She Was Going To Introduce President Obama. Instead, She Got A Standing Ovation

Hareth Andrade-Ayala wants to prevent her dad from being deported. But she's clearly biased. So she checked with a bunch of working-class Americans to let her know if they think he should have to go. And then at :41, this happened.

Why Are Poor Black Boys Are Treated As Problems Before Being Treated As People

A Terrific Rap About Ghandi

Mneumonics & Raps

Larry Bell’s UNRAAVEL For Math

Underline the questions

Now predict what you think you need to do to solve the problem

Read the word problem

Are the important words circled? (especially clue words)

Apply the step(s) you chose to solve the problem

Verify the answer (is it reasonable: does it make sense?)

Eliminate wrong answers

Let the answer stay or rework the problem

Larry Bell’s UNRAAVEL For Reading

Underline the title
Now predict the passage (in one sentence)
Run through and number the paragraphs
Are you reading the questions?
Are the important words circled? (Write down their meanings.)
Venture through the passage
Eliminate wrong answers in multiple choice.
Let the questions be answered (Write the paragraph number where you found the answers.)

“Cultivating the Trust of Black Parents” by Beverly Tatum

Teachers listening to the concerns of parents

Representation of all -environment, conversations, curriculum

Understanding potential for bias

Sensitivity toward parent distrust

Talking openly and truthfully

“Teaching and Transcending Basic Skills” by Amanda Taylor

Temporary and targeted

Readiness

Assessment and acceleration

Needed to

Scaffold

Critical thinking

Expectations high!

Necessary to

Demonstrate intellectual ability

“Confronting the Racism of Low Expectations” by Julie Landsman

New way of thinking

Ongoing dialogue

Intelligence refined

Do something

Immerse in other cultures

Open and safe environment

Tell them they can do it

Success for all

Grammar Rap by Chike Akua: (This came up in the small group on Engagement)

Good communication skills are essential.

The power of the word will make you influential.

We need to know the eight parts of speech.

Master the language; go as high as you can reach.

A noun is a person place or thing;

An idea in my mind that makes me dream.

A verb is a word that always shows action;

Like divide, multiply, and do subtraction.

An adjective always describes a noun,

Like a big, red truck you can drive around.

An adverb usually end in –ly;

Clearly a verb is what it modifies.

A pronoun takes the place of a noun;

Like when she, he and they walk around.

Conjunctions connect phrases, clauses and words;

And, but, or, nor and yet haven’t you heard?

Here’s a word that’s definitely on a mission,

Let me give you some examples of a preposition:

In, on, from, to and around:

During, after, up and even down.

Now we need to learn about interjections,

A word with enthusiasm, lots of expression

Like: Stop! Go! Wait! Yes! And No!

Wow! Great! Awesome! Uh-oh!

Now that you know the eight parts of speech,

Master the language, go as high as you can reach!

Larry Bell - Strategies That Close the Achievement Gap

In a course, Strategies to Close the Achievement Gap, that my colleague, Elli Stern, and I teach, we ask participants (teachers, counselors, administrators, tutors, nurses, etc.) to get into a group and "become the expert" on an article that we have assigned for homework.  To this end, we then ask the group to construct a graphic organizer, mnemonic, or other visual aid to help "teach" the other groups about the article.

 

Larry Bell cites the importance of getting students emotionally involved. The poetry template invites sharing emotional content, for example, with the starter, "I worry about__________," personal expression and deep insight is encouraged.

Larry Bell’s multiple “fishbowl” allows every child to both be seen and to see.

Increasing communication with parents is important. Little or no parent support is a characteristic of low performing students.

Larry Bell’s UNRAAVEL For Math

Underline the questions

Now predict what you think you need to do to solve the problem

Read the word problem

Are the important words circled? (especially clue words)

Apply the step(s) you chose to solve the problem

Verify the answer (is it reasonable: does it make sense?)

Eliminate wrong answers

Let the answer stay or rework the problem

Larry Bell’s UNRAAVEL For Reading

Underline the title
Now predict the passage (in one sentence)
Run through and number the paragraphs
Are you reading the questions?
Are the important words circled? (Write down their meanings.)
Venture through the passage
Eliminate wrong answers in multiple choice.
Let the questions be answered (Write the paragraph number where you found the answers.)

Larry Bell 12 Power Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dguxb5VuB0Y

Songs With a Global Conscience

Using Songs to Build International Understanding and Solidarity by Bob Peterson http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/rg/RGResource01.shtml:  Songs, like poetry, are powerful tools to build consciousness and solidarity on global issues. We begin everyday in my classroom with our "song of the week." Students receive the song lyrics and keep them in their three-ring binders. The songs generally relate to topics of study. I allow students to bring in songs as well, although they must know the lyrics and have a reason for sharing the song with classmates. By the end of the week, students may not have memorized the words to the "song of the week," but they are familiar enough with the lyrics and music so that the song becomes "theirs." Even with some of the songs that I would imagine the children think poorly of - say, some of the slower folk songs - by the end of the week the children demand to hear them a second or third time each morning.

Here are the topics listed in the blog.  Each topic lists songs with social conscience.
THE COLONIAL PAST
CURRENT NORTH/SOUTH GLOBAL REALITIES
GLOBAL SWEATSHOPSFOOD AND AGRICULTURE
GLOBALIZATION ON THE HOMEFRONT
CULTURE, POWER AND ENVIRONMENT