Ebook: Promises kept: raising Black boys to succeed in school and in life

Regardless of how wealthy or poor their parents are, all black boys must confront and surmount the "achievement gap" a divide that shows up not only in our sons' test scores, but in their social and emotional development, their physical well-being, and their outlook on life. As children, they score as high on cognitive tests as their peers, but at some point, the gap emerges. Why? This is the question Joe Brewster, M.D., and Michele Stephenson asked when their own son, Idris, began struggling in a new school. As they filmed his experiences for their award-winning documentary "American Promise," they met an array of researchers who had not only identified the reasons for the gap, but had come up with practical, innovative solutions to close it.;The Price of Admission -- Mind the Gap -- It's Bigger than Us -- Canaries in the Mine -- Embracing Change -- CLOSE THE GAP BEFORE IT OPENS: How to Make the Right Choices for Your Son, Before He's Even Born. A Time of Hope, a Time of Anxiety -- A Sign of the Times -- The Greatest Wonder -- A Different World -- Cutting across Class -- Do You Kangaroo? -- Oops! I've Done It Again -- Two to Tango -- Preconception Health for Future Moms and Dads -- BUILD YOUR SON'S BRAIN: Using Brain Science (and Common Sense) to Develop Our Sons Throughout Early Childhood. First Impressions Last -- Laying a Firm Foundation -- Promptly, Warmly, Sensitively -- Executive Education -- Handle with Care -- Keeping Dad in the Picture -- New Conversations -- BE HIS FIRST TEACHER: How to Begin Your Son's Education at Home. Searching Upstream -- Give Him a Leg Up -- Set the Pattern and the Tone -- Open the Gateway -- Play, Not Worksheets -- Talk That Talk -- Number Words Count -- Navigating the Daycare Crisis -- PUT HIS ARMOR ON: How to Talk to Our Sons About Race. Really Postracial? -- Preventing Sticky Stereotypes -- A Monster in Training? -- Let's Talk about Race -- A Space to Do Really Well -- What to Tell Him and When -- Dumb, Cool, Athletic, Popular -- Keepin' It Real? -- Forewarned and Forearmed -- Put Your Own Mask on First -- Change the Mirror -- HUG HIM AND TELL HIM YOU LOVE HIM: How to Use Parenting Styles That Work. The Power of Positive Parenting -- The Burdens of Black Boys -- Creating Good Vibes -- What's Your Parenting "Personality Type"? -- Kiss "My Way or the Highway" Goodbye -- Knowing Better, Doing Better -- Teachers, Coaches, Schools, and Organizations Parent, Too -- YOU BROUGHT HIM INTO THIS WORLD, DON'T LET OTHER FOLKS TAKE HIM OUT: How to Discipline Our Sons for Best Results. Prisoner or Promising? -- Suffer the Little Children -- A Menace to Society? -- Racial Profiling in School? -- Knowledge Is Power -- Discipline for Success -- Spare the Rod, or Not? -- How Does It Free Us? -- Passing the Test -- Fourteen Ways to Discipline Your Child -- PROTECT HIM FROM TIME BANDITS: How to Teach Our Sons to Manage Their Time. Time Management Is the Key to Success -- Chasing Asians -- Blame It on the Boogie? -- Opportunity Knocks -- Getting in the Zone -- Create a College-Bound Environment -- Stopping Summer Slide -- EDUCATION TO MATCH HIS NEEDS: How to Understand Our Sons' Learning Styles and Special Needs. He Doesn't Fit the Profile -- Boredom and Learning Styles -- Keep It Moving -- A Different World -- Interested as a Person -- Great Expectations? -- Attention Deficit Policies? -- The Special Ed Trap? -- Locked Out of Opportunity -- WORKING HARD WILL MAKE HIM SMARTER: How to Teach Our Sons to Combat Stereotype Threat and Develop Persistence. Sizable Differences -- Nature or Nurture -- The Threat in the Air -- Stereotyped and Stigmatized -- The Flipped Script -- Doubling Down -- Twice as Good -- Better, Faster, Stronger -- Time on Task -- What's My Name? -- What Educators Can Do -- MAKE YOUR PRESENCE FELT IN HIS SCHOOL: How to Participate in Our Sons' Formal School and Advocate for Change. Make Your Voice Heard -- All Hands on Deck -- This Is How We Do It -- Creating Relational Fiber -- Engaging Your Mutual Interest -- The Intimidation Factor -- On the Right Track -- Keeping a Watchful Eye -- Playing the Data Card -- Outwit, Outlast, Outplay?