Resources

Summer 2003

POLICY/CURRICULUM

Because Writing Matters: Improving Student Writing in Our Schools,National Writing Project and Carl Nagin. (Jossey-Bass, 2003). 136 pp. $24.95. A short overview of the key ingredients in a quality writing program. Full of very concrete examples and case studies based on years of expe-rience of many writing teachers.

Behind the Invasion of Iraq, Research Unit for Political Economy. (Monthly Review Press, 2003). 144 pp. $9.95. An excellent overview of the politi-cal and economic background of the U.S. invasion, including a succinct explanation of the rea-sons behind the new, more aggres-sive imperial stance being taken by the U.S. govern-ment. If you read one book on the subject, this should be it.

Getting Ready for Benjamin: Preparing Teachers for Sexual Diversity in the Classroom,ed. Rita M. Kissen. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003). 280 pp. $27.95. A collection of 19 essays on how to teach about sexual and gender diversity. The pri-mary focus is teacher edu-cators, but any teacher or parent with an interest in the issue will find the research, analysis, and teaching ideas worthwhile.

No-Nonsense Guide to Indigenous Peoples, Lotte Hughes. (New International-ist/ Verso, 2003). 144 pp. $10. An important contribution to the growing body of literature that describes how indigenous peoples on this planet have been oppressed and have resisted in the last 500 years. A valuable resource for socially conscious social studies teach-ers. Part of an extremely useful series that every school library should have.

No-Nonsense Guide to Terror-ism, Jonathan Barker. (New Internationalist/Verso, 2003). 144 pp. $10. This guide exam-ines the history and current forms of individual and state terrorism. It paints a broad pic-ture yet provides specific docu-mentation. A depressing collection, but necessary if one is to honestly examine the roots, causes, and nature of ter-rorism in our world today.

Peace Education (2nd Edition), Ian M. Harris and Mary Lee Morrison. (McFarland and Company, 2003). 296 pp. $39.95. A thoughtful and detailed overview of peace edu- cation including its pedagogi-cal, political, and religious ori-gins. Other topics covered include the role of language in promoting violence, the role of the family in peacemaking, feminist theory, and creating peace curriculum.

Reading the Naked Truth: Literacy, Legislation, and Lies, Gerald Coles. (Heine-mann, 2003). 184 pp. $16. An easy-to-read exposé of the Bush reading agenda that is being forced upon thousands of stu-dents and teachers. Coles blends research and prose into a powerful tool that should be in the hands of all teachers and activists who want to fight for quality reading instruction.

Young, Gifted, and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African-American Students, Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard, III. (Beacon Press, 2003). 183 pp. $25. Three distinguished African-American educators examine the achievement gap by looking at the complex social identity issues that African-American students face in school. Perry recounts the stories of the struggle for liter-acy by slaves and other African Americans and, in doing so, gives teachers some powerful narratives to use in their class-rooms.

*The First R: How Children Learn Race and Racism, Debra Van Ausdale and Joe R. Feagin. (Rowman & Littlefield, 2001). 231 pp. $19. Based on a year-long observational study in a childcare center, this book takes an in-depth look at how young children begin to act out the power and other dynamics of racism. In a touching and revealing look at how kids learn racist attitudes, the authors pre-sent stories that will change the way parents, teachers, and other educators understand the world as seen by children.

*What Keeps Teachers Going? Sonia Nieto. (Teachers College Press, 2003). 176 pp. $19. What helps great public school teachers persevere - in spite of everything? Sonia Nieto, a renowned teacher edu-cator, takes a close look at what can be learned from veteran teachers who not only continue to teach, but also manage to remain enthusiastic about it. This inspirational volume provides much-needed advice on how some urban teachers are solving the everyday challenges of student learning. Nieto collabo-rates with experienced teachers in urban schools who are espe-cially effective work-ing with students of culturally and linguis-tically diverse back-grounds - students who are among the most marginalized in our public schools. Nieto con-cludes with an urgent call to advance new national priorities for public educa-tion.

*Rhythm, Rhyme and Life: Spoken Word and the Oral Tradition (video), directed by David Kehinde Chaytor. (Bunce Island Media). 60 minutes. $25. This award-winning documentary explores the connection between spoken word/performance poetry and the oral traditions of Africans and African Americans. It focuses on the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area as a hotbed of literary and artistic expression. Poetry, writing, sto-rytelling, and hip hop are woven together in the holistic web of the oral tradition. A powerful resource for staff development and grades 6-12 language-arts classes.

*Palestine Is Still the Issue (video), directed by Anthony Starks. (International Media Ltd., Bullfrog Films, 2002). 53 minutes. $59. In 1977, award-winning journalist and film-maker John Pilger made a documentary called "Palestine Is Still The Issue" showing how nearly a million Palestinians had been forced off their land in 1948 and again in 1967. In this in-depth documentary, he returns to the West Bank and Israel. He asks why the Pales-tinians - whose right of return was affirmed by the United Nations more than half a cen-tury ago - are still living as refugees in their own land, con-trolled by Israel in the longest military occupation in modern times.

Healthy Foods from Healthy Soils: A Hands-on Resource for Educators, Elizabeth Patten and Kathy Lyons, illustrated by Helen Stevens. (Tilbury House Publishers, 2003). 256 pp. $20. This down-to-earth guide offers 45 experimental activities that help children understand more about nutrition, agriculture, and recycling. Each one of the adaptable lessons is keyed to the Benchmarks for Science Literacy and comes loaded with links to children's literature and easily accessible resources. The spectrum of activities flows smoothly across the curriculum. The book helps teach kids in grades K-6 about "the big pic-ture" of food. The lessons inspire children to understand the power of their food choices on their own health, the well-being of farmers, the environ-ment, and the local community. The activities are culturally sen-sitive to family food traditions and have been designed to accommodate urban and rural learning environments.

PICTURE BOOKS

Chachaji's Cup, Uma Krish-naswami, illustrated by Soumya Sitaraman. (Children's Press, 2003). 32 pp. $16.95. A warm story of the relationship between a boy and his great-uncle, centering on a teacup that was one of the few posses-sions taken by the family when they fled their home in 1947 during the parti-tion of India. Themes include family ties, traditions, and per-severance.

Children of Native America Today,Yvonne Wakim Deniss and Arlene Hirschfelder. (Charlesbridge, 2003). 64 pp. $19.95. A collection of color photos and brief essays on chil-dren from 20 different Native nations in the United States. An extremely useful book to com-bat stereotypes and teach chil-dren of all nationalities about the diversity of Native peoples in the United States. It should be in every elementary class-room and school library.

Gandhi, Demi. (Simon & Schuster, 2001). Unpaged. $19.95. A beautifully illustrated biography of one of the most important anti-imperialist fight-ers and philosophers of the 20th century. The clear text and drawings will draw elementary students into this powerful story. Also excellent for older students as a summary of Gandhi's life. Useful in helping students understand how people struggled against colonialism.

Soledad Sigh-Sighs/Soledad Suspiros, Rigoberto González, illustrated by Rosa Ibarra. (Children's Press, 2003). 32 pp. $16.95. A colorful, bilingual story of how a young girl copes with always being alone after school each day. The love of friends and family is woven throughout, as she uses her imagination and talent to sur-vive and thrive. Appropriate for early elementary and up. Partic-ularly useful in these days as educators, parents, and students fight against Bush's proposed cuts in funding of after-school programs.

*Items available in the Teach-ing for Change Catalog.

Summer 2003