A good classroom library is full of books that students want to read. But a classroom library should also be a place where all students can readily find books that reflect their own families, cultures, and experiences.
In this way, intentionally curating a diverse classroom library is an essential and meaningful step teacher can take to be inclusive.
Recent research suggests that between 70 and 80 per cent of characters in children’s books are white. Less than 10 per cent are African American, less than 2.5 per cent are Latinx, and less than 1 per cent are Native American. Moreover, most children’s book characters are male—of the 69 Caldecott Medal winners since 2000, only four were about female characters.
INCREASING DIVERSITY IN YOUR CLASSROOM LIBRARY
Setting up such a library takes time, volition, and perhaps a dose of caffeine, but it’s well worth doing.
Here are few tips to ensure that your library is easy to use and reminds students of all backgrounds that their lives are more than worth writing and reading about.
Do an inventory. How many of your books:
- feature people of colour as the central character, rather than a sidekick?
- feature LGBTQ and gender-expansive characters?
- feature Native Americans?
- feature characters with intellectual disabilities?
- feature characters who are not lanky, scrappy, skinny, or small?
- treat incarcerated characters with dignity?
- are written by an author of colour?
- challenge harmful social norms?
Encourage social stretch books. Elementary teachers often suggest that students read “reach” books that nudge them toward higher reading levels. We can also encourage them to read texts that stretch their cultural awareness and comfort zones.
Feature timely and relevant social issues. Some ideas: Elections, Women in Science, Climate Change, The Road to Freedom and Social Justice, Characters Who Stay True to Themselves, Struggling Against Hate, Human Rights, Athlete-Activists.
Be in the conversation. Who are you following on social media? Make sure your feeds are informed with diverse perspectives and forward-thinking individuals.
Providing students with an abundance of diverse books is a critical step in ensuring that every student feels visible. However, it’s equally important that teachers support this work by teaching students to evaluate texts not solely on the traditional standards of story elements and author’s craft—students can and should learn to consider who is in the texts, and what implicit and explicit biases are either supported or dispelled through these characters.
An intentionally curated classroom library means that a teacher is purposefully making decisions based on equity and human worth.
Source: Edutopia
