Black Girl in the Middle
Purchase
Description
Take your opportunity to help her soar.
During the critical developmental period of the middle school years, Black girls—who sit at the intersections of racism and sexism—often face unique challenges that can hinder their academic and personal growth. Revealing the systemic barriers Black girls experience, Black Girl in the Middle equips teachers with research-backed practices to foster meaningful connections, address biases, and advocate for their students' holistic development.
Drawing on research and years of experience as an award-winning educator, author Melody Hawkins introduces five core practices that have been shown to catapult middle school students toward greater confidence and success. This guide enables middle school educators to:
- Foster inclusive classrooms and genuine empathy rooted in an understanding of Black girls as whole individuals
- Define goals, apply evidence-based practices, and measure impact using the BELIEF Framework
- Advocate for the unique needs of Black girls while building their confidence and leadership skills
Whether you’re a middle school teacher, mentor, counselor, or community advocate, this book offers valuable insights and strategies to ensure Black girls are fully seen, celebrated, and supported to thrive.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Author
Navigating Black Girl in the Middle
Navigating Black Girl in the Middle
INTRODUCTION
- WHY IS SHE SITTING ALONE?
- WHY FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS?
- FIVE PRACTICES FOR ENHANCING LEARNING FOR BLACK GIRLS
- USING THIS BOOK
PART 1: REFLECT ON BELIEFS AND BIASES
- Chapter 1: It's Not My Fault; It is My Problem
- Black Girls' Educational Equity
- Claiming the Path Forward
- Chapter 2: Practice One—Identify Your Beliefs
- UNPACKING EXPERIENCES: THE RESEARCH ON BLACK GIRLS AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIETAL BIAS
- Study 1
- Study 2
PART 2: BUILD COMPASSIONATE AND SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIONS
- Chapter 3: Practice Two—Plant the S.E.A.D
- IMAGINE THIS
- SEAD IS THE SEED
- SEAD: A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO STUDENT SUCCESS
- SEAD’S ROLE IN SUPPORTING BLACK GIRLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
- CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SEAD
- THE EDUCATORS’ ROLE IN ADVANCING SEAD FOR BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS
- COMMUNITY EDUCATORS AND PARTNERS: EXTENDING SEAD BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
- Chapter 4: Practice Three—Listen with Compassion
- FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
- HONORING THE VOICES OF BLACK GIRLS
- COMPASSIONATE LISTENING PROMPTS TO BUILD TRUST AND SAFETY
- THE IMPACT OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
- THE POWER OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
PART 3: ADVOCATE FOR HER DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDHOOD
- Chapter 5: Practice Four—Encourage Positive Self-Talk
- WHAT IS SELF-TALK?
- POSITIVE SELF-TALK IN LEARNING SPACES
- MIAH’S STORY
- LAYLA’S STORY
- PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING POSITIVE SELF-TALK
- Chapter 6: Practice Five—Advocate for Their Girlhood
- STAND UP FOR BLACK GIRLS
- THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER . . . RIGHT?
- THE ADULTIFICATION OF BLACK GIRLS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: DISMANTLING ADULTIFICATION BIAS
- UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPING MIND
- NEURODIVERGENCE AND THE DEVELOPING MIND OF BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: RE-DRESSING EXPECTATIONS
- Chapter 7: PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIE
- THE NECESSITY OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE
- SCALING THE BELIEF FRAMEWORK
- PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES: EXPANDING HER SUPPORT NETWORK
- BUILDING A CULTURE OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
- A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
- Conclusion: Transforming Learning for Black Girls
- THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
- A CALL TO ACTION
- Index
Additional materials
Description
Take your opportunity to help her soar.
During the critical developmental period of the middle school years, Black girls—who sit at the intersections of racism and sexism—often face unique challenges that can hinder their academic and personal growth. Revealing the systemic barriers Black girls experience, Black Girl in the Middle equips teachers with research-backed practices to foster meaningful connections, address biases, and advocate for their students' holistic development.
Drawing on research and years of experience as an award-winning educator, author Melody Hawkins introduces five core practices that have been shown to catapult middle school students toward greater confidence and success. This guide enables middle school educators to:
- Foster inclusive classrooms and genuine empathy rooted in an understanding of Black girls as whole individuals
- Define goals, apply evidence-based practices, and measure impact using the BELIEF Framework
- Advocate for the unique needs of Black girls while building their confidence and leadership skills
Whether you’re a middle school teacher, mentor, counselor, or community advocate, this book offers valuable insights and strategies to ensure Black girls are fully seen, celebrated, and supported to thrive.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Author
Navigating Black Girl in the Middle
Navigating Black Girl in the Middle
INTRODUCTION
- WHY IS SHE SITTING ALONE?
- WHY FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS?
- FIVE PRACTICES FOR ENHANCING LEARNING FOR BLACK GIRLS
- USING THIS BOOK
PART 1: REFLECT ON BELIEFS AND BIASES
- Chapter 1: It's Not My Fault; It is My Problem
- Black Girls' Educational Equity
- Claiming the Path Forward
- Chapter 2: Practice One—Identify Your Beliefs
- UNPACKING EXPERIENCES: THE RESEARCH ON BLACK GIRLS AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIETAL BIAS
- Study 1
- Study 2
PART 2: BUILD COMPASSIONATE AND SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIONS
- Chapter 3: Practice Two—Plant the S.E.A.D
- IMAGINE THIS
- SEAD IS THE SEED
- SEAD: A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO STUDENT SUCCESS
- SEAD’S ROLE IN SUPPORTING BLACK GIRLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
- CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SEAD
- THE EDUCATORS’ ROLE IN ADVANCING SEAD FOR BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS
- COMMUNITY EDUCATORS AND PARTNERS: EXTENDING SEAD BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
- Chapter 4: Practice Three—Listen with Compassion
- FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
- HONORING THE VOICES OF BLACK GIRLS
- COMPASSIONATE LISTENING PROMPTS TO BUILD TRUST AND SAFETY
- THE IMPACT OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
- THE POWER OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
PART 3: ADVOCATE FOR HER DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDHOOD
- Chapter 5: Practice Four—Encourage Positive Self-Talk
- WHAT IS SELF-TALK?
- POSITIVE SELF-TALK IN LEARNING SPACES
- MIAH’S STORY
- LAYLA’S STORY
- PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING POSITIVE SELF-TALK
- Chapter 6: Practice Five—Advocate for Their Girlhood
- STAND UP FOR BLACK GIRLS
- THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER . . . RIGHT?
- THE ADULTIFICATION OF BLACK GIRLS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: DISMANTLING ADULTIFICATION BIAS
- UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPING MIND
- NEURODIVERGENCE AND THE DEVELOPING MIND OF BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: RE-DRESSING EXPECTATIONS
- Chapter 7: PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIE
- THE NECESSITY OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE
- SCALING THE BELIEF FRAMEWORK
- PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES: EXPANDING HER SUPPORT NETWORK
- BUILDING A CULTURE OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
- A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
- Conclusion: Transforming Learning for Black Girls
- THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
- A CALL TO ACTION
- Index
Additional materials
Reviews
Black Girl in the Middle
Five Transformative Practices to Make Schools Better for Black Girls
August 2025 | 168 pages | Corwin
| Format | Published Date | ISBN | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperback | 01/02/2026 | 9781071982129 | $37.95 |
| Lifetime | 01/02/2026 | 9781071982143 | $35.00 |
Take your opportunity to help her soar.
During the critical developmental period of the middle school years, Black girls—who sit at the intersections of racism and sexism—often face unique challenges that can hinder their academic and personal growth. Revealing the systemic barriers Black girls experience, Black Girl in the Middle equips teachers with research-backed practices to foster meaningful connections, address biases, and advocate for their students' holistic development.
Drawing on research and years of experience as an award-winning educator, author Melody Hawkins introduces five core practices that have been shown to catapult middle school students toward greater confidence and success. This guide enables middle school educators to:
- Foster inclusive classrooms and genuine empathy rooted in an understanding of Black girls as whole individuals
- Define goals, apply evidence-based practices, and measure impact using the BELIEF Framework
- Advocate for the unique needs of Black girls while building their confidence and leadership skills
Whether you’re a middle school teacher, mentor, counselor, or community advocate, this book offers valuable insights and strategies to ensure Black girls are fully seen, celebrated, and supported to thrive.
Table Of Contents:
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Navigating Black Girl in the Middle
- INTRODUCTION
- WHY IS SHE SITTING ALONE?
- WHY FOCUS ON MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS?
- FIVE PRACTICES FOR ENHANCING LEARNING FOR BLACK GIRLS
- USING THIS BOOK
- PART 1: REFLECT ON BELIEFS AND BIASES
- Chapter 1: It's Not My Fault; It is My Problem
- Black Girls' Educational Equity
- Claiming the Path Forward
- Chapter 2: Practice One—Identify Your Beliefs
- UNPACKING EXPERIENCES: THE RESEARCH ON BLACK GIRLS AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIETAL BIAS
- Study 1
- Study 2
- PART 2: BUILD COMPASSIONATE AND SUPPORTIVE CONNECTIONS
- Chapter 3: Practice Two—Plant the S.E.A.D
- IMAGINE THIS
- SEAD IS THE SEED
- SEAD: A WHOLE CHILD APPROACH TO STUDENT SUCCESS
- SEAD’S ROLE IN SUPPORTING BLACK GIRLS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
- CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE SEAD
- THE EDUCATORS’ ROLE IN ADVANCING SEAD FOR BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS
- COMMUNITY EDUCATORS AND PARTNERS: EXTENDING SEAD BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
- Chapter 4: Practice Three—Listen with Compassion
- FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE
- HONORING THE VOICES OF BLACK GIRLS
- COMPASSIONATE LISTENING PROMPTS TO BUILD TRUST AND SAFETY
- THE IMPACT OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
- THE POWER OF COMPASSIONATE LISTENING
- PART 3: ADVOCATE FOR HER DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDHOOD
- Chapter 5: Practice Four—Encourage Positive Self-Talk
- WHAT IS SELF-TALK?
- POSITIVE SELF-TALK IN LEARNING SPACES
- MIAH’S STORY
- LAYLA’S STORY
- PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR ENCOURAGING POSITIVE SELF-TALK
- Chapter 6: Practice Five—Advocate for Their Girlhood
- STAND UP FOR BLACK GIRLS
- THEY SHOULD KNOW BETTER . . . RIGHT?
- THE ADULTIFICATION OF BLACK GIRLS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: DISMANTLING ADULTIFICATION BIAS
- UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPING MIND
- NEURODIVERGENCE AND THE DEVELOPING MIND OF BLACK MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
- WHERE TO BEGIN: RE-DRESSING EXPECTATIONS
- Chapter 7: PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIE
- THE NECESSITY OF SYSTEMIC CHANGE
- SCALING THE BELIEF FRAMEWORK
- PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES: EXPANDING HER SUPPORT NETWORK
- BUILDING A CULTURE OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY
- A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
- Conclusion: Transforming Learning for Black Girls
- THE JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
- A CALL TO ACTION
- Index