African-American Academics

Paper Summary:

This paper details the results of various research studies conducted on African-American students in schools around America. One particular study, conducted on 43 students, consisted of an open-ended questionnaire delving into the question of how to enhance the academic success of African-American youth. The study asked questions pertaining to family and social issues as well as what students needed in order to better succeed in school. This paper discusses the most important single need of all the students tested, which was that teachers need to ask questions specifically designed to find out if students understand the material and if not, provide further explanations. The writer examines published material attesting to the fact that African-American students need alternative strategies to achieve academic success, which are described in this paper. This paper also delves into the benefits of cooperative learning, which is a strategy that teams students in small groups with different levels of ability, using a diverse series of learning activities to enhance understanding.

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Literature Review
Conclusion
Works Cited

From the Paper:

"Both the elementary students (51%) and the high school students (26%) indicated that if parents helped students learn to study, their grades would improve. But the most important single thing both elementary and high school students reported, in terms of getting stronger academic footings in preparation for college, was that teachers need to "ask questions" specifically designed to find out if students understand the material, and if not, "provide further explanations."
On the subject of counsellors, an article in High School Journal suggests that African American students do indeed need different strategies to achieve academic success. Since a portion of African American adolescents live in single-parent home environments and below the poverty level, and as a result of that environment are "likely to question the relationship between educational achievement and economic progress," school counselors must take on strategies beyond their job descriptions."

More papers on African-American Academics:

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• Research Paper # 3205 : "Home-Based Counseling for Inner City African American Clients"
• Essay # 60409 : "African-American Vernacular English"

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