EDLA 533 - Culturally Sustaining Literature

Literature is powerful. It can serve as both a window into other worlds and a mirror into our understanding of self. Its ability to achieve both of those things-inspiring introspection and extrospection-depends heavily on educators’ ability to teach about a large range of texts.

In this course, we’ll use the lens of culturally sustaining pedagogy to examine the importance of texts that are both culturally responsive and culturally representative. You will explore how to select texts for curriculum and classroom libraries that are reflective of your students and that include a wider lens of diversity to introduce students to a world that is full of beautiful differences. Throughout your learning, you will critically evaluate canon and form a better understanding of the potential and limitations of different pieces of literature.

Using the techniques and resources from this course, you’ll be able to diversify your classroom literature to broaden your students’ understanding of this great big world.