Task

Lets begin by constructing the basis for your culturally diverse book additions. Each teacher's classroom library should reflect the age, reading levels, backgrounds, and interests of their students. Diverse literature is available for students of all ages and grade levels. Keep this in mind while choosing your books but also consider the fact that quality diverse literature does not have to be on your students' independent reading levels to use during a read-aloud or as a mentor text.

                             Culturally Diverse Literature...

Promotes the acceptance and respect of other cultures different from our own

Expands student knowledge

Welcomes ideas and practices that are new and different

Makes diverse students more comfortable in the classroom

Provides diverse students with literature they can relate to

Expands foreign language skills

Aids in authentic instruction

Incorporates real-world ideas and attitudes

Contributes to the assessment of background student knowledge

Serves as a basis for discussions on diversity

Provides reliable and accurate representation and facts on specific cultures

Abolishes stereotypes or myths associated with a certain cultures

Dilutes "black and white" thinking