After reading The Dreamkeepers, I will always remember that it is very important to forge relationships between families and teachers in the school setting! The basis for building family/teacher relationships is by promoting communication between home and school and by becoming genuinely interested in students and their outside interests. More importantly do not judge the lack of parents interest in their children's schooling based solely on their lack of communication with the school.
Setting high standards and expectations is also very important. As students begin to experience success they will gain confidence and will begin to believe in themselves. As a result, they will score better on tests and will be willing to work harder. It is very similar to Stanvich's (1994) "Mathew Effect," which states that "over time, better students get even better, and poorer students become relatively poorer." The more competent and motivated students are, the "richer they will become."
The Dreamkeepers "Education, like electricity, needs a conduit, a teacher, through which to transmit its power- i.e., the discovery and continuity of information, knowledge, wisdom, experience, and culture. Through the stories and experiences of eight successful teacher-transmitters, The DreamKeepers keeps hope alive for educating young African Americans."
I am very glad to hear that you enojyed the book...so did I. I don't know if I would really recommned it to other people. It was good, but it wasn't great. I felt as if there were so many other books out there that would be way more helpful and beneficial for teachers. I like the statement you had about, "better students getting better and poorer students becoming poorer." This is a wonderful statement because often times as teachers, we neglect the students that don't know what they are doing and praise the ones that are always raising their hands and know all the answers.... when theoretically it should be the other way around. Not only are these students less privilaged when it comes to physical things... they suffer in the classroom as well, and there has to be a way to change that.
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