Indiana State Literacy Association 2020 Conference

Most teachers believe reading is power, but do the books students read in our classroom have the power to raise students’ critical consciousness and better prepare them to participate in a culturally rich and diverse society? Participants will explore the findings from a teacher-research study on the impact of diverse and inclusive literature in one suburban classroom and see real classroom examples of the power of stories as windows into the lived experience of others. Beyond just sharing titles and resources, we will also explore learning experiences and engagements that go deeper than just including diverse titles in our text sets. Participants will collaborate, share ideas, and create an individual plan of action to cultivate consciousness through anti-bias, culturally responsive curriculum experiences. (This is part presentation, part interactive workshop.)