1. Use a variety of methods to assure all students' learning styles are being met.
2. Mix students in group work.
3. Check textbooks and materials for representativeness and accuracy, e.g. Do the textbooks only have pictures of blonde-haired, blue-eyed people?
4. Inform parents about what is happening in your classroom.
5. Get to know students as individuals; avoid expectations based on race/ethnic group.
6. Attend community cultural events.
7. Encourage students to share their own experiences with the class.

Kate Madison teaches in Palmdale, CA.

Teaching in an African-American Immersion School

Description of the population as learners: This is a motivated group with low achievers and very high achievers.

Success Stories: Teachers have found students respond well to hands-on, active learning to let them "see, feel and touch" what they're learning. Cooperative learning methods have also been met with success. Other teachers have found good success with classes which had a more traditional academic focus.

Successful teachers will:

1. Get to know the student population and the school, including what is going on in students' lives and the environment, inside and outside the school. Know the organizing principles of the school and background knowledge on African-American immersion schools.

2. Give students opportunities to extend what is going on in the classroom. Anything that will reinforce and supplement classroom lessons will contribute to their learning (i.e. a museum exhibit on West African cultures).

3. Encourage teachers to have speakers in the classroom. Role models/mentors from the community can talk with the students and actively participate in the learning.

4. Build heritage connections for students in every subject area. There are supplementary resources for teachers in every subject, i.e. math teachers can introduce African-American mathematicians or early African mathematicians/scientists.

Josephine Hill, Malcolm X Academy, Milwaukee, WI.