The Alchemy of Teaching

"The Alchemy of Teaching is an asset in the evolving field of education. This carefully curated collection sheds light on the impact of teaching methods in various educational settings ranging from home schools to colleges. It effectively captures the essence of teaching challenges and opportunities, making it highly relevant for today’s practitioners. Each chapter offers insights and practical tips, serving as motivation and a roadmap for aspiring educators. The diverse range of shared experiences equips readers with tools to improve their pedagogy and positively influence students. The Alchemy of Teaching: Developing Educators Through Transmutative Practices goes beyond being a book; when carefully interrogated, it serves as a guiding light for those dedicated to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments. It is a must-have reference for educators seeking to navigate the intricacies of teaching with imagination and compassion."

Taquan S. Stewart, Ed.D., Regional Managing Clinical Director, Alder Graduate School of Education

"The Alchemy of Teaching: Developing Educators Through Transmutative Practices employs alchemy as a metaphor for transforming pedagogy into gold instructional practices. Rooted in culturally competent, responsive, and equitable educational practices, each chapter provides an amalgamation of personal insights, historical and theoretical considerations, reflective questions, and gold practices. Educators looking to transmute their teaching will find this a compelling resource, to be sure."

Georgianna Ravenna, Ph.D, Ed.D., CalStateTEACH, California State University, Fresno

"Each chapter in this book is a jewel that illuminates the path for educators who have a goal of being intentional waymakers for those whom they serve. This work will aid in dismantling some of the systemic pressures that impact school systems."

Ramar Henderson, Ph.D., APCC, C.R.C., Assistant Professor, Rehabilitation Counseling Program, MS in Counseling, California State University, Los Angeles

"The Alchemy of Teaching: Developing Educators Through Transmutative Practices is a transformative work that provides educational practitioners a blueprint to revolutionize their instruction, classrooms, and the students they serve. Derived from the teaching experiences of seasoned educators, it delivers first-hand accounts of applied practices that have proven results. It is a must-read for any educator seeking to be rooted in theory and application, as well as those who strive to understand better the challenges of the 21st-century classroom and its students."

Dr. Edward Rice, III, Associate Professor of Journalism, Moreno Valley College

Preface

Introduction

Chapter One

The Alchemy of Resilience in the Black Tradition of Homeschooling

Carrie Sandles

Chapter Two

The Ripple Effect: How Student–Educator Relationships Enhance Student Outcomes

Keith C. Wolaridge

Chapter Three

The Magic of Effective Instructional Strategies to Transmute Student Learning

David Sandles, EdD

Chapter Four

The Magic of Alchemy to Improve the Instruction of Black Students

Kirk Kirkwood

Chapter Five

Bringing Joy into Learning Through Golden Teaching Practices

Danny Brassell

Chapter Six

Magic, Miracles, and All That Glitters

Ernest Black

Chapter Seven

The Alchemy of Promoting a Culture of Literacy: Transmuting Learners and Educators to Become More Skillful

Mahmoud Suleiman

About the Authors

Index

David Sandles

In addition to being a family man and a self-proclaimed comic book nerd, David Sandles is an animal lover who was born to serve as an educator. An Oakland native who served as a long-time K-12 teacher and university faculty member, he is currently the Southern California Regional Director for CalStateTEACH, a multiple-subject teaching program. In that role, he supports schools and districts across the state of California to achieve their learning targets and enrich the lives of surrounding communities. In addition, Dr. Sandles is a seasoned member of multiple accreditation organizations, traveling around the United States to support teacher preparation programs with achieving regional and national accreditation. He is a fervent believer that the educator landscape must be racially and linguistically diversified to bring about equitable outcomes for students. Dr. Sandles’ interests include working out, reading, promoting Black male educator agency, and listening to old-school hip-hop and R&B music.