Powerful Student Care

Book excerpt: If we want to really understand our students so that we can optimize instruction for them, we must think of each individual student as distinctive and irreplaceable. From this core principle springs the radically humane framework for meaningful teaching that is the subject of this book: Powerful Student Care (PSC). Authors Grant A. Chandler and Kathleen M. Budge developed this one-of-a-kind system for catering to the unique life circumstances of every child to help all teachers grow in their practice—and all students to flourish. Based on voluminous research as well as the authors' own experience as seasoned educators, PSC offers teachers a foolproof way to ensure that, regardless of label or socioeconomic profile, each one of their students receives the support they need. Constructed as an allegorical learning voyage for readers, this comprehensive guide details * The foundational five tenets of community that enable students to succeed academically, develop self-efficacy, and experience the joy of learning. * "Navigational instruments," such as processes, instructional methods, and power-sharing relationships, for creating community. * The bodies of knowledge that directly influence teacher and student success, including those related to empowerment, cultural humility, antiracist and antibias learning, and more. * The Contemplative Practice, an inquiry-based, research-informed scaffold for teacher planning and reflection. Brimming with colorful, in-depth cases of Powerful Student Care in action and including downloadable forms and templates to help you move forward with implementation, this book is an essential addition to the library of any K–12 educator with a passion for knowing and supporting the young human beings in their charge.