printed by Education Issues Book Presentation Larry, Alison, Amie Wilmington College The book, Crossing Over To Canaan: The Journey of New Teachers In Diverse Classrooms, was written by Gloria Ladson-Billings. Ms. Billings worked for a decade as a teacher and administrator in the Philadelphia Public Schools, and then became a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ms. Billings helped to create a program titled Teach For Diversity (TFD) that was a “fifteen-month elementary certification program with a clear mission to prepare teachers to work in diverse learning environments” (pg. 24). This program was specifically built for the students who wanted to work in the inner-city/urban setting. Throughout the fifteen months, the students would have hands-on working experiences in the inner-city or urban settings. Ms. Billings felt that “the road to teaching is a long, boring highway of sameness, and far too many likely teachers feel the way I did at the end of the first leg of the trip. They want to turn around and go back wherever they came from” (pg. 2). The department wanted to take students from mundane curriculum to a program that prepared them for the challenges they would face. This program was created because of the concerns of the individuals in Ms. Billings’ department of the “failure of students to demonstrate a clear understanding and commitment to principles of human diversity, equity, social justice, and the intellectual lives of teachers” (pg. 30). The book follows a group of students during their fifteen-month experience. The group consisted of one African- American, one Cuban-American, and six European-Americans. The reader is shown the accomplishments and tribulations that each of these candidates face during the program. Several candidates must persist with their ideas for their students, despite the friction it may cause with their cooperating teacher. Throughout these difficulties, several of the teacher candidates were able to meet some of their students at their level, and bring about some progress. The program did have its failures or negativities, but overall it prepared the candidates to work in an urban setting. As educators we enter the classroom prepared to teach students math, science, language, and social studies. We do not, necessarily, enter the classroom ready to face the challenges of a changing societal and classroom image. This book allows new educators to learn through the eyes of eight teacher’s experimental strategies to deal with diversity. Crossing Over to Canaan offers strategies to successful teaching in classrooms with multiple: races ethnicities language bases learning abilities economic backgrounds and religions. The observations of each of the teachers and the author’s personal narrative provide guidance that will help teachers to implement strategies in the classroom to successfully educate each student regardless of their differences. The author also suggests training procedures that would more thoroughly prepare teachers for diversity in the classroom. By preparing for this situation before entering the classroom, teachers will be able to feel more confident in their teaching abilities from the first day of class. What are the positive or negative effects for other students in a classroom when a teacher customizes a teaching method to better classroom when a teacher customizes a teaching method to better facilitate the learning of one child who is struggling? facilitate the learning of one child who is struggling? What strategies would you suggest to better prepare new teachers for teaching in diverse classrooms? Is this the responsibility of the teacher teaching in diverse classrooms? Is this the responsibility of the teacher education program or the teacher him or herself?. education program or the teacher him or herself?. Book Summary Importance for Educators Issues For Discussion Importance for Students/Families Importance for Society How well do most traditional Education Programs prepare new teachers for the social demands of today’s students? Do new teachers receive the proper training to juggle the many responsibilities in today’s changing culture? training to juggle the many responsibilities in today’s changing culture? How much is left to personal experience or trial and error? How much is left to personal experience or trial and error? Write one question you’d like to discuss about this book. Write another question you’d like to discuss about this book. This book illustrates how effective empowered teachers can be when it comes to creating an engaging and educational environment with regards to students that struggle in school. To be empowered is the ability of a teacher to make changes in a process to best facilitate a productive, educational environment for students in their classroom. Parents after reading this book should have a better understanding of how much a teacher can effect the success of their children and then in turn hold them accountable. Students would benefit greatly from teachers who implement the methods in Crossing Over to Cannon and would have a better chance for success. Parents should read this book in order to be better informed about the struggles that teachers face in the classroom which could then motivate them to be active partners in the education of their children. The strategies implemented by the teachers in this book could be utilized in the home setting as well. This book illustrates how effective empowered teachers can be when it comes to creating an engaging and educational environment with regards to students that struggle in school. To be empowered is the ability of a teacher to make changes in a process to best facilitate a productive, educational environment for students in their classroom. Parents after reading this book should have a better understanding of how much a teacher can effect the success of their children and then in turn hold them accountable. Students would benefit greatly from teachers who implement the methods in Crossing Over to Cannon and would have a better chance for success. Parents should read this book in order to be better informed about the struggles that teachers face in the classroom which could then motivate them to be active partners in the education of their children. The strategies implemented by the teachers in this book could be utilized in the home setting as well. The diversity that is present in the classroom is a direct reflection of the diversity that is present in society. Children are beginning their first “exposure” to others who are not like them at a very early age. This acceptance of the idea of “otherness” as a positive trait is something that is necessary throughout life. The author introduces the concept of educators as teachers of social justice not only in the past tense, but also by preparing students for diversity throughout their lives. Workplaces and places of leisure are becoming more diverse and so too then is the need to interact with diverse populations in a positive and productive manner. Although this text is focused on classrooms of students, the same model would apply to an employer addressing a diverse staff. Also, it is important for society to support the efforts of teachers entering diverse classrooms. After reading narratives like this one, communities may feel more compelled to support the challenges present in the classroom financially, through community events, or even by being inspired to enter the teaching field themselves.The diversity that is present in the classroom is a direct reflection of the diversity that is present in society. Children are beginning their first “exposure” to others who are not like them at a very early age. This acceptance of the idea of “otherness” as a positive trait is something that is necessary throughout life. The author introduces the concept of educators as teachers of social justice not only in the past tense, but also by preparing students for diversity throughout their lives. Workplaces and places of leisure are becoming more diverse and so too then is the need to interact with diverse populations in a positive and productive manner. Although this text is focused on classrooms of students, the same model would apply to an employer addressing a diverse staff. Also, it is important for society to support the efforts of teachers entering diverse classrooms. After reading narratives like this one, communities may feel more compelled to support the challenges present in the classroom financially, through community events, or even by being inspired to enter the teaching field themselves.