Standing in the Gap 2012

Standing in the Gap: Setting Our Boys Up 4 Success Presentation by Craig Martin

Email: [email protected]

857-719-7853 (cell)

***During today’s presentation, as you come up with questions you want to have answered, please text them to my cell. Do not feel shy…I promise to do my best to answer them by the end of the presentation. Enjoy***

Standing in the gap: Setting Our Boys up 4 success! Agenda  What’s in his bag?  Why Are We Here?  How does it start at home?  Could He turn that “Mess” off?  What does he look like at school?  How can we use technology to keep our boys “plugged in” for success?  What is he reading ?  What can you be reading ?  What’s Next? The Action plan  Question & answers  Surveys

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

How many of these are you currently doing versus how many of these can you be doing?
 Do you affirm who he is with positive messages and affirmations and tell him regularly that “I love you”?  Does his home life offer pictures, photos, artwork, or illustrations of positive male role models? Can he see “himself” in his home life?  Does he have an opportunity to “take the lead” in anything at home, besides chores? Is he able to make a meal for the family? Is he able to do the shopping list? Can he help set up the family budget? Can he help “fix” something?  Does he have a regular day or time where he gets quality time from you, as his primary teacher and caregiver, in addition to others who will affirm him and your common beliefs over his life?  Does he have opportunities to be creative, expressive, and “the main attraction”?  Does he have daily outlets for exercise? Meditation? Sports? Reading?  Does he have daily opportunities to make real choices for his own life?  Does he have opportunities to actively explore his passions?  Does he have a toolkit of strategies for dealing with emotions, conflicts, and decision-making?
Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

The Ideal School Experience
*some of the following ideas come from Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu’s: Understanding Black Male Learning Styles

 Master teacher with high expectations, excellent classroom management skills, and offers opportunities for boys to be expressive, creative, critically-thinking mathematicians, scientists, readers, artists, and leaders  Learning centers/experiences designed to tap into the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile intelligences  Technology center  Pictures of positive male role models on the walls and in the readings boys are experiencing  Cooperative learning groups  Daily exercise and/or movement  Quick learning lectures ( 8 to 12 minutes at the maximum)  Classical and Jazz music  Academic competitions  Open ended questions and higher order thinking skills opportunities  Science experiments  Chess, checkers, mancala  Fruit, water, and fresh fruit available for snacking  Art station  Robotics  Best Books for Boys sections of class library  Mentoring Programs  Male Class Speakers  Leadership Opportunities  Journaling  Community Circle

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

Book Lists for Boys This listing is comprehensive of books/authors I have in my personal library and some that I believe would be great reads for boys ages 7 to 13. This is not in any particular order! I have purchased many of them on amazon.com, Borders, Scholastic Book Orders, and Barnes & Nobles Authors (Anything by these guys will be great!)  Christopher Paul Curtis  Gary Soto  Jon Scieszka  Gary Santos  Jerry Spinelli  Walter Dean Myers  Gary Paulsen  Jack Prelutsky  R. L Stine  Mo Willems  Chris Van Allsburg  Mike Lupica  Franklin Dixon (Hardy Boys Mysteries)  Matt Christopher  J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter Series) My Classroom Collection  Still I Rise (Graphic Novel) by Roland Laird  Ron’s Big Mission by Rose Blue & Corinne Naden  Olympians Zeus: King of the Gods (Graphic Novel) by George O’Connor  John F. Kennedy: American Visionary (Graphic Library) by Nathan Olson  Guys Write For Guys Read by Jon Scieszka  The Buffalo Solders and the American West (Graphic Library) by Jason Glaser  Invisible Man (Graphic Novel) Retold by Terry Davis  The Time Machine (Graphic Novel) Retold by Terry Davis  Issac Newton and the Laws of Motion (Graphic Library) by Andrea Gianopoulos  The Boston Massacre (Graphic Library) by Michael Burgan  Theseus and the Minotaur (Graphic Greek Myths & Legends) by Gilly Cameron Cooper  Amazing Powers (DK Readers Marvel Heroes) by Catherine Saunders
Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

                

Nathan Hale: Revolutionary Spy (Graphic Library) by Nathan Olson Presidential Material: Barack Obama from www.presidentialcomics.com Incredible Hulk’s Book of Strength (DK Readers) by James Buckley, Jr. A Graphic Biography: Malcolm X by Andrew Helfer African Beginnings by James Haskins & Kathleen Benson Think Big by Ben Carson Monster by Walter Dean Myers Latino USA: A Cartoon History by Ilan Stavans Black Boy by Richard Wright The Big Book of Boy Stuff by Bart King Sports Illustrated for Kids (magazine) National Geographic for Kids (magazine) Men’s Health Total-Body Health & Fitness Guide 2010 Book of Lists (Scholastic) by James Buckley Jr. & Robert Stremme Animorphs Collection by Gordon Korman Knights of the Lunchtable Seriesby Frank Cummuso Boy’s Body Book by Steven Bjorkman

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

Book Lists for Parents & Educators This is a listing of just some of the resources I have acquired on understanding males.  Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell  Being A Black Man by Staff of Washington Post  Generating Genius by Tony Sewell  Helping Boys Succeed In School by Terry W. Neu & Rich Weinfeld  The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson  Reaching Up for Manhood by Geoffrey Canada  The Black Male Handbook by Kevin Powell  Man Up by Steve Perry  Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu  Understanding Black Male Learning Styles by Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu  Black Men Built the Capitol by Jesse Holland  Boys & Girls Learn Differently by Michael Gurian  Why Black Boys Fail in Public Schools by Melvin Hitchens  Educating African American Males by Olatokunbo S. Fashola  What Black Men Should Do Now by K. Thomas Oglesby  State of Emergency by Jawanza Kunjufu  Teaching the Male Brain by Abigail Norfleet James  That’s My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character by Rick Johnson

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

Standing in the Gap: Community & Web-Based Resources Greater Boston Region

Diamond Educators Mentoring Inc. (DEMI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving

student performance of those youth in low-income neighborhoods and families. DEMI believes that all youth/students must be given opportunities and encouragement to succeed in life (e.g., getting those at risk of not graduating to complete high school; getting those who plan to end their education with a diploma to pursue postsecondary education or training). Since DEMI was established in 2001, we have mentored and helped over 800 youth/students in over 20 Boston Public Schools make measurable gains in academic performance, high school graduation, post secondary enrollment, as well as parental and community involvement. Diamond Educators Mentoring Inc. P.O. Box 191767 Roxbury, MA 02119 Call: 617-212-1197 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.diamondeducators.org/index.html Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts, Inc. (CBMM), under the leadership auspices of its Standing Committee on Education initiated The Paul Robeson Institute for Positive SelfDevelopment. The Paul Robeson Institute was founded to provide a vehicle of educational, emotional and personal support to young Black males and their families. Predicated on the grounds that Black children and their families are at acute risk in today's society, the Institute was formed to provide a range of early intervention and self-awareness options for elementary age youth and their families. Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts, Inc. 136 Warren Street - Suite 7 Roxbury, MA 02119 http://www.cbmm.net/Pri.html Young Men’s Success Series Young Men's Success Series is a life management program designed to give young men the necessary skills and perspective to effectively build a successful life"—Percy Hayles, Founder of YMSS Percy Hayles Phone: 617-833-7347 http://www.ymsseries.org/ www.facebook.com/ymssboston

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

Eagle’s Nest Learning Center Eagles Nest Learning Center is a year-round program developed to meet the unique needs of school-aged boys in grades 1-6. During the school year, we operate after school and provide transportation for many of our students in the program. During the summer, we offer a contentrich, full day program for students in the Boston area. We help boys navigate the physical, mental emotional and spiritual challenges of boyhood. At ENLC, boys develop academically, establish friendships, enjoy the outdoors and channel their natural aggression in positive acceptable ways. We teach values such as honor, integrity, self-control, discipline, honesty and personal responsibility. As a faith-filled program, we also share the love of Christ with our students. Our experienced staff offer mentoring, tutoring and encouragement to boys. Eagle’s Nest Learning Center, Inc. 203 High Street Brookline, MA 02445-7044 P: (617) 879-0994 F: (617) 879-0592 E-mail: [email protected] Nativity Prep School Nativity Preparatory School is an accredited, Jesuit middle school dedicated to providing a quality, tuition-free education to boys of all faiths from low-income families residing in Boston’s inner city neighborhoods. We work to inspire in students a love of learning, an awareness of their own interests and ideas, a fundamental understanding of culture, and an abiding sense of responsibility to their community. 39 Lamartine Street Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 P: 857.728.0031 F: 857.728.0037 http://www.nativityboston.org/ The Fenn School The Fenn School in Concord, Massachusetts, is dedicated to meeting the academic, athletic, artistic, and social needs of boys as they grow from children to young adults in grades 4-9. Founded in 1929 as a single-sex private school, Fenn knows boys. It is one of the best prep schools in Massachusetts for boys.

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org

Our dedicated teachers and superb curriculum challenge each boy to grow and learn every day. A Fenn education includes rigorous academics taught in small classes, as well as athletics, arts programs, leadership development, and community service. Teachers also serve as advisors and coaches, getting to know each boy well from fourth grade through ninth grade. In every aspect of school life, we teach and model our core values of honesty, empathy, respect, and courage. They provide the basis for teaching our boys how to become the young men we all want them to be. We welcome you to learn more about all that Fenn can offer your son in his journey toward adulthood. The Fenn School 516 Monument Street Concord, MA 01742 School Office: (978) 369-5800 Email: [email protected] http://www.fenn.org

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Publications http://www.cbcfinc.org/newsroom/publications.html Schott Foundation for Public Education http://www.schottfoundation.org/publications-reports/ Open Society Foundation http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/topics/black-male-achievement International Boys Coalition http://www.theibsc.org/ Understanding & Raising Boys—PBS http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/

Standing in the Gap by Craig Martin

http://www.craigcmartin.edublogs.org