Knowing How to Discuss Race In The Classroom

by Ashlee A. Jeannot

So, what does this guide provide? Who is this guide for? Who does it benefit? And what will you, the reader, get out of this guide? The purpose of this guide is as ● To equip white teachers with the tools needed to engage in conversations and discussions centered around race*. ● To reach white teachers who do not work in diverse communities or classrooms and also do not understand the importance of discussing race. ● To educate white teachers about recognizing, understanding and acknowledging white privilege(s).● To provide steps to address the emotional toll and impact of race, provide steps and resources to deal with combativeness or resistance from fellow white teachers, white parents, and white students.● To address and combat deficit thinking ideologies as well as raise white teachers’ expectations about students of color by acknowledging biases and dismantling color-blindness and mitigating fear of failure.● To provide white teachers with resources to help them understand their impact when working with children from races and ethnicities that have been historically marginalized.● To help you and your colleagues understand and recognize the need for discussing race and the benefits it will have for you and your students. ● To help you develop social-emotional and cultural competence*. As Donahue-Keegan et al. assert, “socially, emotionally and culturally competent teachers are better equipped to reach and equitably teach students with a broad range of backgrounds and social identities--in terms of culture, race, etc” (Donahue-Keegan, Villegas-Reimers, Cressey, 2019, p.151)

73 pages, Paperback

Published February 27, 2020

Reviews

[Josh S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful and well-researched guide to racial literacy in the classroom setting.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a beginner's book for folks on their journey of racial literacy. Ashlee offers great advice and insight and I love her storytelling approach. I was left wanting to more but understand that as a white person, it is my responsibility to seek it.

[Sara Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative and practical look at the issue. Though the target audience is white teachers in the K-12 context, the information can be applied across a wide range of employment and life contexts.

[Molly Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a helpful short read for every teacher. It provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of racism on students and the role teachers play in that.