Using multicultural literature in the k 8 classroom

Multicultural Literature in the K-8 Classroom L Taylor Ocean County Library Fall 2008 What is multicultural literature? An umbrella term that may include       International Literature African American Literature Native American Literature Hispanic/Latino(a) Literature Asian/Pan Pacific American Literature Inclusive Literature (Jewish, GLBT, Arabic, disability, etc.) Why is it important in the classroom? Multicultural Literature … Expands horizons,  “In schools often segregated by lines of color and class, literature may present one of the few opportunities for all students to encounter people of different racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups.” (Rudine Simms Bishop) Affirms identity,  “We have a whole generation growing up without ever seeing themselves in print What does it mean if you don’t see yourself in books? There is a strong connection between images and identity” (Pat Mora) Builds bridges  “Cultural diversity is a strength for building powerful learning contexts, not a problem to be solved Difference, not sameness, makes a classroom and society strong.” (Kaser and Short, 1998) Multicultural Literature can…       Provide knowledge or information Offer varying perspectives Span the curriculum Promote or develop an appreciation for diversity Develop critical thinking skills Provide enjoyment! Sonia Nieto (1992) (Sims Bishop, 1997) What determines cultural authenticity in literature?   NATIVE AMERICAN Native American Youth Services Award    INTERNATIONAL Hans Christian Andersen Award   http://aila.library.sd.gov/activities/you thlitaward.htm http://www.ibby.org/index.php?id=273 Mildred L Batchelder Award  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc /awardsgrants/bookmedia/batcheldera ward/batchelderabout/index.cfm   ASIAN AMERICAN Asian Pacific American Award for Literature  http://www.apalaweb.org/awards/awar ds.htm Noted Publishers Selected multicultural publishers   INTERNATIONAL Kane/Miller Publishers of Foreign Children’s Books  http://www.kanemiller.com/  HISPANIC AMERICAN  Arte Publico Press  http://www.latinoteca.com/app-home  AFRICAN AMERICAN  Just Us Books   www.justusbooks.com Jump at the Sun  http://www.jumpatthesun.com  ASIAN AMERICAN  INCLUSIVE  Lee and Low Books  AWAIR Arab World and Islamic Resources and School Services  http://www.leeandlow.com  NATIVE AMERICAN  Fulcrum Publishing  http://www.fulcrumbooks.com/  http://www.awaironline.org/in dex.html Insider Reviews Selected review sources  NATIVE AMERICAN  INTERNATIONAL  Oyate  International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)    http://www.oyate.org ASIAN AMERICAN Asia for Kids  http://www.afk.com  www.ibby.org Additional Resources  HISPANIC/LATINO(A)  NATIVE AMERICAN  Texas State Library “Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros”  Cynthia Leitich Smith  http://www.cynthialeitichs mith.com/index.html  http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ ninos/contents.html Using multicultural literature in the classroom Ocean County teachers can use multicultural literature to expand students’ horizons Consider the following statistics… Minority population percentages in Ocean County as compared to the State of New Jersey Classroom suggestions…  ART – use picture books for older readers to introduce artists or art techniques  Frida Kahlo biography, Javaka Steptoe books  SOCIAL STUDIES – use historical fiction to introduce the minority viewpoint in important events  Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich , An Innocent Soldier by Josef Holub, Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi  SCIENCE – use books that introduce a minority viewpoint or minority contribution  The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 by Laurence Yep complements the study of plate tectonics, earthquakes  MATH – use multicultural books to introduce counting in the lower grades  Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales  LANGUAGE ARTS – introduce multicultural books for book reports assignments, poetry, theme-related studies  In Daddy’s Arms by Javaka Steptoe, The Afterlife by Gary Soto, A Step from Heaven by An Na  FOREIGN LANGUAGE – use picture books, poetry or short stories to introduce foreign cultures  Marimba! Animales from A to Z by Pat Mora, Baseball in April by Gary Soto Acknowledgments Information for this presentation was adapted from the following sources:    Dr Sylvia Vardell’s Multicultural Literature for Children class, Texas Woman’s University, Summer 2007 www.twu.edu US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html TeacherTube www.teachertube.org Please continue to the final slide A final argument for the increased use of multicultural literature in the classroom… What is the Holoca ust? Be sure that sound and internet access is enabled, then click link This eye-opening video from TeacherTube ends the presentation [...]... of 1906 by Laurence Yep complements the study of plate tectonics, earthquakes  MATH – use multicultural books to introduce counting in the lower grades  Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales  LANGUAGE ARTS – introduce multicultural books for book reports assignments, poetry, theme-related studies  In Daddy’s Arms by Javaka Steptoe, The Afterlife by Gary Soto, A Step from... techniques  Frida Kahlo biography, Javaka Steptoe books  SOCIAL STUDIES – use historical fiction to introduce the minority viewpoint in important events  Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich , An Innocent Soldier by Josef Holub, Samir and Yonatan by Daniella Carmi  SCIENCE – use books that introduce a minority viewpoint or minority contribution  The Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906... mith.com/index.html  http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projects/ ninos/contents.html Using multicultural literature in the classroom Ocean County teachers can use multicultural literature to expand students’ horizons Consider the following statistics… Minority population percentages in Ocean County as compared to the State of New Jersey Classroom suggestions…  ART – use picture books for older readers to introduce... http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html TeacherTube www.teachertube.org Please continue to the final slide A final argument for the increased use of multicultural literature in the classroom What is the Holoca ust? Be sure that sound and internet access is enabled, then click link This eye-opening video from TeacherTube ends the presentation ... persons or groups within the cultural group Authors and Illustrators Selected Authors and Illustrators          INTERNATIONAL Mem Fox Graeme Base Dick King-Smith J .K Rowling AFRICAN AMERICAN Mildred Taylor Virginia Hamilton Jerry Pinkney     HISPANIC AMERICAN Gary Soto Pat Mora George Ancona         NATIVE AMERICAN Joseph Bruchac Paul Goble Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve ASIAN AMERICAN... http://www.riverabookaward.info/? t=anon AFRICAN AMERICAN Coretta Scott King    INCLUSIVE Schneider Family Book Award   http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/coretta scottkingbookaward/corettascott.htm http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section= awards&template=/ContentManagement/Conte ntDisplay.cfm&ContentID=16 187 8 Stonewall Book Awards  http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbtr t/stonewall/stonewallbook.htm   NATIVE...    A story that invites reflection, critical analysis and response A book that meets generally accepted criteria of quality for its genre An appealing format and enduring quality (Source: Sylvia Vardell, TWU 2007) How can you determine cultural authenticity? Look for…     Authors and illustrators respected within the culture Books that have won cultural awards Well known multicultural publishers... Noted Publishers Selected multicultural publishers   INTERNATIONAL Kane/Miller Publishers of Foreign Children’s Books  http://www.kanemiller.com/  HISPANIC AMERICAN  Arte Publico Press  http://www.latinoteca.com/app-home  AFRICAN AMERICAN  Just Us Books   www.justusbooks.com Jump at the Sun  http://www.jumpatthesun.com  ASIAN AMERICAN  INCLUSIVE  Lee and Low Books  AWAIR Arab World and... books, poetry or short stories to introduce foreign cultures  Marimba! Animales from A to Z by Pat Mora, Baseball in April by Gary Soto Acknowledgments Information for this presentation was adapted from the following sources:    Dr Sylvia Vardell’s Multicultural Literature for Children class, Texas Woman’s University, Summer 2007 www.twu.edu US Census Bureau http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html... NATIVE AMERICAN  Fulcrum Publishing  http://www.fulcrumbooks.com/  http://www.awaironline.org /in dex.html Insider Reviews Selected review sources  NATIVE AMERICAN  INTERNATIONAL  Oyate  International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)    http://www.oyate.org ASIAN AMERICAN Asia for Kids  http://www.afk.com  www.ibby.org Additional Resources  HISPANIC/LATINO(A)  NATIVE AMERICAN  Texas