representation matters: incorporating muslim voices...
TRANSCRIPT
REPRESENTATION MATTERS: INCORPORATING MUSLIM VOICES INTO THE LITERATURE OF THE CLASSROOM
GWRC Conference, October 20, 2018
J-Lynn Van Pelt, Director of Reading Friendship Public Charter School
Izabela Miller, Reading Specialist Blow Pierce PreK-8 Academy NE DC
Arabella Zeba, Reading Specialist Southeast Academy SE DC
“Until the lions have their own
historians, the history of the hunt
will always glorify the hunter.” ― Chinua Achebe (Author)
BREAKING STEREOTYPESWhen you think about Muslims what image comes to mind?
THE DANGER OF THE SINGLE STORY
REALITY CHECK• There are 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.
• Although Islam is often associated with the Arab world and the Middle East, fewer than 15% of Muslims are Arab.
• There is a huge need to incorporate diverse Muslim voices into literature in the classroom not just the stereotypical images. There is not one Muslim perspective.
• Confront fear and stereotypes by telling the truth.
• Realistically there is a need to incorporate diverse perspectives represented in and out of classrooms.
HOW DO I INCORPORATE?
• Incorporate cross content
• Find time for an extra read aloud during the day
• Do companion read alouds
• Bringing in supplemental books to tie into the curriculum
• Make sure other parts of the school are also diversifying perspectives and representations—library read aloud? School celebrations? Community voices?
BOOKS, BOOKS, & MORE BOOKS!
• The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
• The Butter Man, by Elizabeth & Ali Alalou, ill. by Julie Klear Essakalli
• Coming to America: A Muslim Family’s Story, by Bernard Wolf
• Deep in the Sahara, by Kelly Cunnane, ill. by Hoda Hadadi
• The Flag of Childhood: Poems From the Middle East, selected by Naomi Shihab Nye: In this stirring anthology of sixty poems from the Middle East.
• Four Feet, Two Sandals, by Karen Lynn Williams & KhadraMohammed, ill. by Doug Chayka
• Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns: A Muslim Book of Colors, by HenaKhan, ill. by Mehrdokht Amini
• The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Saved Jews During the Holocaust, by Karen Gray Ruelle, ill. by Deborah DurlandDeSaix
• King For a Day, by Rukhsana Khan, ill. by Christiane Krömer
• Nadia’s Hands, by Karen English, ill. by Jonathan Weiner
BOOKS, BOOKS, & MORE BOOKS
• Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali by Charles R. Smith Jr. , illustrated by Bryan Collier
• The Green Bicycle by Haifaa Al Mansour
• The Boy without a Name by Idries Shah
• Sitti’s Secrets, by Naomi Shihab Nye, ill. by Nancy Carpenter
• Sami and the Time of the Troubles, by Florence Parry Heide & Judith Heide Gilliland, ill. by Ted Lewin:
• Sharing Our Homeland: Palestinian and Jewish Children at Summer Peace Camp, by Trish Marx, photographed by Cindy Karp
• The Sifrah Glider, by Ahmad AbdulGhani Al Redha, ill. by Joanne Mendelski:
• Silent Music: A Story of Baghdad, by James Rumford
YA/SECONDARY BOOKS• If I Should Speak by Umm Zakiyya
• Iqbal by Francesco D'Adamo
• I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
• A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah
• A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes) by Sabaa Tahir
• Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fatta
• So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
• Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
• Djinn by Sang Kromah
• Muslim Cool: Race, Religion, and Hip Hop in the United States by Su’ad Abdul Khabeer
EXAMPLES OF REAL PEOPLE
CLOSURE & TAKE AWAYS
“The first step to success is taking the first step”• Investigate what’s out there.
• Remember that there are many voices that represent the students and people in your community. Make sure they are represented.
• Don’t let the news media inform your ideas about Muslims
• Reach out to local organizations to help you in your quest to diversify your curriculum.
CONTACT US• J-Lynn Van Pelt, Director of Reading Friendship Public Charter School@
• Izabela Miller, Reading Specialist Blow Pierce PreK-8 Academy NE DC@
• Arabella Zeba, Reading Specialist Southeast Academy SE DC @ [email protected]