by Becki Cohn-Vargas (Author), Debbie Zacarian (Author), Claude Steele (Foreword by)
This book provides the most up-to-date research on identity safe practices and how to ensure that they occur both at home and at school. Today's schools serve students and families with a diversity of identities. While diversity enriches the school community, educators are becoming increasingly aware of the vast number of students subjected to identity-related adverse childhood experiences and inequitable practices. To mitigate the negative impacts of oppression on marginalized identities, this book shows educators how they can work together with parents and guardians to support all students' well-being and success. Each chapter of this book covers a core practice of identity safe classrooms, explains how to extend those practices schoolwide, and discusses how to share these practices with families to implement at home. Teachers, school leaders, counselors, social workers, and others can use this guide to foster strengths-based and culturally responsive home-school partnerships in all that they do.
Book Features:
- A practical guide for home-school partnerships that supports safety and a sense of belonging, value, and competence.
- Research-based, home-school practices that support the positive identity development of pre-K-12 students.
- Portraits of students, parents, educators, and others from racially, culturally, linguistically, ethnically, LGBTQ+, neurodiverse, and impoverished communities.
- Guidance for countering the harm caused by stereotype threats, othering, and identity erasure.
Author Biography
Becki Cohn-Vargas is a consultant and curriculum specialist who spent over 35 years as a bilingual teacher, principal, curriculum director, and superintendent in Pre-K-12 school districts. Debbie Zacarian specializes in working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She has 30+ years' experience as a university faculty member, education service agency leader, and district administrator.