The Pedagogy of Confidence: Inspiring High Intellectual Performance in Urban Schools

by Yvette Jackson

In her new book, Yvette Jackson shows educators how to focus on students’ strengths to inspire learning and high intellectual performance. Jackson asserts that the myth that the route to increasing achievement by focusing on weaknesses (promoted by policies such as NCLB) has blinded us to the strengths and intellectual potential of urban students—devaluing the motivation, initiative, and confidence of dedicated educators to search for and optimize this potential.The Pedagogy of Confidencedispels this myth and provides practical approaches to rekindle educators’ belief in their ability to inspire the vast capacity of their urban students.

Book

Describes practical approaches and examples of how inspirational educators implement High Operational Practices, offering strategies for dealing with cultural disconnects, the influence of new technologies, and language preferences of students. Illustrates how educators empower student investment in the “mediative learning community” to foster positive relationships. Presents historical, cognitive, and neuroscience research, providing educators the rationale and benefits of changing old policies and practices to new ones that will guide students to intellectual development, self-directed learning, and self-actualization. Explores the theory and methodology of cognitive psychologist Reuven Feuerstein, upon whichThe Pedagogy of Confidenceis based.Yvette Jacksonis the Chief Executive Officer of the National Urban Alliance for Effective Education, founded at the College Board and Teachers College, Columbia University. She is internationally recognized for her work in assessing the learning potential of disenfranchised urban students. Yvette Jackson is available for select readings and lectures.

“The very in-depth elaboration of psychological, educational, and social concepts Dr. Jackson presents creates a large and ingenious inventory of pedagogical tools to promote the goals of achievement and upward mobility for those students who depend on teachers to make this possible.”—From the Foreword byReuven Feuerstein, Chairman and Founder, ICELP, Jerusalem, Israel

“The Pedagogy of Confidencecan change the way we approach learning, teaching, and urban school reform. A remarkable achievement, this book should be read by every educator and policymaker truly interested in closing the achievement gap.” —Linda Darling-Hammond, Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University

“Jackson’s unparalleled urban experience, coupled with her strength-based approach to learning, make this book what will become the ‘Rosetta Stone’ of urban education.” —Joseph S. Renzulli, Director, The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, The University of Connecticut

“The Pedagogy of Confidenceis for urban educators who want to know how to be effective in teaching and developing strong relationships with their students. It is an invaluable resource to those who seek to make a difference.” —Pedro A. Noguera, Peter L.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Professional Development

209 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2011

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yvette Jackson’s “Pedagogy of Confidence” as described in her book, The Pedagogy of Confidence: Inspiring High Intellectual Performance in Urban Schools, is based upon the idea that belief in students’ abilities to learn and teaching practices grounded in high operational practices will result in high intellectual performance. I found the book an oversimplification of the problems faced in underachieving schools. Merely professing a belief that students can learn and providing students with rigorous activities will not result in increased learning if students choose not to participate in the learning process. I found the book lacking in suggestions for implementing the “Pedagogy of Confidence,” handling students’ disinclination to learn, and administration’s refusal to change current practice.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this one in June for the last school district book club meeting.

Yvette Jackson makes a compelling argument that the principles and assumptions of gifted education should be applied in every classroom setting. Assume every child is highly capable and curious and can attain high levels of academic achievement. Build relationships that unlock student potential, activate their interest and agency, and mitigate the effects of racism, classism and poverty. Plan learning experiences from this foundation of high expectations and deep understanding of the students. Selfishly, a part of her argument that really resonated with me is how low expectations and focus on skills over intellectual engagement with content contributes to teacher burnout and dissatisfaction.

4/5 stars because it is so theoretical with minimal details of what her recommendations look like in practice.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yvette Jackson provides her readers with a progressive theory of education that calls for teachers to apply the strategies they implement in gifted programs to other classroom contexts. The first of The Pedagogy of Confidence’s three sections is amazing and easily five stars. The other two grow a bit repetitious and don’t provide the same level of insight. Rather those two sections come off as oriented more so towards administrators and teachers with more empirical orientations.

[Stephanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love the ideas behind this book, I just could not get into the writing style. The belief that all students are capable of learning at a high level is important. I just wish the book were a bit more palatable and that it provided more examples of implementation.

[Lindsey Meyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was confusing to me and hard to follow. The main ideas behind high intellectualism and high support were important, but I needed so many more examples to make it useful. Hearing Yvette Jackson speak this year was much more meaningful than the book because of her examples and modeling.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took a lot of notes.
Love the poems included.
Lots to think about...believing in students, applying the gifted/talented lens and expectations and plans to the whole class, healthier perspectives for teachers.
School as an oasis.

[Caroline Petruzzi McHale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a teacher per se but love reading books about teaching. This one in particular is about how to help people, adolescents in particular, bring out the best in themselves.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treat all student as gifted students, all student have the ability to learn

[David Branch · Rating 4 out of 5]

All students have the capacity to learn at high levels: It is up to us to cultivate their strengths into results.

Dr. Jackson is passionate about her research and partnership with her mentor. It clearly shows throughout the book. I would like to see an update with current research and sustainability of the NUA strategies in urban districts.

[Stacy Natal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great information about teaching in urban schools and includes helpful brain research applicable to teachers. It's a very dense book, with lots of rereading required. Would have liked to have had a large print addition, the print/spacing drove me a little batty.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for every educator.