Because We Can Change the World

Book excerpt: "Because We Can Change the World is a powerful antidote to the bullying, intolerance, and exclusion that are all too commonplace in our schools. Through helpful insights, practical strategies, and a powerful vision grounded in social justice, this book gives teachers the inspiration and hope they need to carry on." —Sonia Nieto, Professor Emerita of Language, Literacy, and Culture University of Massachusetts, Amherst "I have personally seen classroom cultures completely transformed as a result of using the techniques in this book. If you don′t already use this book to promote community, collaboration, and inclusion in your school, do it immediately so students can learn that inclusion is more than a place or a policy—it is a commitment to acceptance, an honoring of difference, and, as Sapon-Shevin so eloquently reminds us, a belief that we just might ′change the world.′" —Paula Kluth, Educational Consultant Change the world, one classroom at a time! It is impossible for most students to achieve academically if they do not feel safe, supported, welcomed, and accepted. By structuring democratic classrooms as models of diversity, cooperation, and inclusion, teachers can help children learn skills and values that lay a foundation for good citizenship and will make a differences in their lives now and in the future. Mara Sapon-Shevin provides a unique vision of elementary classrooms that allow all children to experience academic success. This long-awaited new edition of a highly acclaimed book: Calls on all educators to create diverse, inclusive classrooms and promote social justice Discusses the barriers to creating cooperative classrooms and how they can be overcome Includes activities, songs, and children′s literature that promote acceptance and understanding Includes new "Reframing Our Work" sections with reflective questions that help readers examine their own beliefs and teaching practices With updated resources and a stronger emphasis on differentiated instruction, Because We Can Change the World gives teachers the vision, courage, and strategies to make the world a better place, starting with their own classrooms.