Using Multicultural Young Adult Literature in the Classroom
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 418 422 CS 216 312 AUTHOR Brown, Jean E., Ed.; Stephens, Elaine C., Ed. TITLE United in Diversity: Using Multicultural Young Adult Literature in the Classroom. Classroom Practices in Teaching English, Volume 29. INSTITUTION National Council of Teachers of English, Urbana, IL. ISBN ISBN-0-8141-5571-5 ISSN ISSN-0550-5755 PUB DATE 1998-00-00 NOTE 236p. AVAILABLE FROM National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096 (Stock No. 55715-3050: $16.95 members, $22.95 nonmembers). PUB TYPE Books (010) Collected Works General (020) Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Adolescent Literature; Class Activities; *Diversity (Student); *English Instruction; Instructional Effectiveness; Language Arts; *Literature Appreciation; *Multicultural Education; Secondary Education IDENTIFIERS *Multicultural Literature; Response to Literature ABSTRACT Addressing the complexity of the question of multicultural literature in the classroom, this anthology of 27 articles includes: contemplations by seven award-winning writers of young adult (YA) literature on the subject of diversity; a resource section that describes over 200 literary works and lists 50 reference tools to help teachers stay current on multicultural YA literature; and practical ideas from 16 educators who provide strategies proven to work in literature and language arts classes and across the curriculum. The articles and their authors are: "Island Blood" (Graham Salisbury); "Random Thoughts on the Passing Parade" (Janet Bode); "Multicultural Literature: A Story of Your Own" (Joyce Hansen); "Cultural Sensitivity" (Deb Vanasse); "Reflections" (Eve Bunting); "Helping to Improve Multicultural Understanding through Humor" (Joan Bauer); "Michael and Me (and Other Voices from Flint)" (Christopher Paul Curtis); "We Are All Phenomenal Women: Finding Female Role Models through Multicultural Poetry and Literature" (Deborah Forster-Sulzer); "Creating a Talisman: Reflecting a Culture" (Jean E. Brown and Elaine C. Stephens); "Painting Pictures with the World: Reading and Writing Multicultural Poetry in the Middle School" (Ellen Shull); "Who Am I? What Is My Heritage?" (Christa Goldsmith); "Seeking 'Cuentos,' Developing Narrative Voices" (Louise Garcia Harrison); "Beyond the Holocaust: Exploring Jewish Themes through Contemporary Young Adult Literature" (Jeffrey S. Kaplan); "The Web of Life" (Diane Hoffbauer); "Using Literature to Combat Stereotypes" (Denise R. Emery); "Parallel Lives: Anne Frank and Today's Immigrant Studies" (Mitzi Witkin); "Supporting Active and Reflective Response to Multicultural Literature" (Elizabeth Noll, Charlotte Valencia Lindahl, and Debra Salazar; "Considering the Power of the Past: Pairing 'Nightjohn' and 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass'" (Kelly Chandler); "Teaching about China, Chinese Culture, and Chinese Americans through Literature Exploration and Interdisciplinary Instruction" (Alyce Hunter); "Dramatic Encounters: Experiencing Multicultural Literature" (Jeffrey D. Wilhelm); "Science and English: Connecting with Multicultural +++++ ED418422 Has Multi-page SFR--- Level =l +++++ Young Adult Literature" (Amy Hackett); "Multicultural Literature and Mathematical Connections: Bridges to Span Mathematical Understanding in a Diverse World" (David K. Pugalee); "Puzzlements from a Pooper: Or Much Confusion about 'Multicultural'" (Ted Hipple); "Weaving Many Cultures into the Curriculum" (Elizabeth A. Poe); "Moving from the Merely Mentioned to the Multicultural" (Mary R. Harmon); "Connecting with Students through Multicultural Young Adult Novels" (Diana Mitchell); and "A Source Guide for Locating Multicultural Literature for Young Adults" (Dee Storey). An extensive annotated bibliography is attached.(NKA) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** Classroom Practices in Teaching English, Vol. 29 U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) hie document has been reproduced aS received from the person or organization originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction qualify PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Points of mew or ossmons stated in rhos docu- BEEN GRANTED BY ment do not necessarily represent officio! OEM position or poliCy TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 I I eN Classroom Practices in Teaching English NCTE began publishing the Classroom Practices series in 1963 with Promising Practices in the Teaching of English. The following volumes from the series are currently available. Activities to Promote Critical Thinking (1986), by Jeff Golub, Chair, and the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices Focus on Collaborative Learning (1988), by Jeff Golub, Chair, and the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices How to Handle the Paper Load (1979), by Gene Stanford, Chair, and the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices Ideas for the Working Classroom (1993), by Kent Gill, editor, and the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices Literature and Life: Making Connections in the Classroom (1990), edited by Patricia Phelan Process and Portfolios in Writing Instruction (1993), by Kent Gill, editor, and the NCTE Committee on Classroom Practices United in Diversity: Using Multicultural Young Adult Literature in the Classroom (1998), edited by Jean E. Brown and Elaine C. Stephens Voices in English Classrooms: Honoring Diversity and Change (1996), edited by Lenora (Leni) Cook and Helen C. Lodge United in Diversity Using Multicultural Young Adult Literature in the Classroom Classroom Practices in Teaching English Vol. 29 Edited by Jean E. Brown Saginaw Valley State University Elaine C. Stephens Saginaw Valley State University National Council of Teachers of English 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, Illinois 61801-1096 NCTE Editorial Board: Pat Cordeiro, Bobbi Fisher, Xin Liu Gale, Sarah Hudelson, Bill McBride, Al leen Pace Nilsen, Helen Poole, Jerrie Cobb Scott, Karen Smith, Chair, ex officio, Michael Greer, ex officio Manuscript Editor: Michael Deters, Precision Graphics Production Editor: Tom Tiller Interior Design: Doug Burnett Cover Design: David Droll, Precision Graphics NCTE Stock Number: 55715-3050 © 1998 by the National Council of Teachers of English. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. It is the policy of NCTE in its journals and other publications to provide a forum for the open discussion of ideas concerning the content and the teach- ing of English and the language arts. Publicity accorded to any particular point of view does not imply endorsement by the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, or the membership at large, except in announcements of policy, where such endorsement is clearly specified. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 85-644740 ISBN 0-8141-5571-5 ISSN 0550-5755 This book was typeset in 11/13 Palatino by Precision Graphics of Champaign, IL. Typeface on the cover and spine was Adobe Garamond. The book was printed by Braun-Brumfield, Inc. of Ann Arbor, MI, on 50 lb. acid-free offset. 5 We are fortunate to work with numerous gifted and dedicated educators. We dedicate this book to them. vi Acknowledgments This book is the result of the collective wisdom and experiences of a distinctively talented group of individuals. We feel fortunate to have guided their efforts to fruition. Our deepest appreciation and gratitude go to all of the teachers and teacher educators for their contri- butions to this volume. Additionally, we are honored to have worked with seven outstanding authors of young adult literature whose gen- erosity of spirit enriched this book and our lives. They are: Joan Bauer, Janet Bode, Eve Bunting, Christopher Paul Curtis, Joyce Hansen, Graham Salisbury, and Deb Vanasse. We are also grateful to their pub- lishers for their help and support. We thank the members of the NCTE Editorial Board for their thor- ough and thoughtful reviews of the proposal and manuscript. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of doing a book for NCTE is the opportu- nity to work with such a wonderful editorial staff. Special kudos to Mario Welshons whose help and advice facilitated the early stages of this project; to Zarina Hock whose precision and clear perspective is al- ways helpful; to Pete Feely for his organizational skills and wicked humor; and especially to Tom Tiller whose common sense and uncom- mon sense of humor make even the most tedious tasks bearable. We acknowledge and appreciate the Saginaw Valley State Univer- sity Foundation for its support. 7 vii Contents Foreword xi I.Listening to Authors 1 1. Island Blood 3 Graham Salisbury 2. Random Thoughts on the Passing Parade 9 Janet Bode 3. Multicultural Literature: A Story of Your Own 13 Joyce Hansen 4. Cultural Sensitivity 20 Deb Vanasse 5. Reflections 23 Eve Bunting 6. Helping to Improve Multicultural Understanding through Humor 27 Joan Bauer 7. Michael and Me (and Other Voices from Flint) 32 Christopher Paul Curtis II. Connecting with Students 35 8. We Are All Phenomenal Women: Finding Female Role Models through Multicultural Poetry and Literature 37 Deborah Forster-Sulzer 9. Creating a Talisman: Reflecting a Culture 43 Jean E. Brown and Elaine C. Stephens 10. Painting Pictures with the World: Reading and Writing Multicultural Poetry