black Child Development Institute. She is the cofounder of the Praxis Institute for Early Childhood Education. She has more than twenty-five years of experience in higher education as a teacher, researcher, and administrator. Debra holds a doctorate in educational leadership, and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Currently, Dr. Sullivan serves on Washington State's Early Learning Council, the Foundation for Early Learning Advisory, the Families and Education Levy Oversight Committee, the National Association for the Education of Young Children Professional Development review panel and nominating panel, and the ParentMap Magazine editorial board. She is the author of Learning to Lead: Effective Leadership Skills for Teachers of Young Children, Second Edition and coauthor of Learning from the Bumps in the Road: Insights from Early Childhood Leaders.
Reviews
A must read for educators and parents--Foreword Reviews Debra Sullivan has written a book that focuses on the education of young black children from a social justice perspective. She challenges us to think more deeply about our craft knowledge and practices that can lead to children's deeper learning and help to close the achievement gap. She reminds us that the early years matter and that to ensure black children's success in school and in life, we must first discover the genius that resides within.--Maurice Sykes, author of Doing the Right Thing for Children Dr. Sullivan has managed to shift the conversation from the persistent achievement gap that limits the potential of Black children to a more productive analysis and steps to nurture the genius of Black children. The wisdom of her approach shifts the focus to include research grounded in the reality of cultural learning styles and preferences, a teacher's commitment to healthy child development for every child and how teachers can build meaningful relationships with Black families and communities as a committed partner in the learning and development of Black children. This is a must read for all early childhood professionals committed to helping Black children, and all children to thrive.--Claire Chang, Former governing board member of NAEYC Debra Sullivan has written a book that provides personal reflection and experiences, as well as relevant references, descriptive vignettes, discussions of learning environments, and questions for readers' reflections. Curricular models and program practices from early education programs are used to identify and contrast various culturally relevant elements of appropriate learning environments for children of African Descent. I strongly recommend Cultivating the Genius of Black Children to anyone working with young children. Sullivan boldly challenges us to look at what it will take to simultaneously close the academic achievement gap and cultivate the genius of Black children in classrooms that already exist. As she states: It is possible, doable, and imperative--Ed Greene, Educational Trasmedia Designs
Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education process.
--The Education Shelf, Midwest Book Review
A must read for educators and parents--Foreword Reviews Debra Sullivan has written a book that focuses on the education of young black children from a social justice perspective. She challenges us to think more deeply about our craft knowledge and practices that can lead to children's deeper learning and help to close the achievement gap. She reminds us that the early years matter and that to ensure black children's success in school and in life, we must first discover the genius that resides within.--Maurice Sykes, author of Doing the Right Thing for Children Dr. Sullivan has managed to shift the conversation from the persistent achievement gap that limits the potential of Black children to a more productive analysis and steps to nurture the genius of Black children. The wisdom of her approach shifts the focus to include research grounded in the reality of cultural learning styles and preferences, a teacher's commitment to healthy child development for every child and how teachers can build meaningful relationships with Black families and communities as a committed partner in the learning and development of Black children. This is a must read for all early childhood professionals committed to helping Black children, and all children to thrive.--Claire Chang, Former governing board member of NAEYC Debra Sullivan has written a book that provides personal reflection and experiences, as well as relevant references, descriptive vignettes, discussions of learning environments, and questions for readers' reflections. Curricular models and program practices from early education programs are used to identify and contrast various culturally relevant elements of appropriate learning environments for children of African Descent. I strongly recommend Cultivating the Genius of Black Children to anyone working with young children. Sullivan boldly challenges us to look at what it will take to simultaneously close the academic achievement gap and cultivate the genius of Black children in classrooms that already exist. As she states: It is possible, doable, and imperative--Ed Greene, Educational Trasmedia Designs Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education process.
--The Education Shelf, Midwest Book Review
Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education process.
--The Education Shelf, Midwest Book Review
A must read for educators and parents--Foreword Reviews Debra Sullivan has written a book that focuses on the education of young black children from a social justice perspective. She challenges us to think more deeply about our craft knowledge and practices that can lead to children's deeper learning and help to close the achievement gap. She reminds us that the early years matter and that to ensure black children's success in school and in life, we must first discover the genius that resides within.--Maurice Sykes, author of Doing the Right Thing for Children Dr. Sullivan has managed to shift the conversation from the persistent achievement gap that limits the potential of Black children to a more productive analysis and steps to nurture the genius of Black children. The wisdom of her approach shifts the focus to include research grounded in the reality of cultural learning styles and preferences, a teacher's commitment to healthy child development for every child and how teachers can build meaningful relationships with Black families and communities as a committed partner in the learning and development of Black children. This is a must read for all early childhood professionals committed to helping Black children, and all children to thrive.--Claire Chang, Former governing board member of NAEYC Debra Sullivan has written a book that provides personal reflection and experiences, as well as relevant references, descriptive vignettes, discussions of learning environments, and questions for readers' reflections. Curricular models and program practices from early education programs are used to identify and contrast various culturally relevant elements of appropriate learning environments for children of African Descent. I strongly recommend Cultivating the Genius of Black Children to anyone working with young children. Sullivan boldly challenges us to look at what it will take to simultaneously close the academic achievement gap and cultivate the genius of Black children in classrooms that already exist. As she states: It is possible, doable, and imperative--Ed Greene, Educational Trasmedia Designs Cultivating the Genius of Black Children: Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap in the Early Years is quite simply a 'must' for any collection strong in early childhood education for black children. Research, experience, and the latest studies combine in a reference directed to early childhood educators interested in creating classrooms in which Black children learn and grow on many levels. From different cultural influences specific to Black children and how they learn to incorporating this knowledge into a classroom endeavor, this book is filled with important keys to success and shows teachers how to better involve kids and families alike in the education process.
--The Education Shelf, Midwest Book Review
