Book Study, Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity, The Keys to Successful Equity Implementation, by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple

This is one of the best equity books you will read if you believe that schools should create environments where children and staff members feel safe, welcome and included. In the past, many schools have focused on achievement before creating positive and healthy school cultures. This book points out the importance of prioritizing school culture with the confidence that achievement and many other great things will follow. The authors do an excellent job of identifying the barriers to successful equity implementation and give specific and important strategies for creating school environments where belonging and dignity are what matters most.

This course will renew yearly.

You will register for this course through Teacher Study via the provider's external link.  The course fee is $175. The clock hours are sponsored by ESD 112. The clock hour fee is $90.  

1) Purchase and read Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity, The Keys to  Successful Equity Implementation, by Floyd Cobb and John Krownapple. You can find this book at http://amazon.com">amazon.com or your favorite bookstore.

2) Write complete answers to all of the questions on the Book Study Handout. The handout is provided to you after registration is completed.

3) Choose either Reflection paper option #1 or Reflection paper option #2 and write a 2-3 page paper.

Option #1 - 

Look at Figure 4.2 on page 70 of the text and become familiar with the definitions of each of the four diverse environments. Then, write a 2-3 page paper describing where you see each of the four diverse environments reflected in your educational setting. What insights and questions are beginning to emerge? (This is from chapter 4 on page 70 and pertains to questions 35-43).

Option #2 -

Look at Table 8.2 on page 184 of the text and consider the extent to which you feel a sense of belonging in your educational setting. Then, answer the 18 questions on the Psychological Sense of School Membership Scale found on page 185 and score your results, using Table 8.3 on page 186 (You do not need to turn this in). Then, write a 2-3 page paper focused on the following:

What conclusions can you draw based on the results of this instrument? Is this a scale we can use systemwide and if so, what are next steps? Whom on your staff (no names) might be most vulnerable to stereotype threat and belonging uncertainty? How can we work with intentionality to nurture a sense of belonging for all students? As an educational profession, what do you believe we need to continue doing? What do we need to stop? What do we need to start?

Turn in the 2-3 page paper.