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Black Kids Face Racism Before They Even Start School. It’s Driving a Major Mental Health Crisis

Black children face racism before they even start school. This is a reality that many parents of Black children have to face on a daily basis. The effects of racism on children’s mental health are profound and concerning. According to research, incidents of racism can cause serious trauma in children, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. As the fight against systemic racism continues, it is important to recognize the impact of racism on Black children’s mental health and take steps to address these issues. The reality of racism against Black children starts at a very …

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Are Boys of Color Being Set Up to Fail By Schools?

The educational system in the United States has long been criticized for not providing equal opportunities to boys of color. It is no secret that Black and Latino boys are more likely to underperform, drop out of school, and be suspended or expelled than their peers. This raises the question: are these boys being set up to fail by schools? The answer is not straightforward, but a mix of factors can contribute to this issue. For example, the disproportionate discipline of boys of color has been linked to implicit biases held by teachers and administrators. These biases often result in …

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The Importance of Mentoring Young African-American Males

Teachers need to realize that at home, in their neighborhoods, and in school, many students face difficulties that can interfere with learning. Compared to their middle-class counterparts, it is true that disenfranchised students are more likely to be exposed to safety and health risks and less likely to receive regular medical care. They’re more likely to be victims of crime. They’re less likely to attend schools that have talented and gifted programs and are more likely to be identified as learning or emotionally disabled and placed in Special Education. These children need caring adults who will mentor them during turbulent …

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7 Ways That Black Students are Discriminated Against in U.S K-12 Schools

African Africans have a long history of being mistreated in the United States, starting with slavery. It should come as no surprise that their children face the same treatment in U.S. K-12 public and private schools. How? Keep reading. In this piece, I will briefly list 7 ways that black students are discriminated against in U.S. schools. Black students are less likely to be identified as gifted. Because current gifted assessments were created for the prototypical white student, they discriminate against black children by giving them inequitable representation in the program. This increases the achievement gap, as gifted programs allow …

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The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 4: How to Create a Culturally Responsive Classroom

Building a culturally responsive classroom is hard. To help you along your journey, here is your guide to exploring and respecting the cultural backgrounds of your students while also using diversity as an asset. If you you listen to this episode of the podcast, and take my advice, you will have a culturally responsive classroom in no time. References Culturally responsive teaching is a theory of instruction that was developed by Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings and has been written about by many other scholars since then. To read more of her work on culturally responsive teaching and other topics, click here to …

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The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 2: How Edtech Companies Should Start the New School Year

As summer reaches its peak, and fall gears up to make its arrival, students, parents, teachers, and administrators are all preparing for the beginning of a new academic year. So many gains were made last year, and they are eager to build upon that success. When we talk about education stakeholders who are concerned with starting the school year off right, we rarely, if ever, talk about edtech companies. They too are an integral part of the school community, as they provide a valuable service. So how do edtech companies stay on their “A” games to begin the new school …

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The Edvocate Podcast, Episode 1: 8 Attributes of Successful Digital Age Teachers

Regardless of where you go in the world, teachers are the backbone of the education system. Without quality teachers, school districts cannot provide students with the skills that they need to be successful academically. Without teachers, the next generation will not be able to compete in the global economy. These are sureties, and you will find few people who would disagree. If you have been studying the field of education closely, as we have, you know that it is undergoing a metamorphosis. Students no longer respond to the teacher-centered pedagogy that our forefathers did. No, today’s students are immersed in …

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