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If you ask several teachers which texts, short stories, and books their classes read, many will say the same titles. This is often due to the fact that certain authors or topics are more well known, which means there are more resources available. However, the goal is to prepare students for the real world. This means teaching students about complex topics that often require honest discussions. One way to help ensure students are positive community members is by starting the school year with diverse books. By doing this, students are going to be learning about different cultures, religions, and ethnicities. Thus, students will be able to practice academic skills while learning how to accept everyone.
Five Reasons to Read Diverse Books
There are so many incredibly diverse books to begin implementing in the classroom! In order to help all educators, here is a FREE Diverse Book List that is even broken down by month!
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Builds Community Unity and Inclusivity
When students explore diverse books, they can stop seeing different skin colors or religious backgrounds. Instead, they can build unity within their community. Instead of staying within certain social structures, children can be the leaders to encourage the adults to branch out. It can start with a quick greeting on the sidewalk or adults talking while kids play at the playground. However, each small step will lead to a more inclusive community. Truly, diverse books will allow students to see the value of including everyone in the community equally regardless of any differences. Children will now become leaders.
- Build Cultural Awareness
Diverse books will help teach students about different cultures and backgrounds. Students will build cultural awareness as they continue to learn about more people. Honestly, some students will enter the classroom with a very limited background. It may be due to limited discussion at home or living in a more mainstream society. However, diverse books will teach students about different cultures. Even better, with the incorporation of academic skills, students are truly analyzing the importance of respecting different beliefs.
- Diverse Themes
A huge positive about diverse books is that they embrace themes that are not always in mainstream books. For instance, this can include racism, stereotyping, war,
immigration, and being a refugee. However, picture books take these mature, complex topics and present them in student-friendly ways. Thus, students are learning about aspects they may not see in their community but are so important to learn about.
- Trip Around the World
Traveling is extremely expensive, which means not many students may have traveled far. However, books mean that students can travel the world to wherever they want whenever they want. Diverse books even mean that students can go to faraway places while in the safety of the classroom. When this happens, students can explore unique beliefs, locations, and places. As students get older, they can even recall places from the books when welcoming new friendships and careers. Ultimately, traveling the world through books helps them live without any stereotypes or prejudices.
- Increase Empathy for Others
Diverse books may often be heartbreaking. This can be due to how a person was treated poorly due to his/her skin color or ignored due to religious preference. Additionally, students may also be able to connect to the story and remember a time they were treated poorly. Therefore, diverse books help students build empathy for others. Students can then think about their own actions and how they can help everyone feel included and welcomed. For instance, after reading a diverse book, you may even see a student approach someone playing or eating alone. The book may have reminded students how lonely this feels, so they start branching out to new people.
Diverse picture books are excellent ways to encourage positive changes throughout the world. Students may learn about the importance of inclusion and cultural awareness in the classroom, but they can transfer the skills to the community. As they get older, they can apply this importance as they become workers and future leaders. Whether planning for back-to-school or all year, diverse books are excellent ways to bring real-life situations into the classroom.
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