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

• Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann
• Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu
• The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez
• Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa
• Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland
• A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar

Go With the Flow by Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann is a graphic novel about a group of high school friends who take matters into their own hands about getting period products into the bathrooms at their schools.

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu is a YA novel about a girl fed up with the toxic masculinity at her school and starts creating a secret zine to distribute throughout the school.

The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Perez is a middle-grade novel about a biracial Latina girl who is finding out her identity as a “non-traditional” Mexican girl who loves punk music

Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa details two teens falling in love in San Antonio, Texas. Unfortunately, one of them is almost detained by ICE, making the both of them fight for each other and fight for their homes.

Something Like Possible by Miel Moreland describes how Madison was dumped by her girlfriend and dropped as her class president campaign manager. Madison finds another candidate to back and comes to realize that leading a team can have many more unexpected turns than anticipated.

A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar is a middle grade novel in verse about a girl who lives in migrant farmer camps in the 70s in California. While her family is working picking grapes, they meet Dolores Huerta who is encouraging workers to strike for their rights.

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

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