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You
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> Teaching
and Learning Strategies > Multicultural
Education > A Blueprint for Action
III
| Preamble: | Recognizing that high standards of effective teaching must be a nonnegotiable reality in all schools and classrooms where Black students are in attendance and that teachers must ensure that each Black child is provided the opportunity to attain the skills needed to achieve excellence in education, we commit to: |
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| Develop and demonstrate effective teaching strategies in all aspects of instruction. |
1. Demonstrate subject matter mastery and a strong general education
background, including visual and performing arts. 2. Upgrade teaching skills based on effective teaching strategies which enhance learning, regardless of student population. 3. Develop inquiry-based teaching strategies that encourage students as questioners, decision-makers, and problem solvers. 4. Design an effective classroom management and training program which develops positive student behaviors, minimizes disruptions and creates a safe learning environment. 5. Develop an ongoing staff development process which focuses on research-based effective teaching and learning strategies. 6. Devise seek incentives for personal professional growth. 7. Interact with all students in the classroom to provide individual guidance and feedback based on special needs. 8. Demonstrate understanding of the racial, cultural, social and ethnic background of the student body to more accurately and fairly interpret student behavior, thereby eliminating misdiagnosis, miseducation and inappropriate tracking. 9. Design and use in-class assessments to monitor individual student progress on a daily or weekly basis, thereby providing bases for early intervention strategies. 10. Use test data as diagnostic and prescriptive tools for improving student achievement and modifying teaching practices, but not as sole criteria for promotion, retention, or access to academic programs. |
| B. Optimize teacher input and expertise in decisions relating to effective instruction and successful schooling. |
1. Seek input from school site committees when making decisions relating
to curriculum and instruction. 2. Emphasize reading in content areas, analytical and critical thinking skills so that students will be taught to comprehend subjects. 3. Participate in the selection of textbooks instructional materials and equipment to ensure high quality. 4. Encourage textbook companies to include Black history and culture in appropriate and relative contexts. |
| C. Assist in the promotion of positive self-awareness among Black students through integrating visual and performing arts with basic skills. |
1. Create a classroom environment that is student centered and enhances
each student's self-concept as an accomplished learner. 2. Utilize local, state and federal resources to provide training in self-esteem, teacher attitudes and expectations. 3. Establish collaborative relationships with local media to guarantee frequent publication of positive achievements. 4. Highlight achievements and awards. 5. Identify, collect and utilize model curricula that focus on incorporating Black history into the curricular framework of the school system. 6. Set personal goals for yourself; make commitments as a demonstration to your students. |
| D. Urge better articulation between levels of schooling-elementary/secondary, secondary/college. |
1. Increase articulation and cooperation between elementary secondary
schools and institutions of higher education to strengthen curricula
delivery. 2. Target programs at all levels that diagnose academic strengths and weaknesses; strengthen general school performance, make adequate preparation for post-secondary education and entry into the world of work. 3. Incorporate proven discipline strategies in training of teacher candidates. 4. Promote policy which encourages teacher candidates to enroll in Black history and multicultural courses. 5. Advocate for students so that their coursework is as substantive as possible. |
| E. Develop collaborative relationships with peers, school administration, parents, and community to form a broad-based network of support for educating Black children. |
1. Establish an educational committee at each school composed of teachers,
administrators, community, parents, educational support personnel and
students. This committee will select and/or design instructional programs
and plan for a safe, orderly environment that will include but will
not be limited to:
4. Develop partnerships with businesses, higher education community- based organizations and schools which have been effective in supporting high academic achievement. 5. Build on identified successful models of self-discipline and promote these models among faculty, administrators, and parents. 6. Implement a teacher exchange program. |
| F. Recognize the need to retain and recruit Black teachers. |
1. Assist in designing a mentor program that assigns faculty members
to Black teachers new to the profession for providing guidance, instructional
strategies, and management techniques as needed. 2. Utilize personal contact with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). |
| G. Become knowledgeable of political and policy-making infrastructure. |
1. Monitor and attend Board of Education meetings. 2. Understand the structure of the state legislature, county government, and municipal entities. 3. Be aware of pending legislation and Board policies which impact Black children. 4. Be proactive in addressing legislation, policies and programs which impact Black children. |
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And for permission to redistribute, please contact:
Elizabeth Norwood
E-mail: esnorwood@aol.com
NCEBC: National Council on Educating Black Children
P.O. Box 2293
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
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