UK College of Education Professor Authors Classroom Management Textbook
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2021) — As teachers in training, students at the University of Kentucky College of Education learn the content they will teach, in addition to how to manage a classroom.
Kim White, an associate clinical professor of elementary education at UK, has authored a new textbook tailored to match the structure and content of the classroom management course she teaches for future elementary teachers.
The book, "Inclusive Classroom Management," is a digital package based on a framework for teaching that is widely used in Kentucky and across the country. It includes articles, videos and assignments and focuses on ensuring students learn to incorporate inclusivity in their classroom management and teaching practices.
“Our teacher candidates learn the importance of getting to know each student and working to meet individual needs,” White said. “All children can succeed. Teachers must have high expectations for achievement and behavior, but because all students are different, those expectations must be differentiated.”
Culturally responsive pedagogy and social justice are emphasized in the book and coursework. The most powerful lessons for her students, White said, involve exploring how bias, prejudice, stereotypes and microaggressions affect the relationships between teachers, students and families.
“It is important when teacher candidates realize how their own beliefs and subsequent interactions and expectations for their students impact behavior and learning,” she said.
After presenting updates for the classroom management course to the Classroom Management Special Interest Group at the Association of Teacher Educators meeting, White’s colleagues encouraged her to write the book. She reviewed books on classroom management and saw a need to create a digital textbook focused on the unique structure and content of the course, which is based on the Danielson Group’s Framework for Teaching.
“Because the Danielson framework is used widely for teacher evaluation in Kentucky and other states, our course is structured to teach our candidates about the classroom management components, so they are well-prepared for establishing positive classroom communities,” she said.
At any time, White can work with the publisher, Great River Learning, to update resources and content, so the information will remain current and relevant.
To learn more about programs offered by the University of Kentucky College of Education, visit https://education.uky.edu.
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