Multi-Cultural Literature for Children and Young Adults
At the end of this self-paced tutorial learners will:
- Be familiar with the history and background of the presentation of different ethnic, racial and cultural groups in literature for children and young adults
- Be able to articulate a definition of multicultural literature that meets the needs of your school/library
- Be able to evaluate multicultural literature on the basis of genres in terms of literary and extra-literary considerations
- Gain awareness of additional resources in the field of multicultural literature, how to access and best use them
Many cultures, traditions and backgrounds come together in the United States to create an increasingly diverse society. Families are culturally and racially blended; they can be geographically dispersed or emotionally isolated. Additionally, technological advances have created a 24/7 climate in which news and information from around the globe is shared broadly almost instantaneously. The world young people live and grow in continues to change. They can come to understand and appreciate the diversity or can be divided by it.
These issues are reflected in schools and libraries throughout the country. Literature is a constant that remains powerful enough to break down barriers between people, develop understanding among them, introduce people who would otherwise remain anonymous, and create forums to discuss ideas and issues that have impact on all.
An understanding of how to define multicultural literature and evaluate words and images presented in this literature for children and young people is critical. Adults who know how to do so are able to introduce readers to books that have the power to introduce experiences reinforce an understanding of a complex society, develop empathy, and provide shared experiences among diverse groups.
This short course will introduce tenets of evaluation of different genre of literature in terms of both literary and extra-literary concerns. It will take you off line to read, think and respond to books which ultimately can be shared with other readers of all ages.
Reaching Reluctant Readers in the School Library Media Center
At the end of this self-paced tutorial learners will be able to:
- Recognize reluctant readers
- Enhance the library environment so that it welcomes the reluctant reader
- Design programs that engage the reluctant reader, or those who may become reluctant readers
- Design programs that tap teachers’ knowledge about reluctant readers
- Know resources that appeal to reluctant readers and professional resources that will offer further suggestions
The term reluctant reader refers to young people who can read with some independence, but choose not to. Reluctant readers do not select books from the library easily. They may start many books, but rarely, if ever, finish one. They are not engaged with reading, they do not choose it as a leisure time activity, and they try to avoid it when it’s expected of them in school or at home.
There are a variety of reasons these students have a negative attitude towards reading and with some form of motivation it is possible to get the student to re-engage with the process of reading.
Trends in Children's Literature
The best way to get kids to read is by surrounding them with books that are relevant to their interests and that entice them to read. More than 7,000 new juvenile books are published annually. While many older titles remain relevant and popular, teachers, librarians, and reading specialists frequently find it difficult to keep up with new titles and trends in children's literature. In addition to providing a brief review of the basics of children's literature, this self-paced tutorial will examine contemporary books and trends for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Primary emphasis will be placed on books published since 2000 and strategies for keeping current on new titles published each year.