The Power of One
How You Can Help or Harm African American Students
- Gail L. Thompson - Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
At-Risk Students | Teaching Strategies for Diverse Students | Working with Minority Students
The Power of One underscores an important point about intrinsic motivation that is frequently neglected in the equity literature—that teachers will personally benefit from increasing their efficacy with students of colour. The author skillfully blends compelling first-person narratives, personal growth exercises, and informational text in a manner that engages both hearts and minds.
"This is the book I have been waiting for. It is filled with stories, the latest research, data, and a workbook all in one. In clear, beautifully written prose, Gail Thompson asks us to examine our own preconceptions and perceptions. By completing her exercises and keeping a journal as she suggests, we can discover our strengths and our challenges. We are encouraged by Thompson to continue this exploration and to make real changes in the way we teach and in our relationships with our African American students. This book is for all of us: new teachers, experienced teachers, administrators, mentors, community workers, and anyone who wants to help rather than harm these brilliant, hopeful, marvelous young people in our care."
"Gail Thompson is one of the few scholars around who actually can help teachers increase their efficacy with African-American students. In this terrific follow-up to Through Ebony Eyes, Thompson provides specific strategies and useful exercises to help teachers understand their own power to be positive forces in the lives of children."
"A comprehensive, definitive resource for educators and all those responsible for and interested in enhancing equity, excellence, and educational achievement for African American students. I congratulate Thompson for producing such an engaging, solutions-oriented workbook, which artfully integrates well-documented research and the right, rich blend of theoretical insights. The absence of jargon, the clarity of the writing, the substantive content, and the personal accounts of the educational experiences of an array of diverse education stakeholders contribute to making this work understandable, engaging, appealing, and imaginative. Thompson’s own compelling experiences as a student and her successful experience as a researcher and as an educator inform the work. If I could choose only one resource, The Power of One would be my number one choice."
"A much-needed contribution to the field of education. This book eloquently discusses the impact that one educator can have on the lives of African American students. From the discussion of the 11 ways this book can help the reader to the productive exercises within each chapter, this book is a must-read! I definitely endorse this book for anyone who is interested in the effective education of our African American children."
"Thoughtfully engages readers on the power of challenging mindsets to help provide positive outcomes for all students."
This book is being considered for fall 2014
