Chanese Goodman

Tuscarora Elementary serves a diverse student body, with 72% of the student population being students of color. Meanwhile, more than 75% of the school’s educators are White. In the past year in particular, the school has experienced an increase in the number of immigrant and refugee students, some coming from war-torn countries. To better serve these students, educators want to host two book study groups. The first is a Student Experience Book Study, during which they will read five middle grade books featuring as main characters young people with an immigration experience. After reading each book, educators will reflect on their biases, how their perspective changed after reading the book, and how they can take concrete steps to make their classrooms more culturally responsive and inclusive. The second is a book club to study “Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain” by Zaretta Hammond. Here as well educators will be asked to reflect on what they have learned, their own cultural biases and experiences, and to make a plan to implement more culturally responsive practices in their classroom.