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What We Know For Sure About Helping Our Students Of Color Become Successful Readers

Martin Cox

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Published in It S Not Complicated : What I Know For Sure About Helping Our Students Of Color Become Successful Readers

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Helping students of color become successful readers is a complex and challenging task. However, there are a number of things that we know for sure about how to help these students succeed. In this article, we will discuss some of the most important things that we know about helping students of color become successful readers.

It's Not Complicated!: What I Know for Sure about Helping Our Students of Color Become Successful Readers

by Phyllis Hunter

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Culturally Relevant Pedagogy

One of the most important things that we can do to help students of color become successful readers is to use culturally relevant pedagogy. This means using teaching methods and materials that are relevant to the students' culture and experiences. When students see themselves reflected in the materials they are reading, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated to learn. For example, if you are teaching a lesson about the American Revolution, you could use primary sources from African Americans who participated in the war. This would help students to connect the material to their own culture and experiences.

Family Engagement

Another important factor in helping students of color become successful readers is family engagement. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in their children's education, and they can be a great resource for teachers. When parents are involved in their children's education, they can help to support their learning at home. For example, parents can read to their children, help them with their homework, and talk to them about what they are learning in school. This can help to create a positive learning environment for students.

Community Involvement

The community can also play a role in helping students of color become successful readers. Libraries, community centers, and other organizations can offer programs and services that support literacy. For example, many libraries offer free tutoring and homework help. Community centers may offer after-school programs that focus on reading and writing. These programs can provide students with additional support and resources that they may not have access to at home or at school.

Instructional Strategies

In addition to using culturally relevant pedagogy, family engagement, and community involvement, there are a number of instructional strategies that we can use to help students of color become successful readers. These strategies include:

Explicit instruction: This means teaching students the skills and strategies they need to become successful readers. For example, you could teach students how to decode words, how to understand text structure, and how to make inferences.
Scaffolding: This means providing students with the support they need to succeed. For example, you could provide students with graphic organizers, sentence starters, or other tools to help them with their reading.
Differentiation: This means tailoring instruction to meet the individual needs of students. For example, you could provide students with different levels of text difficulty, or you could group students based on their reading ability.
Assessment: This means evaluating students' progress and using the results to inform instruction. For example, you could give students regular reading assessments to track their progress and identify areas where they need additional support.

Helping students of color become successful readers is a complex and challenging task, but it is one that is essential for their success in school and in life. By using culturally relevant pedagogy, family engagement, community involvement, and effective instructional strategies, we can help these students to reach their full potential.

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