In her Digital Library article, available for download below, Kristin Beers answers a very important question for us: “What can we do when we see social issues beginning to influence children’s behavior and identities in the classroom?” Kristin describes for us how read aloud and group conversation can help teachers to meet students where they are with their perceptions of the world and begin to make sense of how this relates to their own lives.
Experiencing a shared read aloud and making connections can guide students toward constructing their view on the world as well as tackle the “early seeds” of bigotry.
“When permitted to unfold, classroom conversations reveal insights into what stereotypical representations may need to be challenged or reconstructed through curricular/inquiry work, and the kinds of curricular engagements that can address assumptions and beliefs in the classroom.”
Kristin provides us with steps to utilize this approach in our classrooms, questions to prompt conversation, as well as a list of categorized titles that support this work.
Please share with our Online PLC: What titles are your favorites for addressing social issues?
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Kristin Beers has been a primary grade teacher for the past 12 years, teaching in both rural and inner city areas of NY. She teaches currently at Public School 29 in Brooklyn, NY and is a graduate of the Literacy Specialist Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. Kristin’s passions continue to center on early literacy practices and creating a caring learning environment which fosters social responsiveness and critical thinking.
