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Developing Critical Cultural Competence
A Guide for 21st-Century Educators
- Jewell E. Cooper - The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
- Ye He - The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
- Barbara B. Levin - The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, USA
Foreword by Christine Sleeter
Additional resources:
November 2011 | 232 pages | Corwin
This book is designed for professional development staff, teacher educators, lead teachers, administrators, and other school leaders who want to engage teachers in developing their critical cultural competence. Due to the increasingly diverse nature of todayÆs schools, and imperative to increase the achievement of all students, no matter their background, there is great need for 21st century teachers to develop critical cultural competence. This is done best through on-going professional development for both new and experienced teachers because it requires much more than just knowing about the diverse nature of todayÆs students. While culturally competent teachers can reflect on their own practices, and seek knowledge about their students, families and communities, teachers with critical cultural competence have to become more self-analytical in their reflections, innovative in their actions, and collaborative in helping to transform their schoolsÆ culture. Therefore, this book offers numerous activities to engage teachers in the exploration of themselves as a cultural beings and innovative ways to learn more about the diversity of todayÆs students from their families and communities. The book is organized around professional development activities that focus on the three inseparable aspects required for developing teachersÆ critical cultural competency: understanding of self; understanding of students; and understanding of families and communities. The book concludes with recommendations for how to plan and fund professional development for building teachersÆ critical cultural competence in order to reach the ultimate goal of increasing student achievement.
List of Resources
Foreword by Christine Sleeter
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction: What Do We Need to Do to Prepare Teachers for Today's Diverse Classrooms?
1. Common Practices: How Are We Currently Preparing Educators for Diverse Classrooms?
2. Who I Am: How Can We Understand Ourselves as Cultural Beings?
3. Moving From Beliefs and Visions to Action: How Can We Link Our Personal and Professional Identities?
4. How Do We Prepare Educators to Understand and Appreciate Student Diversity?
5. From Critical Awareness to Transformative Action: How Do We Prepare Educators to Become Cultural Brokers for Student Success?
6. Learning About the Community: How Can We Learn More About Parents and Families?
7. Community-Based Learning: How Can We Learn From Parents, Families, and Communities?
8. Bringing It All Together: How Do We Maximize Teaching and Learning Opportunities?
References
Index
Supplements
“This book offers a coherent collection of theories and practices for a strong multicultural teacher education. It would act as a useful text or starting place for an entire course.”
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
“As I read this book, it became clear that my long-held belief about the meaning of cultural competence needed a makeover. I am now convinced that my personal definition of diversity should embrace a much deeper appreciation of differences and transformative action.”
Heartland Area Education Agency, Johnston, IA
“This book effectively describes the importance of individual teachers learning about themselves as a person in order to clearly differentiate for students in the classroom.”
New Canaan Public Schools, CT
“With a clear theme of preparing educators for teaching diverse learners and creating critical cultural competence, the author hooks the reader and entices them to continue the journey of developing cultural responsiveness in the classroom and community.”
Houston Independent School District, TX
“Developing Critical Cultural Competence offers a rich resource of information and activities for professional development that supports cultural understanding and goes beyond the assumptions and myths that often surround the diverse student populations in our nation’s schools.”
Hanford Elementary School District, CA
“Developing Critical Cultural Competence provides educators with the inspiration, knowledge, and tools to move from theory to action in seeking to eliminate the achievement gap."
Lincoln Public Schools, NE
