Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males: Closing the Achievement Gap

By Alfred W. Tatum

The racial achievement gap in literacy is one of the most difficult issues in education today, and nowhere does it manifest itself more perniciously than in the case of black adolescent males. Approaching the problem from the inside, author Alfred Tatum brings together his various experiences as a black male student, middle school teacher working with struggling black male readers, reading specialist in an urban elementary school, and staff developer in classrooms across the nation. His book, Teaching Reading to Black Adolescent Males: Closing the Achievement Gap' addresses the adolescent shift black males face and the societal experiences unique to them that can hinder academic progress. With an authentic and honest voice, Tatum bridges the connections among theory, instruction, and professional development to create a roadmap for better literacy achievement. He presents practical suggestions for providing reading strategy instruction and assessment that is explicit, meaningful, and culturally responsive, as well as guidelines for selecting and discussing nonfiction and fiction texts with black males. The author' s first-hand insights provide middle school and high school teachers, reading specialists, and administrators with new perspectives to help schools move collectively toward the essential goal of literacy achievement for all.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571103937
• ISBN13: 9781571103932
• Release Date: April 2005
• Publisher: Stenhouse Publishers
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.87 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Should Be Required Reading for Every Teacher

This is the best book I have read on teaching reading. Anyone who has ever taught black adolescent males will immediately understand what Tatum has brought to light. Building on both his own personal experiences as a young man caught in a life of turmoil and as a matured teacher successfully working with young men caught in turmoil,Tatum has captured the essential ingredients for teaching the whole person and making every aspect of their learning relevant to their present and a foundation for their future. It applies to any teaching situation with at-risk students.