Resources

Policy Books

The Truth About Testing: An Educators Call to Action, by W. James Popham. (Alexandria VA: ASCD, 2001). 160 pp. $23.95. A clear explanation by noted educator and writer of the absurdity and the serious destructive consequences of today's testing programs. He uses actual items from current standardized tests to show what the tests really measure and why they should never be used to evaluate school quality or teacher ability.

*The Skin That We Speak: Thoughts on Language and Culture in the Classroom, edited by Lisa Delpit and Joanne Kilgour Dowdy. (New York: The New Press, 2002). 240 pp. $25. A cutting-edge book that delves into how many "Englishes" are spoken - African-American, Caribbean-American, Appalachian, among others - and the layers of politics, power and identity they carry. Includes essays by Herbert Kohl, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Asa Hilliard, and Geneva Smitherman.

*Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study, edited by Paula S. Rothenberg. (Worth Publishers, new edition 2001). 674 pp. $40. Filled with insightful essays and stories, this book emphasizes how race, class and gender intersect to create an impact on just about every aspect of life in U.S. society. Includes additional material on white skin privilege and recent immigration history.

Classroom Resources

The Land, by Mildred Taylor. (New York: Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001). 373 pp. $17.99 hdbk. A prequel to the Newbery Medal Winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. A moving story of how the post-Civil War Logan family got its start as the grandfather of Cassie Logan battles white supremacy and the legacy of the slavery-based land tenure system. Great for literature circles and social studies. Middle school / up.

The No-Nonsense Guide to International Migration, Peter Stalker. (London: Verso Press and the New Internationalist, 2001). 144 pp. $10. Like other books in the No-Nonsense series this informative handbook is packed with facts, graphs, and essays that help teachers and student understand the economic and social issues behind migration.

*Patak'n: World Tales of Drums and Drummers, by Nina Jaffe. (Peterborough, NH: Cricket Books, 2001). 145 pp. $13. Prize-winning storyteller Nina Jaffe recounts tales from around the globe and the importance of the drum to many cultures. Book includes audio CD of story selections with drumming. For ages 10-14.

Remembering Jim Crow: African-Americans Tell About Life in the Segregated South, edited by William Chafe, Raymond Gavins, and Robert Korstad and the staff of the Behind the Veil Project. (New York: New Press, 2001). 368 pp. $55, hdbk. and 2-CD set. A powerful collection of first person stories of the unrelenting oppression of the segregated south. Gleaned from 1,200 interviews in the mid-1990s the stories of every day life and resistance will bring this period of history alive to students of all ages.

*The Cruel Years: American Voices at the Dawn of the 20th Century, edited by William Loren Katz and Laurie R. Lehman. (New York: Apex Press, 2001). 242 pp. $22.95. Katz's newest book features the voices of those rarely heard from in the burgeoning U.S. Industrial Age: working people. Women, immigrants, African-Americans, and Native Americans were all affected by America's rapid and sometimes brutal industrialization. These stories show the historical impact of manufacturing on the ideals of democracy.

*Wáchale: Poetry and Prose About Growing Up Latino in America, edited by Ilan Stavans. (Peterborough, NH: Cricket Books, 2001). 146 pp. $17. "Wáchale" is Spanglish for "watch out" or "listen up," inviting readers into this new collection written in English and Spanish (with translations for each) and Spanglish. For ages 9-12.

Curriculum Books

For a Better World: Reading and Writing for Social Action, Randy and Katherine Bomer. (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2001). 188 pp. An extremely readable book that shows how social justice teaching can be injected into reading and writing workshops. The work samples of fourth graders and teacher reflections offer both veteran and new teachers valuable lessons on how to encourage thoughtful social action among students starting as early as elementary school.

Living and Teaching in an Unjust World: New Perspectives on Multicultural Education, edited by Wendy Goodman. (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2001). 216 pp. $21. A collection of essays written by practicing teachers who describe in detail their work in bringing a critical, multicultural perspective to their teaching.

Culture Difference & Power, by Christine Sleeter. (New York: Teacher College Press, 2001). Compact disc. $35.95. An information and activity packed CD that will help new and veteran teachers alike examine their perspectives and teaching approaches to matters of multicultural, race, and the inequitable distribution of power.

*Becoming Political, Too: New Readings and Writings on the Politics of Literacy Education, edited by Patrick Shannon. (Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2001). 267 pp. $39.50. Using discussions about what is considered text, how literacy is taught, and basic schooling, Shannon's contributors explore the politics of what literacy is and who gets to be considered literate. Shannon's follow-up to the original Becoming Political is a fascinating account of the current state of literacy politics.

*Grassroots Journalism, by Eesha Williams. (New York: Apex Press, 2000). 185 pp. $22.95. This journalism manual takes the reader into not only the proper methods of getting all sides to a story (not just two!), but also into the politics of who controls the media, and how to make sure your stories get read. Contains an extensive list of alternative sources. Great for high school journalism classes.

*I Wanna Take Me a Picture: Teaching Photography and Writing to Children, by Wendy Ewald and Alexandra Lightfoot. (Boston: Beacon Press, 2001). 176 pp. $24. "I believe Wendy's work with children is among the best collaborations I've ever seen between artists/educators and children/youth. The commitment is real and the methodology is very thorough. It is all about self-representation, demystifying technology and giving children the tools to communicate to the world in a meaningful way." - Marta Urquilla, Director, Digital Communities, Washington, DC

*Pockets of Hope: How Students and Teachers Change the World, by Eileen de los Reyes and Patricia A. Gozemba. (West Port, CN: Bergin & Garvey, 2002). 214 pp. $18. The experience of these public school teachers represent six "pockets of hope" - democratic educational projects - that utilize Paulo Freire's call for the decentralization of power in the quest for democratic schooling, thereby creating empowered students and citizens.

* Resources with asterisks are available directly from NECA/Teaching for Change.

Spring 2002