In It Together: How Student, Family, and Community Partnerships Advance Engagement and Achievement in Diverse Classrooms

Harness the power of teacher, student, school, family, and community partnerships to promote student success

Teaching effectively in diverse classrooms has become more complex than ever. The authors of this practical, compelling, and inspiring book propose that understanding the spheres of influence that connect students with teachers, peers, family members, and the broader community significantly increases the odds that every student will succeed in school.  In clear, practitioner-friendly language with examples from an inspiring range of K-12 educators, the authors explore how tapping into the rich resources of teachers, students, families, the school community and the community-at-large can make the work of learning more successful for all involved. Richly detailed vignettes and concrete, evidence-based strategies help you systematically:

• Build coalitions of support around learning and engagement
• Develop positive relationships with students, their families and their communities
• Foster positive, reciprocal partnerships
• Promote peer-to-peer relationship building
• Support students and families from marginalized populations

Learn to draw from the rich resources found within your learning community to build bridges to academic success for all learners. This comprehensive book shows you how!

"Building meaningful relationships in education can be difficult, particularly when the parties involved are different from one another in identity, experience, and other ways. As a result, although in principle collaborations and partnerships in education are universally lauded, in practice they are often ignored. What we need are examples of partnerships that work. In it Together by Debbie Zacarain and Michael Silverstone suggests productive ways to work with, learn from, and form authentic relationships with diverse communities. Combining their abundant experience in classrooms and schools, and using examples from caring teachers in diverse classrooms, the authors demonstrate what it means to really be “in it together.” Teachers, administrators, and everyone who cares about the future of education in a diverse society will benefit from the strategies they suggest."
—Sonia Nieto, Professor Emerita
University of Massachusetts