Jeff Duncan-Andrade
Associate Professor of Raza Studies & Education, San Francisco State University
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Jeff Duncan-Andrade
“Through the voices of those closest to the classroom, Howard, McCall, and Howard remind us that at the end of the day teaching and learning often boils down to caring relationships. While it is troubling that the field must be reminded of this fact yet again, until our most wounded children experience school cultures that prioritize their well-being over their test scores, we need the kinds of powerful voices represented in this book to keep the focus where it belongs.” (from Amazon)
by M. Colleen Cruz, Nell K Duke, Tanya Milner-McCall, Jaleel R. Howard, Tyrone C. Howard·You?
by M. Colleen Cruz, Nell K Duke, Tanya Milner-McCall, Jaleel R. Howard, Tyrone C. Howard·You?
Teachers know the importance of strong relationships with their students, but sometimes connecting with them feels challenging. No More Teaching Without Positive Relationships reviews the teacher-student relationship research and provides practices for building relationships that make a difference. To learn, students need positive relationships with their teachers. So what gets in the way and how can we do better? Since there is no one way to make every relationship positive, authentic, sustainable, and trusting, the authors provide a range of strategies for building and maintaining connections with students. They also discuss critical considerations such as: Learning about students’ backgrounds and interestsCommunicating with parents and caregiversDeveloping culturally responsive contentUnderstanding the importance of race and ethnicityBuilding and protecting students’ self-esteem Positive teacher-student relationships do not just transform student learning―they also create more stimulating and caring classrooms. A true relationship is dynamic, often requiring a change in behaviors and mindsets. It can be intense work, but it is the kind of work that can change a student’s life.