Twelve Tips All Educators Must Know About Educating African American and Latino Students

In order to achieve success in the classroom with African American and Latino students, the educator must understand the population that he/she teaches, as well as consistently analyze if his/her teaching practices are effective. If you do not understand the population of students you teach, your success in the classroom can be greatly minimized.

With all the recent debates on ways to reach the African American and Latino student population, here is a list of twelve tips all educators of African American and Latino children should know. Some of the tips can apply to all students.

Check Stereotypes

Check any stereotypes you might have at the door. Limiting views can result in limiting expectations of the African American and Latino student. Limiting expectations can result in limited performance. If you believe in the stereotype of the loud mouth Latina, or the bad boy thug, you're doomed. Do not make false assumptions about your student population, especially if they are contrived from negative stereotypes. If you view the urban school environments as a "mad" house then guess how you directly or indirectly view your students?

Connect with Parents

Establish a positive connection with parents from the first day of class. A phone call to report good news is as equally vital to the success of your student as informing parents when children are struggling.

Cultural Images

Due to the overexposure to white identities in media, African American and Latino students need to see images of themselves where they are not portrayed as inferior or subordinate to white culture. Hang positive images in your classroom that reinforce the beauty of African American and Latino culture. No images that consists solely of music and sports icons. Explore images from the Harlem Renaissance, or photos of great African American and Latino folks. If you have students from a variety of backgrounds in your class, select images that speak to each student, not merely images that reinforce white privilege.

Identity

Learn the name of each student. When you've memorized the name of each student, you are saying to your student, "I am interested in who you are."

Motivation

Negative putdowns create uncooperative shutdowns. Be a motivator. Tell your African American and Latino students what they can do, not merely what they can't do. Work on areas of improvement without using antagonistic language. Offer sincere praise and positive faith. Having students state positive affirmations as a class creates a team-winning mentality and establishes community. Expressing positive faith in your African American and Latino student can make him/her improve in leaps and bounds academically.

Enthusiasm

Show your enthusiasm towards the content you teach. The love for your area of expertise should transmit to each and very student. National education surveys conducted with African American and Latino students suggest enthusiastic educators have far greater success in the classroom. Could you fathom listening to one that does not particularly show interest in what they teach? A bore!

After School Programs

Expose students to your knowledge of after school programs that might be offered in your school or district. Not only does the student get to acquire a new skill, in areas riddled with high incidents of crime, research suggests students involved in extracurricular activities are less prone to fall prey to mischievous activity.

Value of Education and Real Life

Express the value of education. Explain the varying levels of educational possibilities one can attain. Do not assume your students know how many high school credits they need to graduate. Do not assume your students knows what a bachelors, masters or doctorate program consists of. Sharing your personal journey with African American and Latino children helps them to see you as a human, and not just some robot with formatted lesson plans. Share how education connects to real life. Be bold; invite students to discover the works of those great thinkers in your academic area.

Forgive

It's important for the African American and Latino student to know that after any challenges or misunderstanding, you do not harbor any animosity or use grades as a weapon to "get even." Remember you are in the process of educating children, not mini adults.

Model Appropriate Behavior and Dress for Success

You are a role model first and foremost. Show through your actions what's considered appropriate conduct. Dress for success each day you enter the classroom. Would you trust one to educate you with sloppy or unprofessional attire? Students also need to see how they will one day be required to dress as professional adults.

Suspension

Black and Latino students need viable options other than suspension. Suspended students most likely engage in watching television or playing video games while home on suspension. Most students view suspension as a way to take a break from school. Neither contribute to the academic growth of any child.

Classroom Format

If your African American and Latino student can't sit still for long periods of time or listen to lecture format, do not send a request for special education paperwork. African American and Latino students, at times, might struggle with lecture format in grades
6-11. Allow students to get up and stretch in between instruction, or rely on small group instruction. Also, remember, every student does not learn instruction in the same manner, you must vary instructional methods.

Quassan Castro is a news and entertainment writer. Quassan is also an educator. Chat with Quassan on twitter @Quassan.