Acknowledgments.

The Author.

Introduction: Persistent Problems.

Part One: The Basics.

1. If African American Kids Aren’t Dumb or Lazy, Why Are They Still Underachieving? Related Theories.

2. Effective Instructional Practices.

3. Effective Classroom Management.

Part Two: What Teachers Want to Know But Are Afraid to Ask.

4. How Can Teachers Reach African American Students from Challenging Backgrounds?

5. Standard English or Ebonics: Should We Force Them to Speak “Correctly”?

6. Can They Call Each Other the “N” Word?

7. What Should I Do When African American Students Accuse Me of Being Racist?

8. Why Do African American Students Need a Culturally Relevant Education?

9. Other Controversial Issues.

Conclusion: Can Beliefs Be Changed?

Notes.

Appendices.

Appendix A: The Time Line Project.

Appendix B: The All About Me Project.

Appendix C: The Cultural Awareness Project.

Appendix D: The Community Problem-Solving Project.

Appendix E: Writing About Music, Writing to Music.

Appendix F: Using Writing Assignments and Student Artwork to Create a Class Anthology.

Appendix G: Using “Quotes of the Week” for Writing Assignments and to Improve Critical Thinking Skills.

Appendix H: Vocabulary Building Strategies.

Appendix I: The Six-Hour Inservice and the Four Schools.

Index.