Advancing Excellence in English Language Teaching
Support TESOL | About TESOL | Contact TESOL
Join/Renew
tesol international association
  • Read &
    Publish
    • Bookstore
    • Journals
    • Newsletters & Other Publications
    • Rights and Permissions
    • Standards
    • Information for Authors
  • Connect
    to TESOL
    • Interest Sections
    • Affiliates - Regional Organizations
    • TESOL Resource Center
    • TESOL Community
    • Member Directory
  • Attend &
    Learn
    • International Convention
    • Online Courses & Seminars
    • Academies, Conferences & Symposia
    • Certificate, Leadership Programs
    • Convention Grants
    • Calendar of Events
  • Enhance
    Your Career
    • Online Career Center
    • Career Development
    • For Recruiters
    • TESOL Awards, Honors, & Grants
  • Advance
    the Field
    • Advocacy Resources
    • Standards
    • Research
    • Position Statements
    • Member Resolutions
rss
 Print     Email
  • Blogs:
    • Convention Blog
    • Advocacy
    • Leadership
    • TESOL Blog
    • Member Moment
←
Make Time for the Convention: A Helpful Checklist
Pursuing a “First” at Every Convention
→

Using Literature to Combat Racism in Young Children

Posted on 17 December 2019 by Judie Haynes

Racism is a pervasive problem in the United States that affects children at all grade levels. It can occur in ways teachers interact with their students and in the ways that students relate with each another. It can also be evident in the educational access and funding that our English learners (ELs) have in  U.S. schools. This topic profoundly affects the lives of our students; teachers of ELs need to be aware of this so that they can properly advocate for their students.

Research by Mahzarin Banaji, a renowned Harvard University racism and prejudice expert, found that “even though they may not understand the ‘why’ of their feelings, children exposed to racism tend to accept and embrace it as young as age 3.” Teachers need to expose children to learning opportunities that acknowledge race and ethnicity, and prioritize preventing racism through social justice with culturally relevant teaching. Karen Nemeth, a U.S. expert on early childhood development, remarked in an email to me that “Parents and teachers have powerful influence over the ways children learn to express judgements about other people, and reading appropriate stories can help.”

Research on Using Books With Young Children to Combat the Growth of Race and Racism

Researcher Kristina R. Olson reported in Psychology Today (2013) that “nearly all White mothers in their research study adopted a ‘colormute/colorblind’ approach when discussing a book that was either directly or indirectly about race with their 4–5 year old children; most chose not to discuss race at all.” She added that research “has demonstrated that as opposed to White parents, parents of minority children in the U.S. do talk about race and ethnicity quite regularly.”

Introduce Books on Race and Racism

The introduction of books about racially and ethnically diverse  global populations can help teachers support discussions in the classroom about prejudice and stereotypes. Educators of ELs often teach those children who are targets of discrimination. It is important for them to have a list of books to recommend to classroom and subject area teachers. I would suggest books and resources from the following lists for classroom libraries. Most are marked with the age range that is appropriate for the book.

  • 31 Children’s Books to Support Conversation on Race, Racism and Resistance
    This children’s reading list focuses on taking action. It highlights resistance, resilience, and activism and it seeks to empower youth to participate in the ongoing movement for racial justice. These books demonstrate the diverse ways people of all ages and races have engaged in antiracist activism and highlight how race intersects with other issues, such as capitalism, class, and colonization.
  • 37 Children’s Books to Help Talk About Racism and Discrimination
    These books focus on teaching young children about bias, diversity, and social justice. These multicultural children’s books are a selection of picture books and novels about the past and the present. They can be helpful for talking to children in elementary to high school about racism and its devastating consequences.
  • 19 Global Young Adult Novels for Class Library
    The selections on this list cover diverse settings, including India, Pakistan, Haiti, Cuba, and Japan. These books are excellent for middle school students and can help students discuss people from around the globe who are racially diverse.
  • Race Talk: Engage Young People in Conversations About Race and Racism
    This is an interesting article from the Anti Defamation League (ADL) on 9 ways to have conversations with students on race and racism.

If you have resources that you use in your classroom with your students, either about racism or celebrating the diverse cultures of your students, please write about them in the comments, below.

Share:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

About Judie Haynes

Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes taught elementary ESL for 28 years and is the author and coauthor of eight books for teachers of ELs , the most recent being “Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence and Chronic Stress“ with Debbie Zacarian and Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz. She was a columnist for the TESOL publication "Essential Teacher" and is also cofounder and comoderator of the Twitter Chat for teachers of English learners #ELLCHAT.
View all posts by Judie Haynes →
This entry was posted in TESOL Blog, TESOL Convention Blog and tagged culturally responsive teaching, elementary education, elementary ESL, primary education. Bookmark the permalink.
←
Make Time for the Convention: A Helpful Checklist
Pursuing a “First” at Every Convention
→

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Subscribe to TESOL Blog

    Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

  • Blog Submission Guidelines

  • Join TESOL

  • RSS TESOL English Language Bulletin

    • Building pathways for bilingual teachers: Ideas from 3 states 2 October 2023
    • New On-Demand Sessions Added from NABE for TESOL ELevate! 2 October 2023
    • The role of artificial intelligence in transforming English language learning 2 October 2023
    • Access 'Back to School' Resources and Discounts! 2 October 2023
    • Districts are ramping up standards for ELL materials. Here's how to meet rising expectations 2 October 2023
  • Note: The views expressed by TESOL bloggers do not necessarily represent the views of TESOL International Association.

  • Advertisement

     

  • Advertisement



  • Advertisement

TESOL Quarterly

  • TESOL Bookstore
  • TESOL Quarterly
  • TESOL Journal
  • TESOL Connections
  • English Language Bulletin
  • White Papers & Research Briefs
  • TESOL Annual Report

Enhance Your TESOL Career

  • Online Career Center
  • Career Development
  • Degree & Certificate Programs
  • TESOL Live Learning Center
  • Annual Convention
  • Online Courses

About the Association

  • Staff Directory
  • Board of Directors
  • Join TESOL
  • Advocacy Action Center
  • Advertise with TESOL
  • Standards
Follow us on Twitter
Join us on Faecbook
Connect with us on LinkedIn
Share this page with others
Subscribe to RSS
Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Sitemap
© 2023 TESOL