Kincheloe, J. L. (2007).

Urban education: a comprehensive guide for educators,

parents, and teachers. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Education.

WHAT?
Getting to know the community organizations around you will help you
identify issues that interfere with teaching and learning in schools.
Working together with organizations will give you the power to take actions
to address the issues. (p. 35)
o The institutions can provide public spaces where people of different
backgrounds connect with; one another, listen to each other, share
concerns, argue, debate, and deliberate.
Through these conversations, people develop trust.
Helping families maneuver the economic aspects of education should be a
key part of urban education. (p. 60)
The more we create an environment for students to grow, mature, and
blossom, the more meaning, direction, and personal empowerment they will
have. (p.68)
A teachers success is based not only on fulfilling state mandates, but also on
contributing to the welfare of children in the community. (p. 68)
Students need to develop phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency,
vocabulary, and comprehension strategies. (p. 270)
o Mastering these skills requires a great deal of practice and a teacher
who has the content knowledge and expertise to guide students.
o Teachers need to be caring and committed to helping students who
are struggling learn and reach their potentials.
o A caring relationship between teachers and students is essential for
helping students take responsibility for their own learning.

SO WHAT?
I have never stepped foot in an urban school. The only knowledge that I have
of urban schools is what the media portrays on television. It is always depicted as
violent, scary, and dangerous. I now understand, as an educator, that this is an
exaggeration, as well as a stereotype. The culture of urban areas plays a significant
role in the lives of the students that inhabit it. They are surrounded by this culture
and will probably be influenced by it. Getting to know the community around the
school will help you relate to your students and understand their lifestyle. I loved
reading through this book because I learned so much information about the lives of
children living in or near poverty.

NOW WHAT?
In order for students to succeed, they need motivation and support. Many
students in low socioeconomic homes lack motivation and support from their
families. Many of these students actually come from broken families that consist of
only one parent. The sad truth is that many of their parents will not be around
much and in turn, they will not have much motivation or support. These students
may be lacking motivation and support when it comes to schoolwork, chores, and
other common things. Eventually, many of these students will turn to gangs for
support and family-like comfort. Being the teacher of a child living in or near
poverty is a huge task. We need to make up for the lack of motivation and support
in students lives. By doing this, we will be able to help them succeed to their full
ability and take responsibility for their own learning.