Introduction - We Can't Teach What We Don't Know

I am a Secondary English Education student at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. As a part of my Novice Teaching course, Education 380, my classmates and I have been instructed to choose a book that will guide us to work better with a diverse group of students. Diversity is not something that can be learned completely from a book. We need to have experiences with diversity as well. Therefore, I intend to read this text, We Can't Teach What We Don't Know: White Teachers, Multiracial Schools by Gary R. Howard, alongside the teaching I am doing this semester at Reavis High School in Burbank, IL. 

I chose to read this book because I plan to work with multicultural students throughout my life. In addition to English Education, I am working on my ESL endorsement, so I hope to learn extensively about teaching multicultural students by reading this book.

This book is written from the perspective of a white teacher. It tells of how all white teachers must learn to work with multiracial students. There is no way for a white person to learn completely about the lifestyle of another culture without experiencing it himself. As a way to learn, we can get to know our students and learn from them. This book also talks about the dominance of white people in this country and how we can break down these barriers so that all students feel equal (because we are all equal).

In case you'd also like to read this book, here is the information:
Howard, G. R. (2006). We Can't Teach What We Don't Know: White Teachers, Multiracial  Schools (2nd ed.). New York: Teachers College Press.