Description

This course offers a book study of current fictional Young Adult Literature (YAL) and middle-grade (MG) literature to help educators increase their knowledge of the diverse students within their own schools and classrooms, and reject a color-blind approach to teaching. Upon completing this course, educators will have reached a deeper emotional intelligence surrounding issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, that will lead them to foster more inclusive and welcoming classrooms and will lead them to a selection of diverse and impactful literature to foreground inclusion and belonging for all of their students. Though this course is asynchronous, participants are encouraged to engage in discussion with others through discussion boards as well as sharing final projects and reflections.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

Objectives:

  By the end of this course, you will be able to:

·       identify your own biases;

·       understand what intersectionality is and how it affects your students;

·       analyze and evaluate texts for authenticity, accurate representation, and bias;

·       synthesize knowledge into an organized project;

Course Texts:

Pick 5 of 6

• Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky
• Obie is Man Enough by Schuyler Bailar
• The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher
• A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat

Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky is a middle-grade novel about a girl who moves to a new town, knowing that it is a temporary home. She befriends Ollie, a nonbinary kid, and develops a crush on them.

Obie is Man Enough by Schuyler Bailar tells the story of Obie. He loves swimming, but when he came out as transgender, his coach kicked him off the team. Obie joins a new team, but he is worried that his true identity will overshadow his swimming abilities.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta is a novel in verse about a boy in London trying to fit into spaces that don’t seem to make room for his bi-racial and queer identities.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas is a YA fantasy novel about a trans boy whose family has trouble accepting his identity as a brujo. He is determined to prove himself by solving his cousin’s murder with the help of a ghost.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher revisits the land of King Authur. Hundreds of years after his death, King Aurthur’s ancestor, Aurthur, is betrothed to the princess of England, Gwendoline. Unfortunately, neither of them is at all interested in the other, for more reasons than just their ongoing feud.

A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat is a middle grade graphic memoir about Dan’s school trip to Europe. He is weary of the trip at first, but along the way makes friends, has a crush, and finds a love of European Fanta.

Note: Books may be read in whatever format works best for you: purchased, from the library, e-book, and audiobook all work.

"GREAT RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL."

"ENJOYED THE DISCUSSION POSTS AND LOTS OF CHOICES IN WHAT WE COULD READ IN EACH MODULE!"

"IT IS A FUN CLASS WITH FANTASTIC BOOKS TO READ! IT ALSO BROUGHT ME GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF MY STUDENTS."

Online registration URL closes @ 5:00 p.m. on July 15, 2024.  You will receive an electronic email once you have successfully registered.