Rethinking Elementary Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice - Softcover

"This is an essential book that will transform how we see Elementary Education. It shows how teachers can incorporate diversity, respond to the needs of immigrant students and English learners, fight the insidious damages of tracking, and address social justice. Both clear and profound, this honest book provides inspiration and invites reflection." -- Alma Flor Ada, professor emerita "University of San Francisco, author of numerous books for children and educators."

"Powerful and practical. The stores are direct from the classroom and offer testimony to the opportunities for creating real-world curriculum, based on the lives of children and their families. I truly loved the collection and will use it with both pre-service and inservice teachers I work with. Highly recommend!" -- Ruth Shagoury, Mary Stuart Rogers Professor of Education "Lewis & Clark College"

"Another glorious package of encouragement and challenge from the most enlightened and most fervent group of teachers and their allies in the nation. Indispensable for elementary teachers--and a feisty provocation to all educators to stand up and fight for our beliefs." -- Jonathan Kozol "Author"

"Both clear and profound, this honest book provides inspiration, invites reflection, and through engaging real-life examples of classrooms shows that in spite of all the external restriction placed on our schools, we can be the teachers we want to be and give all children the education they deserve." -- Alma Flor Ada, professor emerita "University of San Francisco"

"Chapter after chapter, teachers take your breath away with the power of their teaching, demonstrating practices that help the children in their care 'live the curriculum.' This is a much needed look at how, despite the mandates to the contrary, teachers might make curriculum relevant to children." -- Jerome C. Harste, Martha Lea and Bill Armstrong Chair Emeritus of Teacher Education "Indiana University"

"Rethinking Elementary Education is both powerful and practical. The stories are direct from the classroom and offer testimony to the opportunities for creating real-world curriculum, based on the lives of our children and their families. I love this collection and will use it with both preservice and inservice teachers I work with." -- Ruth Shagoury, Mary Stuart Rogers Professor of Education "Lewis & Clark College"

Rethinking Elementary Education collects the finest writing about elementary school life and learning from 25 years of Rethinking Schools magazine. The articles in this collection offer practical insights about how to integrate the teaching of content with a social justice lens, seek wisdom from students and their families, and navigate stifling tests and mandates. Teachers and parents will find both inspiration and hope in these pages.