Top Ten Summer Reading List: Education

Today’s teachers are covering more than just their content area. Increasingly, they are also expected to be first responders to issues of race, class, gender and sexuality, from elementary school right on up to high schools.

The following list of books is helpful for both progressive teachers looking for ways to create inclusive classrooms and for parents and general readers seeking to understand the ways in which schools address a host of issues beyond reading, writing and arithmetic.

TOP TEN MUST-READ BOOKS ON EDUCATION:

Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom, bell hooks

“Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”: And Other Conversations About Race, Beverly Daniel Tatum

Critical Race Counterstories Along the Chicano/Chicana Educational Pipeline, Tara Yosso

Other People’s Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom, Lisa Delpit

Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education, Sonia Nieto

Everyday Anti-Racism: Getting Real About Race in School, Mica Pollock

Readings for Diversity and Social Justice: An Anthology on Racism, Anti-Semitism, Sexism, Heterosexism, Ableism, and Classism, ed. Maurianne Adams, et. al.

Coming to Class: Pedagogy and the Social Class of Teachers, ed. Gary Tate

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls, Rachel Simmons

Gender, Bullying, and Harassment: Strategies to End Sexism and Homophobia in Schools, Elizabeth J. Meyer

photo credit: thanks to dr.coop via flickr

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Harold S.

7:32PM PDT on Sep 23, 2010

Thank You!

send a green star

Lorin S.

3:38PM PDT on Sep 23, 2010

I can't believe the list doesn't have "The Courage To Teach" on it!

Janice P.

11:55AM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

Thanks for reminding me of a book that I had promised myself I would read, but forgot all about: "Odd Girl Out". I heard the author of this book being interviewed on the radio about one year ago, and that interview was fascinating. This is a topic that is largely left unexplored. Girls, who bully at young ages, usually grow up to be adult bullies. Much, much more attention needs to be drawn to this subject, and all employers need to be made aware of it. Most employers haven't a clue.

6:58AM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

Thanks for the list!!

Borg D.

6:53PM PDT on Jul 3, 2010

thanks

Past Member .

5:58AM PDT on Jul 3, 2010

Noted, Thanks for this list, some seem worth a read

Andrea M.

11:41PM PDT on Jul 2, 2010

Some of these titles sound really good. Thanks for the list.

SL L.

11:25PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

sounds like the bs from the far left progressives, esp. when I hear the prefix "trans" ... lets stick to teaching the kids solid basics. This country is becoming more stupid each year and the teachers are to blame.

Carole C.

9:20PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

This list should include more reading on LGBT harassment, such as Creating Safe Schools for Gay and Lesbian Students and Inspiration for LGBT Students and Their Allies. I work in elementary and middle schools, and not a day goes by that I don't hear someone use the word "gay" in a derogatory fashion. And not only by students, but also teachers and other staff.

Magdalena M.

8:20PM PDT on Jul 1, 2010

Wow, lots of racism. I had no idea that it is so bad. I live in Canada and see kids play together after school. They are black, white, yellow... does not matter. They have fun. Maybe it is just the area...but there is also lots of mixed couples with kids.