Culturally Proficient Learning Communities

Integrating the four Tools of Cultural Proficiency with the PLC framework, this guide provides school leaders with practical strategies for building equity-focused PLCs to help all students achieve.

Integrating the four Tools of Cultural Proficiency with the Proficient Learning Communities (PLC) framework, this guide provides school leaders with practical strategies for building equity-focused PLCs to help all students achieve. It includes templates, protocols, activities and rubrics for deconstructing student inequalities.

This powerful third edition offers fresh approaches that enable school leaders to engage in effective interactions with students, educators, and the communities they serve.

A bold, brain-based teaching approach to culturally responsive instruction To close the achievement gap, diverse classrooms need a proven framework for optimizing student engagement. Culturally responsive instruction has shown promise, but many teachers have struggled with its implementation—until now. In this book, Zaretta Hammond draws on cutting-edge neuroscience research to offer an innovative approach for designing and implementing brain-compatible culturally responsive instruction. The book includes: Information on how one’s culture programs the brain to process data and affects learning relationships Ten “key moves” to build students’ learner operating systems and prepare them to become independent learners Prompts for action and valuable self-reflection

Embark on a journey toward cultural proficiency that results in professional growth and organizational change! This powerful third edition offers fresh approaches, a revised organization, and new activities that enable leaders to engage in effective interactions with students, educators, and the communities they serve. The authors meticulously provide information gathered from their experiences working with schools, educational agencies, and organizations across the United States and Canada and show how school leaders can: Gain a personal understanding of what cultural proficiency means in practice Use collaborative activities to effect change in a school Lead a learning community toward becoming a culturally proficient organization

Are you doing all you can to improve teaching and learning? Culturally proficient instruction is the result of an inside-out journey of teaching and learning during which you explore your values and behaviors while evaluating the policies and practices of your workplace. The journey deepens your understanding of yourself and your community of practice. In the newest version of their best-selling book, the authors invite you to reflect on how you engage with your students and your colleagues as a community of learners. The third edition features a case study to show cultural proficiency in practice and: An updated discussion of standards-based education guidelines A conceptual framework for the tools of cultural proficiency New language for understanding the microaggressions of dominant cultures An integrated guide for use with study groups Each chapter contains reflective activities and group work conducive to collaborative professional development. Culturally Proficient Instruction is invaluable for anyone dedicated to creating an environment in which all learners can succeed.

Help your English learning students achieve academic success! U.S. demographics are quickly shifting, and it is more important than ever to reach and teach English learning students. Designed to empower educators to become agents of change in their classrooms, schools, and communities, this guide introduces the principles of Cultural Proficiency and how they can help improve educators′ ability to effectively teach English language learners. This book features: Activities that build core Cultural Proficiency skills and promote personal transformation A chapter-by-chapter rubric for working effectively with English learning students A conversation-starting case story featuring the River View School District Strategies for using action research to improve the success of English learning students By focusing on Cultural Proficiency—and the underlying causes of EL achievement gaps—educators can uncover ways to break down academic barriers and use students′ cultural background as educational assets. "This is a valuable resource for staff developers creating culturally proficient learning environments to close the achievement gap. This work focuses on English learning students with the same ′inside out′ approach as the authors′ previous work. A perfect asset for a professional learning community book study!" —Linda Fisher, Staff Development Coordinator Lincoln Unified School District, Stockton, CA "The book provides the school leader with the tools to engage themselves and others in making English learning students a priority. It is a must read for educators to get those hard and healthy conversations started and to examine our school practices and policies." —Lori Henderson, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Manitoba, Canada