The Pedagogy of Confidence

Inspiring High Intellectual Performance in Urban Schools

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 Features:

• 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. Agnew Professor of Education, New York University

“ThePedagogy of Confidencerenews our hope for schools as homes for the fullest development of the mind, classrooms as engaging, mediative environments, and all learners as having the propensity for continued, lifelong intellectual growth.”

—Arthur L. Costa, Professor Emeritus, California State University, Sacramento