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Fish Out of Water
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Fish Out of Water
Mentoring, Managing, and Self-Monitoring People Who Don't Fit In



April 2016 | 256 pages | Corwin

Sometimes people just don't fit in. They may not be a member of the dominant group; they may not have figured out the norms of the dominant culture, or members of the dominant culture may not realize that the organization's culture is marginalizing. As advocates for social justice it is important to notice and teach the cultural codes – the house rules – that contribute to success in a particular environment, and to dismantle the codes within those environments that target, marginalize or exclude. This book is helpful for

  • Managers who are working to create and sustain a healthy organization culture
  • Mentors of children who are targeted by their peers or other adults
  • People who want to make a difference in their environment and have not yet figured out the rules for doing that

What People are Saying

“Fish Out of Water is a great resource for navigating ponds that suffocate the marginalized with dominant norms and values. Linking Cultural Proficiency to decoding an environment provides more tools for code switching, code sharing, and conversations about making students and families feel welcomed, included, and safe in our schools.” 
—Angela Ward, Office of Cultural Proficiency & Inclusion
Austin Independent Schools, TX


“This book made me think. It is a courageous attempt at the difficult subject of who ‘doesn't fit’ into the spaces and places we inhabit—and why. But the most valuable part of this book is that it describes what we can do about making our schools, workplaces, and communities more inclusive, and ultimately more effective.” 
—Nicki King, Reducing Mental Health Disparities Project
University of California, Davis
 


 
We Wear the Mask Poem
 
Foreword by Terry Cross
 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction
 
1. Who Are the Fish Out of Water?
 
2. What Is Code Switching?
 
3. What Is Cultural Proficiency
 
4. How Fish Out of Water Are Marginalized
 
5. The Consequences of Fitting In
 
6. From Code Switching to Code Sharing
 
7. Self-Monitoring When the Fit Is Not Right
 
8. Mentoring Kids Who Are Fish Out of Water
 
9. Managing Fish Out of Water
 
10. Managing the Environment
 
11. Leaving Well—Knowing When to Quit
 
Resources
 
References
 
Assessment Tools and Internet Resources
 
Videos and Teaching Guides
 
Fish out of Water in Literature
 
Book Study Guidelines
 
Afterword - Jeanne and Gordy

“Fish Out of Water is a great resource for navigating ponds that suffocate the marginalized with dominant norms and values. Linking Cultural Proficiency to decoding an environment provides more tools for code switching, code sharing. and conversations about making students and families feel welcomed, included, and safe in our schools.”

Angela Ward, Office of Cultural Proficiency & Inclusion
Austin Independent Schools

“Fish Out of Water made me think. It is a courageous attempt at the difficult subject of who ‘doesn't fit’ into the spaces and places we inhabit—and why. But the most valuable part of this book is that it describes what we can do about making our schools, workplaces, and communities more inclusive, and ultimately more effective.”

Nicki King, Reducing Mental Health Disparities Project
University of California, Davis

"Every educator and every employer works with those who just don’t fit in. This work provides strategies to help the “Fish out of Water” swim more successfully in your workplace or school environment."

David G. Daniels, High School Principal
Susquehanna Valley Central Schools

"Fish Out of Water is the filling of a void on the discussion about diversity valuing and appreciation. This books could be another link in the growth for many people in our country - both in dominant and minority cultures, personal and professional."

Vera Blake, Educational Consultant
ASCD

"I admire Nuri-Robins & Bundy for writing about a difficult topic without placing blame on one party or another for the problem. The solution-based approach gets past the anger and frustration of why the problem exists in the first place and moves the reader toward actions that can alleviate the problem."

Kathy Tritz-Rhodes, Principal
MMC Primary & MMC East Elementary

"Nuri-Robins & Bundy offer a unique approach to the topic of cultural diversity, pairing storytelling with helpful tools."

Bonnie Tryon, Retired Principal & Past President
School Administrators Association of New York (SAANYS)

Never got this book

Dr Dawn Piper
LMS Administration, University of Fort Lauderdale
September 30, 2020
Key features
(1)  Provides a fresh perspective on diversity and inclusion by addressing both those who fit within the mainstream culture and the "fish out of water" who must navigate an environment that is not yet ready or able to embrace them.

(2) Explicitly addresses the tools of code-switching -- an important survival mechanism for managing the dynamics of difference -- in the context of culturally-proficient organization.

(3) Addresses the needs of both adults and children who don't fit the norms of the dominant culture.

(4) Includes compelling vignettes that chronicle the lives and experiences of fish out of water who have learned to survive and thrive in schools and other organizations.

(5) Each chapter includes self-assessments and personal inventories

For instructors

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ISBN: 9781506341248

Paperback
ISBN: 9781506303024
$30.95

This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.