Resources for Educators
The Resources for Educators page includes practical methods and strategies for educators to implement in their classrooms. This includes the pedagogy (art of teaching) that focuses on engaging students while situating the learning in their lives. Additionally the andragogy of teachers learning with one another, in professional learning teams and the whole school community. We welcome feedback and suggestions for this webpage.
Dr. Chike Akua
Dr. Chike Akua is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University and a leading authority on increasing the achievement of today's students, especially those in some of the most challenging schools and communities. His cultural proficiency, equity and accountability work is known nationally for assisting school systems in improving school and community climate and culture.
As a recognized master teacher and leadership strategist, Dr. Akua is one of the most sought-after speakers at regional and national conferences, urban school districts, colleges and universities. With a culturally relevant approach toward closing access and opportunity gaps, he is known for his dynamic, interactive presentations to teachers, leaders, parents, and students.
Dr. Akua is a former Teacher of the Year who has been recognized in two states (VA and GA) for teaching excellence. He was also selected as one of Ebony magazine’s “50 Leaders of Tomorrow”, a distinction he is living up to today.
Deeply committed to culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy and instructional materials, Dr. Akua has written and published several books and parent/teacher guides designed for today’s students. Education for Transformation: The Keys to Releasing the Genius of African American Students is a book for teachers and leaders that is used in a number of urban school districts for professional development. It is also used in a number of colleges and universities for preparation of pre-service teachers and leaders.
The book, Honoring Our Ancestral Obligations: 7 Steps to Black Student Success is also used at a number of higher schools, colleges and universities for students and those who serve them. The book ParentPower: The Keys to Your Child's Academic & Social Success has been used to equip and empower parents with tips and strategies to better assist their children.
Dr. Akua has written 11 books in all, produced a series of 10 African Origins historical videos, and 70 Black History and African Proverb Posters. Additionally he has written impactful online curricula for students and created professional development for teachers which can be found at the Teacher Transformation Institute website. ​​
​
​
​
Dr. Chike Akua speaks with parents at the Flanner House about finding people in their village who can help and support them with their children. ​
Touching the Spirit - Augusta Mann
Augusta Mann is recognized for her Touching the Spirit literacy skills workshops, demonstration lessons, and programs in practical teaching models for underperforming students. Touching the Spirit teaching strategies are designed to accelerate learning for students who need to achieve multiple years’ growth in a short period of time. Her many years as a successful classroom teacher, literacy professional development specialist, and manager of district and university-based staff development centers has inspired her work and led to the design of her Touching the Spirit intensified accelerated teaching strategies.​ Its effectiveness rests on five African American teaching and learning patterns used within the context of nine supportive practices. The Touching the Spirit framework helps guide teachers in these processes.
Dancing Definitions: A Black Hole -Why we must have memorization!
African American Teaching and Learning Patterns
National Urban Alliance - Dr. Eric Cooper
Pedagogy of Confidence - Dr. Yvette Jackson
National Urban Alliance (NUA)
The National Urban Alliance (NUA) was founded at Columbia University’s Teachers College and The College Board with a focus on teacher practice and equity consciousness through the professional development of whole schools and whole districts. NUA’s hands-on approach is based on Yvette Jackson’s Pedagogy of Confidence (PoC) framework of seven High Operational Practices. Using these practices enables educators to elicit high intellectual performance and amplify student voice for self direction and self actualization. Our mission is as relevant today as it was when NUA began in 1989. NUA’s Scholars and Mentors currently collaborate with districts in Professional Learning Cycles using a hybrid approach to maximize our signature in-person capacity with virtual wrap-around support. https://www.nuatc.org
Pedagogy of Confidence and High Operational Practices
The Pedagogy of Confidence is an approach to teaching and learning developed by educator Yvette Jackson that focuses on students' strengths to inspire high intellectual performance. It challenges the long-held myth that focusing on student weaknesses is the path to academic success, especially for urban and underserved students.
​
Based on cognitive and neuroscience research, the pedagogy asserts that all students are capable of high achievement. It emphasizes creating a learning environment where educators fearlessly believe in their students' capacity to learn and grow.
​
The Pedagogy of Confidence is an approach to learning and teaching that is based on the fearless expectation that all students are capable of high intellectual performances when provided High Operational Practices™ that motivate self-directed learning and self-actualization. These High Operational Practices are:
​​​​​
The High Operational Practices Rubric is for whole school communities to self-assess and guide their level of implementation of the Pedagogy of Confidence™ seven High Operational Practices (HOPs). The process is a non-evaluative, ongoing collaborative reflective process. The focus is continual growth for educators and students to create an intentional learning environment that is centered on students’ self-efficacy and belonging with an equity consciousness for High Intellectual Performance (HIPs).
-
Identifying and activating student strengths
-
Building relationships
-
Eliciting high intellectual performances
-
Providing enrichment
-
Integrating prerequisites for academic learning
-
Situating learning in the lives of students
-
Amplifying student voice (Jackson, 2011, p. 71).​​​
Hands on Resources
The NUA website has many culturally relevant and responsive practices, strategies, methods and models to support educators, leaders and paraprofessionals. The Resources section on the NUA website includes many video clips, practical steps to implement strategies, pedagogy and structures. They are available to use and download on the NUA website.
https://www.nuatc.org
​
​
NUA website menu to access strategies, structures, modules and more.
Qualitative Research, Focus Groups and Documentation
Read on the NUA website recent (May 2024) qualitative research by NUA and about a recent book (October 2024) that assembles the knowledge of respected researchers, practitioners, and school leaders about how to support successful literacy development for students living in poverty.
“It is a must read for all who care about literacy, equity, and empowerment.”
Linda Darling Hammond, President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute
-
Read the NUA and Osseo Fair Oaks School collaboration Vignette from the book
-
Equitable Literacy Instruction for Students in Poverty​​
​Qualitative Research from focus groups of 100 K-5 students and educators from six schools. NUA facilitated focus groups led by NUA consultant Robert Seth Price in May 2024 was coded for analysis and written by NUA consultant Regina Seabrook. The qualitative study evaluated the effectiveness of a school-wide implementation of High Operational Practices (HOPs) for the 2023-2024 school year.
One page overview • Complete document​​
Dr. Eric Cooper, "I am lifted up by the elders… the responsibility that we share following in their footsteps… it spoke to me… humbly I stand before you… I strive to be a neural educator…”
Dr. Yvette Jackson - “We are innately wired to be motivated…”
Amplifying Student Voice with Redwood City, CA elementary/middle school students using The Pedagogy of Confidence High Operational Practices.
Educational Support Professionals (Paraprofessionals) at Fair Oaks Elementary, MN sharing reflections.
Amplifying Student Voice with Newark, NJ high school students using The Pedagogy of Confidence High Operational Practices.