My students always begin to fidget with excitement when I pull out a book from the shelf to read aloud to them. However, many of the books I read to my students have characters that do not accurately represent my students--whether this is how the characters look or in the characters' life experiences. In this way, my students struggle to find themselves represented in much of our classroom literature.
I believe it is my job to value my students' cultures, backgrounds, and experiences in our classroom community and for my students to see themselves in the curriculum I teach. Therefore, I want to integrate more diverse books in my classroom that do not just represent my students, but are also written and/or illustrated by authors who represent my students as well. These authors and illustrators include Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Yuyi Morales, Juana Martinez Neal, Derrick Barnes, Jacqueline Woodson, Aaron Boyd, Kadir Nelson, and Rafael Lopez.
By incorporating these culturally diverse authors and illustrators into a fun "Author of the Month" study, my students can see themselves in the books we are reading and can relate to the perspectives of the authors and illustrators who created them.
About my class
My students always begin to fidget with excitement when I pull out a book from the shelf to read aloud to them. However, many of the books I read to my students have characters that do not accurately represent my students--whether this is how the characters look or in the characters' life experiences. In this way, my students struggle to find themselves represented in much of our classroom literature.
I believe it is my job to value my students' cultures, backgrounds, and experiences in our classroom community and for my students to see themselves in the curriculum I teach. Therefore, I want to integrate more diverse books in my classroom that do not just represent my students, but are also written and/or illustrated by authors who represent my students as well. These authors and illustrators include Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Yuyi Morales, Juana Martinez Neal, Derrick Barnes, Jacqueline Woodson, Aaron Boyd, Kadir Nelson, and Rafael Lopez.
By incorporating these culturally diverse authors and illustrators into a fun "Author of the Month" study, my students can see themselves in the books we are reading and can relate to the perspectives of the authors and illustrators who created them.
Read more