An RTI Guide to Improving the Performance of African American Students

Dwayne D. Williams is a school psychologist, educational consultant, and certified success coach. He provides training to school districts on how to create culturally relevant educational models, including RTI models. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology (BA) from Fairmont State University; he earned a master’s degree in psychology (MA) and an Educational Specialist degree (EdS) from Marshall University Graduate College. Dwayne received training in the area of life coaching from Youth and Family Guidance, Inc. and received board-certified life coaching credentials through the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). Dwayne is the founder of Tier 1 Educational Coaching and Consulting Services—a firm that provides urban educational and psychological consultative services to stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, community leaders, and parents. Dwayne is a first-generation college graduate and is devoted to shedding light on the importance of integrating cultural activities and instruction in the classroom. He was raised in housing projects in Springfield, Illinois, and often speaks on the need to connect with families and community leaders from underrepresented backgrounds. Dwayne is married to Toni Williams, and together they have two beautiful children: Dwayne II and Noni Williams.Like the Tier 1 Educational Coaching and Consulting Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/Tier1services Follow Dwayne on twitter: @dwaynedwilliams

• A Note to the ReaderAcknowledgmentsIntroductionAbout the AuthorPart 1: Culturally Relevant Response to Intervention (CR-RTI)1. How Did We Get Here?2. Response to Intervention3. Culturally Relevant Response-to-Intervention (CR-RTI) Models4. Theory and Culturally Relevant Models5. Scientific Research-Based Instruction and CR-RTI6. Step-by-Step Approach to Creating CR-RTI Models7. Cultural Characteristics and Academic Engagement8. Cultural Characteristics in the ClassroomPart 2: Vignettes9. "Entertainment?! Why Can’t Our Children Just Sit Down and Learn?"10. What Does Academic Engagement Look Like for Many Children of Color?11. Motivation: The Key to Success12. Respecting Children and Their Cultural Backgrounds13. Racism: Does it Exist in Today’s School System?14. Getting Parents to Buy Into Your RTI Model15. Using Community Resources: A School-Church RTI ApproachPart 3: Application16. Peer-Mediated Learning: An Emphasis on Communalism17. Culturally Relevant Reading and Writing Instruction18. Communalism and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level19. Movement and Instruction at the Tier 1 Level20. Orality and Tier 1 Instruction21. Verve, Evaluation Systems, and Instruction22. Tying It All Together Within an RTI Framwork23. RTI for Students of Color at the High School LevelReflectionsReferencesIndex

"All educators working with diverse students should read this book!  Using personal experiences, the author provides examples of culturally responsive classroom instruction that brings tears to my eyes realizing what I missed in my own education."