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An RTI Guide to Improving the Performance of African American Students
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An RTI Guide to Improving the Performance of African American Students



May 2015 | 280 pages | Corwin

Help students thrive with this systematic approach to culturally responsive instruction!

Research shows that students of color learn best in classrooms that reflect their cultural values. This breakthrough book shows educators how to create culturally relevant RTI models that help diverse students thrive!

Step-by-step, you’ll learn to skillfully apply 4 core characteristics critical to culturally responsive instruction: communalism, movement expressiveness, orality, and verve. Richly detailed case studies and evidence-based, process-focused strategies will help you to:

  • Understand how and why culture mediates learning 
  • Dispel cultural biases and appreciate the assets among all student groups
  • Address all tiers of the RTI model across grade levels
  • Eliminate disproportionality in special education eligibility decisions
  • Work collaboratively with African American parents and communities

Use this thought-provoking handbook to confidently design high quality, culturally responsive instruction that fits the cultural needs of most African-American students!

"All educators working with diverse students should read this book!  Using personal experiences, the author provides examples of culturally responsive classroom instruction that brings tears to my eyes realizing what I missed in my own education."
Julie Esparza Brown, Assistant Professor in Special Education
Portland State University


"Diversity in race and culture is one of the greatest issues facing students and teachers in education today. Without changing our mindset and understanding how others learn, we will never meet the expectations of educating all people. This book is outstanding in addressing these issues. It is truly a powerful read and something all educators should keep as a resource when making decisions for students who do not fall into that stereotypical 'box'."
Cindy Lawrence, Curriculum Coordinator
Lumberton ISD

"This book presents salient and provocative ideas with regards to teaching the way students learn.  These ideas are not readily spoken about in teacher preparation programs or in schools. This book provides an avenue to discuss the ways African American students learn best."
Lydia Adegbola, Assistant Principal
NYC Department of Education


 
A Note to the Reader
 
Acknowledgments
 
Introduction
 
About the Author
 
Part 1: Culturally Relevant Response to Intervention (CR-RTI)
 
1. How Did We Get Here?
 
2. Response to Intervention
 
3. Culturally Relevant Response-to-Intervention (CR-RTI) Models
 
4. Theory and Culturally Relevant Models
 
5. Scientific Research-Based Instruction and CR-RTI
 
6. Step-by-Step Approach to Creating CR-RTI Models
 
7. Cultural Characteristics and Academic Engagement
 
8. Cultural Characteristics in the Classroom
 
Part 2: Vignettes
 
9. "Entertainment?! Why Can’t Our Children Just Sit Down and Learn?"
 
10. What Does Academic Engagement Look Like for Many Children of Color?
 
11. Motivation: The Key to Success
 
12. Respecting Children and Their Cultural Backgrounds
 
13. Racism: Does it Exist in Today’s School System?
 
14. Getting Parents to Buy Into Your RTI Model
 
15. Using Community Resources: A School-Church RTI Approach
 
Part 3: Application
 
16. Peer-Mediated Learning: An Emphasis on Communalism
 
17. Culturally Relevant Reading and Writing Instruction
 
18. Communalism and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level
 
19. Movement and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level
 
20. Orality and Tier 1 Instruction
 
21. Verve, Evaluation Systems, and Instruction
 
22. Tying It All Together Within an RTI Framwork
 
23. RTI for Students of Color at the High School Level
 
Reflections
 
References
 
Index

"All educators working with diverse students should read this book!  Using personal experiences, the author provides examples of culturally responsive classroom instruction that brings tears to my eyes realizing what I missed in my own education."

Julie Esparza Brown, Assistant Professor in Special Education
Portland State University

"Diversity in race and culture is one of the greatest issues facing students and teachers in education today. Without changing our mindset and understanding how others learn, we will never meet the expectations of educating all people. This book is outstanding in addressing these issues. It is truly a powerful read and something all educators should keep as a resource when making decisions for students who do not fall into that stereotypical 'box'."

Cindy Lawrence, Curriculum Coordinator
Lumberton ISD

"This book presents salient and provocative ideas with regards to teaching the way students learn.  These ideas are not readily spoken about in teacher preparation programs or in schools. This book provides an avenue to discuss the ways African American students learn best."

Lydia Adegbola, Assistant Principal
NYC Department of Education
Key features
(1) Guides educators toward an understanding of the socio-cultural characteristics of classrooms and why such an understanding is critical to fostering academic engagement of African American students.

(2) Provides explicit guidance on designing culturally-responsive interventions that are informed by the research on culturally-responsive instruction.

(3) Includes full-chapter treatment of parent-school relations, RtI for students of color at the classroom level, and school-community relations.

(4) Filled with richly-detailed anecdotes and examples that bring concepts to life and challenge dominant norms and cultural biases.

(5) New edition will include a thoroughly-updated research base, additional foundational information on RtI, and additional examples of culturally-responsive practice.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction

Chapter 1


For instructors

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