This study is guided by Carol Dweck's 'Growth Mindset' implicit theory of intelligence, which explains how individuals react to setbacks and why some actively pursue their potential. Those with a 'growth' mindset, as opposed to a 'fixed' one, persist when confronted with challenging tasks and believe that they can develop the necessary skills with…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) provide access to education for many African Americans across the United States. These institutions offer a unique perspective on higher education in multiple disciplines, none more famous than music performance. The marching band, in particular,…

Supporting cultural and linguistic differences through literacy education fosters inclusive, diverse learning environments where students thrive. By recognizing and valuing students' unique cultural backgrounds and languages, literacy education can be tailored to bridge gaps and promote comprehension, communication, and critical thinking.…

The 'Sankofa' scale was constructed on the basis of perceptions of students about culturally relevant teaching and learning methods. This study established the construct validity of the scale. Participants (n = 171) who were students from a historically black university, reported their agreement regarding the presence and importance of teaching…

Since the 1940's, the United States has opened its doors for international students to study and gain knowledge and skills within its borders. However, there are considerable concerns about the integration of these international students and their participation in the classroom. Most international students hail from different cultural and social…

In classroom spaces on a daily basis, students are encouraged to express who they are as learners and demonstrate their own understanding of their learning. Students' ability to contribute to their own learning is an essential characteristic of an engaging classroom space and supports high academic achievement. The authors' work highlights one…

Misrecognition of South African university students is at the heart of this article. "Misrecognition" refers in this article to the exclusionary institutional discourses and practices of this country's universities, which continue to prevent the majority of their (Black) students' from achieving a successful education. It is a conceptual…

Many African American children make use of African American English (AAE) in their everyday lives, and face academic barriers when introduced to Standard American English (SAE) in the classroom. Research has shown that students who can adapt and use SAE for academic purposes demonstrate significantly better test scores than their less adaptable…

Background: Teacher education programs at Minority Serving Institutions--which include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Native American and Tribal Colleges, Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, and Hispanic Serving Institutions--are an under-researched resource. Purpose: Our aim is to provide a foundation and set…

Language difference among speakers of African American English (AAE) has often been considered language deficit, based on a lack of understanding about the AAE variety. Following Labov (1972), Wolfram (1969), Green (2002, 2011), and others, we define AAE as a complex rule-governed linguistic system and briefly discuss language structures that it…

One of the major outcomes of the educational reform movement in the United States during the past decade has been the increased focus on the professional preparation of educators (Darling-Hammond, 1997). According to Sanders and Rivers, numerous studies indicate that educators make a significant difference in their students' education (1996). In…

The article discusses the implementation and results of a youth participatory action research (YPAR) project carried out with black high school students in 2009 and 2010 in Montreal, QC. The aim of the project was to involve black youth in studying the factors that either enhance or impede their success in school and thereby have them identify…

In this article, the author summarizes a relatively recent report that has taken the road less traveled by focusing on the achievement gap among high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds (Wyner, Bridgeland, & DiIulio, 2007). Although the report does not focus on minority students directly or exclusively, these students nonetheless…

African American students are underperforming in public education. Unfortunately, a lack of literacy achievement is at the forefront of this issue. Within the area of literacy, writing scores of African American children are plummeting across the nation on standardized assessments. The present study was designed to inform classroom practices about…

In this study, the researcher intended to provide insights into the lives of African-American male students who are striving to become better students. The researcher also attempted to answer the following question: How can African-American males learn to be more successful not only in school but in their lives in general? The mixed-methods…