Welcome!
Research shows that children are more successful in school and beyond when they feel their identity is respected and when they experience a variety of people and cultures unlike their own. As a librarian, being responsible for providing an environment that celebrates diversity is undoubtedly a daunting task. This page seeks to explore ways to help create a place that allows students to feel safe, welcomed, and valued. It also strives to be a place where open dialogue happens. I invite you to be yourself and share in this safe space. As we learn from others, we can explore ways to establish a brave space that empowers all who rely on us for help.
Elizabeth Barrera Rush
District Library Specialist, Texas
Elizabeth Barrera Rush
District Library Specialist, Texas
Finding the Trail to Inclusive Education
by Elizabeth Barrera RushThe national parks have specific rules, designated paths, and etiquette that allow people to enjoy them. The "don't feed the bears," "no ground fires," "stay on designated trails," signs remind us of the measures necessary to preserve wildlife, artifacts, and landforms. Our hearts and minds are free to wander, which provides a unique experience that satisfies curiosities, interests, skills, and abilities. Park rules don't change what we know or our perspective. They also don't prevent us from being moved to love, appreciate, and coexist with nature as it was meant to be. In the midst of some legislators' working tirelessly to limit how they think we are teaching in schools, I offer the rules of national parks to explain why anti-bias education is more necessary than ever. Anti-bias education prevents exactly what these legislators fear is happening in classrooms and libraries. Read More >>
Article
Both experience and research tell us that students engaged in inquiry are more motivated to pursue learning on their own than students who are fed pre-organized information that they are expected to remember
Article
This overview from Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) provides a look at the definition and benefits of SEL, as well as the key elements recommended for implementing it in school settings.
Feature
If we embrace what I call an inclusive authentic audience, we are inviting students to collaboratively contribute to building a library—and all that is included under that umbrella—that grows authentic and inclusive audiences organically, with transparency, justice, rigor, and love.
Lesson
![Introducing Genius Hour to Your Students [9:20]](https://schoollibraryconnection.com/assets/mediaserver/SLC/2273/2273251s.jpg)
- Learn how to prepare for students' confusion when you introduce free choice in research.
- Learn to relate your Genius Hour approach to life to students' topic selection.
- Learn the importance of laying down ground rules.
Column
In this issue's column, SLC interviews Melissa Schieble, Amy Vetter, and Kahdeidra Monét Martin, authors of Classroom Talk for Social Change: Critical Conversations in English Language Arts.
Article
In this article from Edutopia, AP English teacher Jori Krulder reveals techniques for fostering meaningful class discussions by getting even reluctant students to share their insights.
Article
In this article from Edutopia, Teague Tubach chronicles the arc of a project-based learning (PBL) experience, from the parent's email that inspired it through an in-depth research process and culminating in interactive public exhibit. When PBL is personal to students, it can provide more than just content knowledge—it can also foster important connections.
Web Link
The Reading Diversity tool, published by Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), provides a framework that examines materials through the multiple dimensions of critical literacy, cultural responsiveness and complexity. Opens the Learning for Justice website.
Web Link
#Disrupt Texts brings together book suggestions and educator guides from teachers to "challenge the traditional canon in order to create a more inclusive, representative, and equitable language arts curriculum that our students deserve." Opens the #Disrupt Texts website.
" I am the new librarian at a Title 1 Chapter elementary school in which over 70% are Nepali. I am having difficulty finding fiction and non-fiction books that reflect their heritage. Most of the students have a below grade reading level. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated"
"Dear Eve,
Thank you so much for your question—and the research you're doing on behalf of your students. Here are a few possible resources for your search:
Diverse Book Finder has listings for children's books that feature Nepalese characters: https://diversebookfinder.org/ethnicity/nepalese/
The Asia Foundation has published 6 books in Tharu: https://asiafoundation.org/2020/09/30/books-for-children-in-nepals-mother-tongues/; The books are available at https://www.letsreadasia.org/
Language Lizard has listings for children's books that are published in English and Nepali: https://www.languagelizard.com/Nepali-Bilingual-Children-s-Books-s/12282.htm
Bloom Library has online versions of books in Nepali: https://bloomlibrary.org/language:ne
The Nepalese Society for Children's Literature is a group dedicated to the promotion of children's literature in Nepal and could be a good source for more suggestions: https://nepalbalsahitya.org.np/about-us/
The nonprofit Room to Read that works on literacy in Nepal published an anthology of stories written by and for children: https://www.unicef.org/nepal/stories/our-own-words?fbclid=IwAR0SPved211Q02m4FWp8RN2CqW5ABQSpXrGhIEsOC_Va6nGj2HUwWcKwQKg
The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative shares resources on global literature, including information about authors from Nepal. See for example: https://glli-us.org/2019/11/10/featuring-childrens-books-written-by-nepals-ananta-wagle
If there are any community-based Nepalese groups in your area, it could be beneficial to reach out to them as well.
I hope this helps you find some new titles—and I invite any readers who have additional suggestions to submit them here."
Thank you so much for your question—and the research you're doing on behalf of your students. Here are a few possible resources for your search:
Diverse Book Finder has listings for children's books that feature Nepalese characters: https://diversebookfinder.org/ethnicity/nepalese/
The Asia Foundation has published 6 books in Tharu: https://asiafoundation.org/2020/09/30/books-for-children-in-nepals-mother-tongues/; The books are available at https://www.letsreadasia.org/
Language Lizard has listings for children's books that are published in English and Nepali: https://www.languagelizard.com/Nepali-Bilingual-Children-s-Books-s/12282.htm
Bloom Library has online versions of books in Nepali: https://bloomlibrary.org/language:ne
The Nepalese Society for Children's Literature is a group dedicated to the promotion of children's literature in Nepal and could be a good source for more suggestions: https://nepalbalsahitya.org.np/about-us/
The nonprofit Room to Read that works on literacy in Nepal published an anthology of stories written by and for children: https://www.unicef.org/nepal/stories/our-own-words?fbclid=IwAR0SPved211Q02m4FWp8RN2CqW5ABQSpXrGhIEsOC_Va6nGj2HUwWcKwQKg
The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative shares resources on global literature, including information about authors from Nepal. See for example: https://glli-us.org/2019/11/10/featuring-childrens-books-written-by-nepals-ananta-wagle
If there are any community-based Nepalese groups in your area, it could be beneficial to reach out to them as well.
I hope this helps you find some new titles—and I invite any readers who have additional suggestions to submit them here."