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FOR-PD Chat Transcript

Date: July 25, 2007

Time: 7:00-8:00PM EST

Topic: Multicultural Literature: Choosing and Using Quality Text

Guest: Susan Landt, St. Norbert College, WI

Lourdes >> Hello, Welcome to our content chat for July

Lourdes >> We'll be starting in just a few minutes

Lourdes >> we want to give everyone a chance to get into the chat room

Regina >> good evening everyone

Lourdes >> We'll be starting in just a few minutes

Lourdes >> Good Evening

Lourdes >> Tonight we will be having our July Content Chat on Multicultural Literature

Lourdes >> We are thrilled to have Professor Susan Landt with us as our special guest

Lourdes >> As a reminder, please remember to follow the chat protocol...

Lourdes >> ! The exclamation point is like raising your hand, you want to be recognized to make a statement...

Lourdes >> # Use the pound sign to let everyone know you are done asking a question or making a statement...

Lourdes >> .... This lets everyone know you have more to say...

Lourdes >> Welcome, Susan, to our chat.

Lourdes >> Thank you so much for coming.

Susan >> Hello, it is good to be here.

Lourdes >> Can you share a little bit about yourself and your background with us?

Susan >> I teach at a small private college in Northern Wisconsin...

Susan >> It is located right next to Green Bay. I teach children's literature and adolescent literature

Susan >> I am the chair of the multicultural reading committee for Wisconsin

Susan >> I hope I can provide you with useful information#

Lourdes >> I am sure you can, Susan.

Lourdes >> tonight we will begin with some questions I have and then open the floor for others to ask questions...

Lourdes >> Susan, one reason I thought you'd be great for this chat was your article you wrote for the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, "Multicultural literature and young adolescents: A kaleidoscope of opportunity"

Lourdes >> To begin with, what is multicultural literature?#

Susan >> The simple answer is literature from the perspective of non-mainstream culture, (sometimes referred to as parallel cultures)...

Susan >> While there is controversy concerning a specific definition and what should or should not be included, the simple definition is usually sufficient for our purposes in education.#

Lourdes >> Why is multicultural literature important for students of all levels and ages?

Susan >> First: Infusing multicultural literature into curriculum provides students at all levels with a broader view of the world (windows)...

Susan >> Whether students are in schools with a great deal of diversity or in a situation where there is little diversity, they need to have an understanding of the multiplicity of people and perspectives. ..

Susan >> This is especially true today as we enjoy the ease of communication among nations and peoples of the world. ...

Susan >> Second: It is vital that all students see themselves in the curriculum (mirrors). Children who do not see themselves represented in texts, whether expository or narrative, may feel marginalized and invisible; thus, come to view themselves and their culture as somehow less important. ...

Susan >> Third: As students are exposed to perspectives different from their own, it causes them to consider their own perception about the world and their relationships with people. #

Lourdes >> Those are all excellent points...

Lourdes >> I think I recognized your second point on my own when I took an adolescent literature class...we read a book about a young Korean girl in America

Lourdes >> I thought about how it would be really difficult to not have someone to connect to in the literature that is often required. It's important to have both windows and mirrors.

Lourdes >> What is the purpose for using it in the classroom?

Susan >> The purpose is related directly to what I said above. We need to provide our students with a way to view other perspectives...

Lourdes >> Won't students find these kinds of books on their own?

Susan >> We also need to help all students feel an important part of society.

Susan >> Not as easily as we might think. I have been researching multicultural literature for several years and I have to hunt for some of the best books.

Lourdes >> What is the best way to use multicultural literature? Is it best taught or used as just a text set or in a classroom library?

Susan >> Good question. My response a while back might have been that there is no “best” way. However, I have come to firmly believe that the best way to use multicultural literature is to fold it into and across the curriculum. By that I mean using multicultural literature the same way you use other literature. It should not be a separate “Now we are going to read about those “other” people” but an ordinary and expected part of the curriculum. ...

Susan >> I urge teachers to integrate multicultural literature into all parts of the curriculum. If you are teaching about the transcontinental railroad, for instance, the picture book (yes, I said picture book) Coolies by Yin is a great way to introduce students to the Chinese workers who did so much of the labor. ...

Susan >> Joseph Bruchac’s Code Talker should be a part of the study of WWII, while The Earth Dragon Awakes: by Yep is an excellent read for studying The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906...

Susan >> If you are teaching about point of view, there are two books by Lisa Yee -- Millicent Min, Girl Genius and Stanford Wong Flunks Big-time that cover the same time period and events from the perspective of each of the young people involved. ...

Susan >> Don’t be afraid to use picture books to enhance your lessons. A well chosen picture book can be an excellent start to a topic by providing both verbal and visual stimulation to middle and high school students. #

Lourdes >> Very good insight...especially with multicultural literacy...picture books are great for all levels#

Lourdes >> How does one go about selecting multicultural literature? Is there a specific criteria?

Susan >> Yes, I used them while teaching high school. I use them while teaching college students.

Susan >> First, multicultural literature should meet the same standards as all other literature you select for your students. Then, there are specific aspects you want to look for. Following is a good set of criteria from the New Horizons for Learning website (http://www.newhorizons.org/)...

Susan >> The set of criteria covers the attributes of "quality" children's books and "quality" multicultural literature in order to give the user a picture of the ideal book.

Susan >> High literary quality.

Susan >> No distortions or omissions of history. Look for various perspectives to be represented.

Susan >> Stereotyping. There are no negative or inaccurate stereotypes of the ethnic group being portrayed.

Susan >> Loaded words. There are no derogatory overtones to the words used to describe the characters and culture, such as "savage," primitive," "lazy," and "backward."

Susan >> Lifestyles. The lifestyles of the characters are genuine and complex, not oversimplified or generalized.

Susan >> Dialogue. The characters use speech that accurately represents their oral tradition.

Susan >> Standards of success. The characters are strong and independent, not helpless or in need of the assistance of a white authority figure. Characters do not have to exhibit extraordinary qualities, or do more than a white character to gain acceptance and approval.

Susan >> These are only some of the criteria you will find concerning selecting multicultural literature.

Susan >> The two words to remember are accuracy and authenticity.#

Lourdes >> In your article, you noted the importance of cultural authenticity.

Susan >> Cultural authenticity refers to the accuracy of the language, customs, values, and history of the culture. Basically it is asking if what is represented in the book is a true representation of that culture. By using the aforementioned criteria, one could determine cultural accuracy. However, most of us have little or no expertise in cultures of which we are not a direct part; thus, the task of making these determinations could be unfeasible. Therefore, we turn to the expertise of the author (and illustrator) of each selection. Is the author of that culture? Does the author have sufficient background in and with the culture to be able to represent it in authentically? ...

Lourdes >> What is this and why should we deem it important? How will we know if we are not familiar with a particular culture?

Susan >> There are those who argue that only an individual from that culture can accurately write about it. Others argue that extensive knowledge of and experience with the culture can be sufficient for an author to fairly depict a culture of which the author is not a part. ...

Susan >> I go to great lengths sometimes to discover an author's background with a culture before I am comfortable recommending a book.

Lourdes >> Ahhhh...you answered my question even before I got to the 2nd part. :)

Susan >> : )

Lourdes >> Do you have a favorite multicultural book or author?

Susan >> That is a tough question...

Susan >> I have many. Let me share just a few authors you should check out:

Susan >> Jacqueline Woodson

Susan >> Walter Dean Myers

Susan >> Joseph Bruchac

Susan >> Lensey Namioka

Susan >> These particular authors have each written in a variety of genres and across age levels.#

Lourdes >> You noted before that it's not easy to find good books. Where do you look?

Susan >> I do a great deal of searching online. I check out the awards for specific cultures as well as websites I know feature multicultural books...

Susan >> Here is one site About Multicultural Children's Literature http://www.lib.msu.edu/corby/education/multicultural.htm

Susan >> Would you like more?

Lourdes >> Sure, let's open the floor up to questions from our group and then, if we have time, we can get some more.

Susan >> good idea

Regina >> !

Lourdes >> Does anyone have a question or comment for Professor Landt?

Lourdes >> Regina

Nancy >> !

Martha >> !

Lourdes >> then Nancy and then Martha...

Lourdes >> Regina, go ahead with your question/comment#

Regina >> It's more of a comment. One of my favorite books that I read with my students is Color My Words about a young girl from the Dominican Republic. By teaching this book, I

Lourdes >> Regina, did you have more to say?

Regina >> I tap into other areas such as map reading, compare/contrast cultures, music, art, food, lifestyles, etc. Multicultural literature opens up a whole new world to many students as well as teaching or reinforcing skills they already know.

Susan >> That is a wonderful book. I have used it in my pre-service teacher classes. What you do is exactly what I try to get them to learn how to do.

Lourdes >> Nancy?

Nancy >> Two things,....you didn't mention folktales and fairy tales from other cultures. Also, in order to help Alachua county media specialists find appropriate multicultural books I put together the following website, http://www.sbac.edu/~media/multicultural.html

Nancy >> #

Susan >> No, I did not mention folk tales. I sometimes fear that teachers will use folktales from other countries without the proper explanation that they are folktales and not a current representation of the culture. I can't wait to check out your website. #

Regina >> !

Lourdes >> Martha, your turn

Cynthia >> !

Martha >> Do you consider Americans from different periods in our history to be "from other cultures"? e.g. Tom Sawyer?#

Lourdes >> then Regina and Cynthia#

Susan >> Good question. For the most part no. There are areas within the mainstream culture during any period of time that fit this description. But, I do not generally consider a piece of time to be multicultural in and of itself. Does that make sense?

Susan >> Sorry for the typos, I am not used to typing in a small space. : (

Lourdes >> that's okay, Susan...it's coming out fine

Lourdes >> that's a good question, Martha had and I think you make a good point about time and culture. It is thought provoking, though.

Lourdes >> Regina, did you have another question?

Regina >> Dr. Landt, could you share more websites where we can find multicultural literature? Thank you.#

Susan >> Yes it is. I will have to give it more thought.

Susan >> http://www.ala.org/ala/emiert/corettascottkingbookaward/corettascott.htm Coretta Scott King Awards site

Lourdes >> Before Professor Landt gives us more sites, I think Cynthia had question.

Susan >> Pura Belpre Award: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/awardsscholarships/literaryawds/belpremedal/belprmedal.htm

Lourdes >> Cynthia, did you have a question/comment?

Cynthia >> In my school we have our students reading a lot of Bluford novels because they encourage our students to want to read due to the African American high school setting of the book series. My concern is that we do not do enough of other cultures once we get them to enjoy reading with these books. This goes back to what Lourdes said about the difference between windows and mirrors. They make instant connections to the mirrors, but it's difficult to get them to make connections with the literature we want them to see multiple perspectives through (the windows). How can we help them to do that?

Cynthia >> #

Susan >> I like to start with a good book that I read all or part of to the students. I ask them simply to write a short reflection on how they might connect to the book. The first step is for them to see themselves related to the book in some aspect.

Martha >> !

Nancy >> !

Cynthia >> I like that!

Cynthia >> #

Lourdes >> Martha and then Nancy

Martha >> Because of world events, it would be good for us to understand Islam and Muslims. Any books?#

Cynthia >> Dr. Landt, Do you happen to have any ideas for bringing multicultural literature in an elementary ESE classroom? My students read on K-2 reading levels.

Susan >> I just finished reading "In the Name of God." It is very good. "In real Time" is also a great book of that area. "Habibi" is another.

Lourdes >> Nancy, you're next...

Susan >> The elementary level is the best! There are MANY books at that level about other cultures.

Nancy >> Booktalking is one of the best reading motivators there is. If you enthusiastically booktalk a novel many students who never would have picked up that book will read it. Choosing good multicultural book to booktalk is one good way to get them reading these books.

Lourdes >> That brings up a question I have for Professor Landt, Nancy...

Cynthia >> #

Susan >> Nancy, I agree. If students know you are enthusiastic about a book they will be interested. Also, if there is a book I think a specific student might like and I mention it to that student, it is usually read and enjoyed.

Lourdes >> How should a teacher deal with multicultural books that may be controversial?

Lourdes >> Cynthia, can you repeat your question for us?

Susan >> Carefully, depending on the school district you work in and what is accepted. I always tell my students to check with other teachers and the librarian or the principal before introducing a book that might cause parents to react.

Susan >> I usually find that the students are able to learn from the controversy. Especially if I prepare them in advance.

Lourdes >> Well, we have just a few minutes left. Does anyone have a final question for Professor Landt?

Lourdes >> Professor Landt, do you have anything else you'd like to share with us? I know many of us would love to learn about any other websites you know of...

Regina >> Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, Professor Landt. The websites are a wonderful source that I can't wait to explore. Good Night.

Susan >> I can email a list of other websites to Lourdes so they can be shared with all of you.

Cynthia >> Thank you, Susan!

Susan >> It was a pleasure.

Lourdes >> That would be wonderful! We will add them to the chat transcript for everyone to see...

Lourdes >> Yes, Professor Landt, it was a great pleasure.

Julia >> This has been an insightful conversation tonight. Thank you!

Lourdes >> I encourage all of you to seek out Professor Landt's article. It had some excellent insights.

Susan >> There is another coming out in the Middle School Journal this year sometime : )

Lourdes >> Thank you all for coming tonight.

Multicultural Literature Websites

AWARDS

GENERAL WEBSITES