Teaching Diversity through Literature, White, Spring 2020

Note: Please register online. Purchase order or payment, payable to CASTLETON UNIVERSITY, is due at the time of registration. Please mail the check to: Financial & Registration Services, Castleton University, 62 Alumni Drive, Castleton, VT 05735. To help us ensure that your payment is applied to the correct course, PLEASE WRITE “CFS” IN THE CHECK MEMO LINE. Thank you.

Course Description

Today, more than ever, schools must be prepared to meet the varying educational, social, and emotional needs of all children. The U.S. population will be considerably more racially and ethnically diverse by 2060, according to projections released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that our educational resources reflect the changing makeup of our classrooms to ensure that students feel welcomed and supported in an inclusive and diverse environment. In this course, you will explore representations in literature which can enable students to find their unique identity and to develop pride in their roots and origin as well as develop a cultural awareness. Participants will explore how to evaluate and select the best multicultural and international literature when building classroom libraries. Through a thorough examination of current research and participating in engaging collaborative exercises, participants will become teacher leaders within their schools for teaching diversity through literature. This course will also practice read-a-louds through a readers workshop model that allows diversity to be more intentionally discussed and explored.

Audience: All educators prek-12

Course Goals

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and describe how to foster a classroom which teaches diversity through literacy.
• Develop and articulate a goal to help incorporate teaching diversity through literature into a professional or personal plan.
• Create a project to promote teaching diversity through literature within your classroom and school community.
• Create a toolkit of resources, ideas, and notes on teaching diversity through literature to bring back to the classroom and school.
• Practice read-a-louds and selecting/evaluating the best literature for teaching diversity when building classroom libraries.

Required Readings:

All materials and resources will be provided.

For additional course information

Benjamin White
(802) 578-0529 

For additional registration information

Bethany Sprague
(802) 468-1325

Register online now!