The Dreamkeepers : Successful Teachers of African American Children

Rating:
Summary: This
Review: The book "Dremkeepers" written by Gloria Ladson-Billings was not at all what I expected.I am a college student majoring in education and I had to read this book for my class.I chose this book because I thought this book was going to be about the true stories of how African American students over came the odds with the help of their "teachers." However, this was a book in which Billings took her own life stories and pulled out her best teachers or teachers that she felt were excellent at their career. Ms. Billings put the world in black and white and that's not it. Yes,in some cases AA children do learn differently depending on their environment,faith,cultural background and so forth but does not every child. I can sense that the author has a lot of disappointments with the education of African Americans and I can relate to her. However, the world is not Black and White and we as educators must be able to love and teach all culturals to be successful.

Rating:
Summary: a useful book
Review: The Dreamkeepers isn't a necessarily groundbreaking book, but i think white teachers (or any teachers for that matter) who haven't had much experience working with african american children will find the book helpful. If you've read any other stuff that falls under anti-racist or critical pedagogy, there won't be much that is new in terms of concepts. But what i found most useful are her sketches of the eight or so teachers who are very successful with african american children. She talks about their their upbringing, how that has influenced their teaching practices, and why they are successful in the classroom.

Rating:
Summary: This book is immensely book.
Review: This book is immensely book. This book is for all teachers and paraprofessional/teacher aid who is willing to understand the complex ways in some teachers contribute to the African American students. This book deal with the committed of parents, students and teachers who is willing to make a change in the way African American students learn.

Rating:
Summary: Teaching African American Children
Review: Today's urban public schools in the United States are filled with hopeful, eager students who are considered in the racial minority while many of the teachers they will encounter are white and female. In most cases, they do not share the same experiences nor view the world through the same lenses. In some cases, they are worlds apart. Ladson-Billings has constructed a book that provides insights, concepts and ideas that address the bridging of the cultural gap between African American students and teachers assimilated into the majority culture. This book is smart and useful as it addresses what all teachers can do to teach African American children with cultural competence. I strongly recommend this book to parents, prospective teachers, new teachers, veteran teachers and teacher-educators.