within a comprehensive sustainable school culture and climate. This approach results in mutually beneficial longterm success for students, educators, businesses, and communities. Challenge Question: How will I deepen my knowledge of health outcomes and its implications on academic learning and achievement? Am I considering the whole child and engaging the communities beyond school that help support and develop them? What strategies will I employ to apply this knowledge within my classroom and/or as I support the work of educators? Learner of Culture: Educators should be curious, respectful and knowledgeable about Black history and culture while maintaining a high sense of humility. Even if you have taught Black children for decades, don’t assume you know the struggles of Black people better than they do. Unaware of the culturally adaptive reasons for behavior, many people—even many Blacks—are unaware of the strengths that have enabled Black communities to survive and thrive despite deep hardships. Teachers who understand the history of slavery, the glory days of reconstruction, the following period that gave way to restrictions of segregation, and the ongoing and current injustices encountered by Blacks may be better positioned to understand Black children’s behavior and know how to appropriately respond. The lack of knowledge about and appreciation for Black culture creates social distance between Blacks and Whites and is a deterrent to change. When Black American culture is transmitted from generation to generation and understood as rich and noteworthy, these aspects of culture can be leveraged to build new skills and expand one’s own knowledge. Recognizing the meaning and value of children’s home knowledge can be used as a foundation for teachers to extend children’s thinking rather than considering it an impediment. The capabilities developed in homes and communities can be used as springboards for learning in school if teachers recognize children’s strengths (Adair 2015). An educator can support the well-being of a Black student by listening empathetically, expanding one’s own worldview and authentically striving to build a healthy relationship with students. One good rule to follow is seeking to understand prior to being understood. Challenge Question: What is my current level of understanding of Black history and its influence and impact on American culture? In what areas am I in need of additional training and development? How will I use my expanded knowledge to more effectively engage Black students? Skilled in Channeling Anger: Numerous examples of social unrest and many years of injustice causes some Black students and others to be angry. Often, it can be challenging to teach Black students a “world view when the world’s narrative often comes from biased media that often excludes the Black voice. The lack of empathy can also cloud how an educator responds to situations without proper context. When people learn by what they see regardless of positive or negative, they become conditioned on how to respond. A famous author James Baldwin said, “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious, is to be in a rage almost all the time.” Teachers can help children deal with anger by guiding their understanding and management of this emotion. The six concepts listed below support strategies to help students to challenge anger in productive ways. • Create a Safe Emotional Climate. A safe emotional climate allows students to acknowledge all feelings, pleasant and unpleasant, and does not shame anger. Healthy classroom systems have clear, firm, and flexible boundaries.
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