Welcome to Litsy!

This was a brilliant book! It talked about what we think about black children in America, the way that they belong or don't in the education system, and what we are doing to disenfranchise them K-university. It's really sad that this is our reality, but a lot of it has to do with the society that we live in and how we have internalized our history racism in America. I love the suggestions given and look forward to incorporating them in the future

"As J.C. High Eagle, a Native American leader, has said, we live life right, we truly understand that we are but spokes on the great wheel of life and that which endangers one spoke endangers the entire wheel."

Working at a community college, I already knew this because of the faculty trainings I've attended as a student worker. I'm thankful for the M2C3 curriculum presented by Dr. Frank Harris at SDSU - we need to have more tools at every level to help minority students feel embraced, celebrated, welcomed, and belonging at our schools!

"On the other hand, if they enter the classroom arrogantly, believing that young white people like themselves are the saviors of black children, if they ignore the brilliance of many- never to suggest all- of the African-American educators who have come before them and who are struggling against all odds to educate the children of their own communities...then they can serve no useful role."

"Don't ever say that again. Someone's opinion of you does not have to become your reality."

"Students were also very aware of the culture of their schools, the attitudes their teachers have toward teaching, and the effort those teachers put into their craft."
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"A good teacher inspires you and pushes you to the point of no return."

"Stephanie also began phonics instruction after the first week. When I told her this seemed inconsistent with the ideas of advocates of the current whole language curriculum that have been adopted by her district, Stephanie countered with a statement 'I teach children, not curricula.'"

"Over and over again we now try to find out what is wrong with the children or their families that stunts their learning, that limits their capability, without paying sufficient attention to what does or doesn't happen in classrooms."

"If we do not recognize the brilliance before us, we cannot help but carry on the stereotypic societal views that these children are somehow damaged goods and that they cannot be expected to succeed."

This is a book that's used in education often to talk about diversity and how we deliberately choose to interact with students who are neurodiverse. I'm excited to see what this book has to offer to me. I've already read a little bit of it to give for other students to read, but I am going to give this more of a go and see how it turns out!