Toward a More Perfect Union: Creating Democratic Classroom Communities

Author(s): David McCabe

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The purpose of this book is to consider the role that the teacher plays in developing democratic classroom communities and examine ways in which elements of inquiry based instruction can be used to cultivate participatory virtues in students. 

A critical examination of this topic promises to be significant for four reasons: First, it will establish a working definition of democratic community as it applies to the classroom and its relevance to the field of teaching; Second, it will provide educational practitioners insight into the importance of developing democratic communities in their classrooms in this current climate of standards and high stakes accountability; and third, it will discuss the profound influence democratic classroom communities have on student perceptions of schooling, self concept and relationships with their peers and their teacher. 

Finally this book will explore how teachers and administrators can reframe their approaches to classroom management and effective instructional strategies and student evaluation to more closely approximate a true democratic model. 

 

Dedication  

Acknowledgments  

Preface 

Foreword 

What Educators Are Saying about This Book 

Chapter I  

WHAT KIND OF TEACHER DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE?  

Chapter II  

EDUCATING FOR DEMOCRACY  

Chapter III  

UNDERSTANDING THE CLASSROOM CONTEXT  

Chapter IV  

UNDERSTANDING THE TEACHERS ROLE IN THE CLASSROOM-INTERACTIONS THAT CREATE COMMUNITY 

Chapter V  

WHAT PARENTS CAN TEACH US  

Chapter VI  

A LOOK AT CLASSROOMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY CONTEXT  

Chapter VII  

ANALYZING CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES  

Chapter VIII  

ANALYSIS OF LIFE INSIDE CLASSROOMS  

Chapter IX  

INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION AS A DEMOCRATIC INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY  

Chapter X  

IMPLICATIONS  

Chapter XI  

FINAL WORDS TO PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS 

About the Teacher Preparation Program

David McCabe
David S. McCabe, the Coordinator of the Teacher Preparation Program and Associate Professor of Education at Pasadena City College has been an educator in Southern California for over eighteen years. During his career, he has served students in his community as a substitute custodian, instructional assistant, elementary school teacher, assistant principal, principal, staff developer and social activist. Author of several articles and invited speaker at numerous regional and international conferences David has dedicated his career to supporting administrators, teachers, students and parents in developing democratic classroom communities. David lives with his wife and son and a menagerie of animals on their small ranch in Southern California. For more information about this book online, please visit the author's website at: www.dsmccabe.com.

 

The purpose of this book is to consider the role that the teacher plays in developing democratic classroom communities and examine ways in which elements of inquiry based instruction can be used to cultivate participatory virtues in students. 

A critical examination of this topic promises to be significant for four reasons: First, it will establish a working definition of democratic community as it applies to the classroom and its relevance to the field of teaching; Second, it will provide educational practitioners insight into the importance of developing democratic communities in their classrooms in this current climate of standards and high stakes accountability; and third, it will discuss the profound influence democratic classroom communities have on student perceptions of schooling, self concept and relationships with their peers and their teacher. 

Finally this book will explore how teachers and administrators can reframe their approaches to classroom management and effective instructional strategies and student evaluation to more closely approximate a true democratic model. 

 

Dedication  

Acknowledgments  

Preface 

Foreword 

What Educators Are Saying about This Book 

Chapter I  

WHAT KIND OF TEACHER DO YOU ASPIRE TO BE?  

Chapter II  

EDUCATING FOR DEMOCRACY  

Chapter III  

UNDERSTANDING THE CLASSROOM CONTEXT  

Chapter IV  

UNDERSTANDING THE TEACHERS ROLE IN THE CLASSROOM-INTERACTIONS THAT CREATE COMMUNITY 

Chapter V  

WHAT PARENTS CAN TEACH US  

Chapter VI  

A LOOK AT CLASSROOMS IN THEIR COMMUNITY CONTEXT  

Chapter VII  

ANALYZING CLASSROOM COMMUNITIES  

Chapter VIII  

ANALYSIS OF LIFE INSIDE CLASSROOMS  

Chapter IX  

INQUIRY-BASED INSTRUCTION AS A DEMOCRATIC INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY  

Chapter X  

IMPLICATIONS  

Chapter XI  

FINAL WORDS TO PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS 

About the Teacher Preparation Program

David McCabe
David S. McCabe, the Coordinator of the Teacher Preparation Program and Associate Professor of Education at Pasadena City College has been an educator in Southern California for over eighteen years. During his career, he has served students in his community as a substitute custodian, instructional assistant, elementary school teacher, assistant principal, principal, staff developer and social activist. Author of several articles and invited speaker at numerous regional and international conferences David has dedicated his career to supporting administrators, teachers, students and parents in developing democratic classroom communities. David lives with his wife and son and a menagerie of animals on their small ranch in Southern California. For more information about this book online, please visit the author's website at: www.dsmccabe.com.