These Kids Are Out of Control: Why We Must Reimagine Classroom Management for Equity

"Nearly five years ago, the Department of Justice issued a Dear Colleague letter to school leaders across the nation that underscored the need to reform exclusionary school disciplinary programs and practices that discriminate on the basis of race. Whilecarrot and stick reforms may help drive systemic change, zero tolerance policies continue to lead to disproportional disciplinary referrals, loss of instructional time, and increased dropout rates among students of color. In this groundbreaking book, acclaimed author Rich Milner proposes a solution that begins at the classroom level. In particular, he argues that that teachers need to develop the knowledge, dispositions, and mindsets to learn and adjust their practices based on the particular needs of their students, especially those who are on the margins of teaching and learning. Classroom management is typically one of the major sources of anxiety for inexperienced teachers. Although most teacher candidates study classroom management in their pre-service coursework, few of these courses focus on underserved student populations such as students of color and English Learners. And, in reality, even many experienced teachers rely on approaches to classroom management that are mismatched with the population of students they teach. This book is a practical approach to reimagining classroom management that effectively serves the needs of diverse learners including children of color, English Learners, and children from low-income households"--
Today’s classrooms reimaginedIf you’re looking for a book on how to “control” your students, this isn’t it! Instead, this is a book on what classroom learning could be if we aspire to co-create more culturally responsive and equitable environments—environments that are safe, affirming, learner-centered, intellectually challenging, and engaging. If we create the kind of places where our students want to be . . . A critically important resource for teachers and administrators alike, “These Kids Are Out of Control” details the specific practices, tools, beliefs, dispositions, and mindsets that are essential to better serving the complex needs of our diverse learners, especially our marginalized students. Gain expert insight on: What it means to be culturally responsive in today’s classroom environments, even in schools at large How to decide what to teach, understand the curriculum, build relationships in and outside of school, and assess student development and learning - The four best practices for building a classroom culture that is both nurturing and rigorous, and where all students are seen, heard, and respected - Alternatives to punitive disciplinary action that too often sustains the cradle-to-prison pipelineClassroom “management” takes care of itself when you engage students, help them see links and alignment of the curriculum to their lives, build on and from student identity and culture, and recognize the many ways instructional practices can shift. “These Kids Are Out of Control” is your opportunity to get started right away!