Kate L. (KHLS97) reviewed The Dreamkeepers : Successful Teachers of African American Children on + 22 more book reviews
Although statistics paint a harsh picture of the education of African American children, Ladson-Billings (curriculum and instruction, Univ. of Wisconsin) integrates scholarly research with stories of eight successful teachers in a predominantly African American school district to illustrate that the "dream" of all teachers and parents-academic success for all children-is alive and can be emulated. The presentation of examples from "intellectually rigorous and challenging classrooms" emphasizes the cultural and social aspects of the issues in education as a whole. The author's own experiences as a student and teacher of teachers support the need to make the problems of African American children a central issue in any debate on the American educational system. The in-depth bibliographical notes and the excellent appendixes discussing the methodology and the context of the study should be useful for education students and the libraries serving them.
Kiri O. (kiri) reviewed The Dreamkeepers : Successful Teachers of African American Children on + 9 more book reviews
Dreamkeepers is a groundbreaking and inspirational book that just might make you want to become a teacher. Ladson-Billings presents the stories of eight teachers, both black and white, in predominantly black school districts who have managed to do what the American public school system as a whole has failed miserably at: teaching African-American students in a way that engages them and helps them learn (and WANT to learn) by playing to their strengths and experiences.
