Winter Book Study: "Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain" - Dec. 8, 2017

District 97 believes that the consistent use of effective teaching strategies and sound leadership practices can produce successful schools and help all students learn at high levels.

With this in mind, we have focused our efforts this year on challenging and engaging all students. These efforts have included encouraging our faculty and staff to not only question and challenge their own beliefs about our students’ ability to meet high expectations, but also communicate those high expectations to our students on a regular basis.

I recently invited our school leaders to join me in a study of the book “Culturally Responsive Teaching and The Brain: Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students” by Zaretta Hammond. I would like to invite you to participate in this study as well so you can learn more about and better understand our work. We will talk about the book during two in-person meetings. Information about those meetings is below.

  • Saturday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at the Oak Park Conservatory (615 Garfield Street)
  • Tuesday, Feb. 27 (time and location are TBD)

We will also be discussing the book via the D97 Book Club page on Twitter, which can be accessed by visiting https://twitter.com/D97BookClub

Here is a little bit about the book from its back cover:

A bold, brain-based teaching approach to culturally responsive instruction.

The achievement gap remains a stubborn problem for educators of culturally and linguistically diverse students. With the introduction of the rigorous Common Core State Standards, diverse classrooms need a proven framework for optimizing student engagement and facilitating deeper learning. Culturally responsive pedagogy has shown great promise in meeting this need, but many educators still struggle with its implementation. 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. With a firm understanding of these techniques and principles, teachers and instructional leaders will confidently reap the benefits of culturally responsive instruction.

I will share additional information about the book study following winter break. In the meantime, I recommend purchasing the book in the days ahead if you are interested in participating in our discussion about it.   

Our school community always has and will continue to play a vital and valuable role in setting the course for educating our children. By joining us in these conversations, you can help ensure that the plan we have for our vision leads to a better and brighter future for all of our students. 

Have a relaxing and enjoyable winter break.

Dr. Carol Kelley

Superintendent