An RTI Guide to Improving the Performance of African American Students / Edition 1

by Dwayne D. Williams

Overview

Help students thrive with this systematic approach to culturally responsive instruction!

This breakthrough book shows educators how to create culturally relevant RTI models that meaningfully engage African American students. You’ll learn to skillfully apply 4 core characteristics critical to culturally responsive instruction: communalism, movement expressiveness, orality, and verve. Richly detailed case studies and evidence-based, process-focused strategies will help you to:

• Understand h ow and why culture mediates learning
• Dispel cultural biases and appreciate the variability among all student groups
• Address all tiers of the RTI model across grade levels
• Work collaboratively with African American parents and communities

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781483319735
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	06/02/2015
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Dwayne D. Williams is a school psychologist, educational consultant, and certified success coach. He provides training to school districts on how to create culturally relevant educational models, including RTI models. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (BA) from Fairmont State University; he earned a master’s degree in psychology (MA) and an Educational Specialist degree (Ed S) from Marshall University Graduate College. Dwayne received training in the area of life coaching from Youth and Family Guidance, Inc. and received board-certified life coaching credentials through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Dwayne is the founder of Tier 1 Educational Coaching and Consulting Services—a firm that provides urban educational and psychological consultative services to stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, community leaders, and parents. Dwayne is a first-generation college graduate and is devoted to shedding light on the importance of integrating cultural activities and instruction in the classroom. He was raised in housing projects in Springfield, Illinois, and often speaks on the need to connect with families and community leaders from underrepresented backgrounds. Dwayne is married to Toni Williams, and together they have two beautiful children: Dwayne II and Noni Williams.

Like the Tier 1 Educational Coaching and Consulting Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/Tier1services

Follow Dwayne on twitter: @dwaynedwilliams

Table of Contents

A Note to the Reader
Acknowledgments
Introduction
About the Author
Part 1: Culturally Relevant Response to Intervention (CR-RTI)
1. How Did We Get Here?
2. Response to Intervention
3. Culturally Relevant Response-to-Intervention (CR-RTI) Models
4. Theory and Culturally Relevant Models
5. Scientific Research-Based Instruction and CR-RTI
6. Step-by-Step Approach to Creating CR-RTI Models
7. Cultural Characteristics and Academic Engagement
8. Cultural Characteristics in the Classroom
Part 2: Vignettes
9. "Entertainment?! Why Can’t Our Children Just Sit Down and Learn? "
10. What Does Academic Engagement Look Like for Many Children of Color?
11. Motivation: The Key to Success
12. Respecting Children and Their Cultural Backgrounds
13. Racism: Does it Exist in Today’s School System?
14. Getting Parents to Buy Into Your RTI Model
15. Using Community Resources: A School-Church RTI Approach
Part 3: Application
16. Peer-Mediated Learning: An Emphasis on Communalism
17. Culturally Relevant Reading and Writing Instruction
18. Communalism and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level
19. Movement and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level
20. Orality and Tier 1 Instruction
21. Verve, Evaluation Systems, and Instruction
22. Tying It All Together Within an RTI Framwork
23. RTI for Students of Color at the High School Level
Reflections
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"This book presents salient and provocative ideas with regards to teaching the way students learn. These ideas are not readily spoken about in teacher preparation programs or in schools. This book provides an avenue to discuss the ways African American students learn best."

Lydia Adegbola

"Diversity in race and culture is one of the greatest issues facing students and teachers in education today. Without changing our mindset and understanding how others learn, we will never meet the expectations of educating all people. This book is outstanding in addressing these issues. It is truly a powerful read and something all educators should keep as a resource when making decisions for students who do not fall into that stereotypical 'box'. "

Cindy Lawrence

"All educators working with diverse students should read this book! Using personal experiences, the author provides examples of culturally responsive classroom instruction that brings tears to my eyes realizing what I missed in my own education. "

Julie Esparza Brown