More Alike Than Different Using Inclusive Literature to Foster Understanding, Responsibility and Compassion
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More Alike Than Different
Using Inclusive Literature to Foster Understanding, Responsibility and
Compassion
Smore: http://bit.ly/1jcSTBC
We hope you leave today with…
*an understanding of the importance of using inclusive literature in your schools and classrooms.
*Some practical strategies to help you select, evaluate and implement inclusive literature.
*ways to extend and deepen student understanding of the literature and individuals with disabilities.
Cece BellAuthor/Illustrator@CeceBellBooks
https://cecebell.wordpress.com/
Cynthia Lordcynthialord.com@Cynthia_Lord
The story behind the story
Around 18 months, we began to worry.
A lonely time for most parents.
Things people said. . . • “Boys talk late.”
• “He’s not hearing well.”
• “Don’t look for problems.”
• “He doesn’t need to talk—his sister does all his talking for him.”
• “You’re not giving him enough attention.”
Some things could not be denied.
With diagnosis, some doors closed, some doors opened.
Other doors opened.
“(There is no) right type of Asperger’s. People with Asperger’s are as varied as Norwegians and
trombone players.”
Mark Haddon, author of A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Autism is a Salad Bar Diagnosis
A complicated experience.
“I can remember the frustration of not being able to talk. I knew what I wanted to say, but I could not get the words out,
so I would just scream.”
–Temple Grandin
"It seems that for success in science or art, a dash of autism is essential."
—Hans Asperger
A different way of thinking.
Special needs affect the whole family.
Siblings • Huge pressure on siblings to
be good, kind, and understanding.
– “You’re such a good sister.”– “He’s so lucky to have you.” – “You can show him how to do this.”
“I was so scared I was the only person who felt this way.”
--Grace, age 10, with a brother with autism
Books can show us other people.
Ways schools and libraries have used RULES
Burlington, MA
Blue Hill, ME
East Hampton, NY
Eau Claire, WI
Des Plaines, IL
Belarus
Books can show us ourselves.
“I wrote to you because I wanted to tell someone who knows how I feel.”
--Emily
“I want to share this experience with the world and maybe touch someone’s
heart much like you did mine.”
--Athena
Lynda Mullaly HuntLyndamullalyhunt.com
@LynMullalyHunt
Gigi McAllister4th Grade Teacher
Gorham, Maine@GigiMcAReads
thelatebloomersbookblog.blogspot.com
Parents and teachers can learn from inclusive literature.
Images from Goodreads.com
Images from Goodreads.com
Find books that reflect the students in your classroom.
Integrating Inclusive Literature Into Your School or Classroom*Should be done regularly so it becomes a natural part of your classroom.
*Use picture books or novels as read alouds and have a discussion.
*Book groups or clubs focused around inclusive literature.
*Know your students and connect them just the right book..
From open, honest dialogue comes empathy and compassion.
*Discussion makes disabilities seem less scary
*Gives children permission to ask questions.
*Use the correct terminology when talking about disabilities.
Possible Discussion Prompts*Have you ever heard of the word (specific disability)? What do you know about it?
*What do you think would be hard about having (disability).
*How are the characters treating (character with a disability)? Why?
*Does anyone have a personal connection or experience they would like to share?
*How do you think the character felt when…?
*How did it make you feel when…?
*What is something that is difficult for you to do?
Alyson BeecherPasadena Unified School District
Literacy Specialistwww.kidlitfrenzy.com
[email protected] @alybee930
We Need Diverse Books....
….and we need diverse books to also represent individuals with a disability
Disabilities in Kid Lit● Why is it important for children to be exposed to books
featuring a variety of characters with special needs?
● How can teachers find and select appropriate books for their classrooms?
● What can teachers do to promote books featuring characters with disabilities?
The Importance of Seeing Characters with Disabilities in Children’s Books
● It is powerful for a child to see himself or herself in a book and/or to see a sibling with a disability in a book.
● By seeing a child or a family member with a disability in a book, children feel like they are not alone.
● It is easier for children to discuss the situation in the book before discussing it in the classroom.
Selecting Quality Books With Characters With Disabilities
● Is the disability portrayed in the book realistic and without overt stereotypes?
● Is the disability portrayed positively?
● Is the book well written or do you feel that the author has a message to share and is trying to make a point?
● Are the illustrations well done or are they garish and unpleasant?
Read Alouds Featuring Characters with Disabilities
● Picking a book for a read aloud
● Going slow to go fast
● Providing opportunities to understand the challenges an individual encounters as a result of their disability
Schneider Family Book AwardAmerican Library Association
Honors an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.
Schneider Family Book Award
Criteria:
May be fiction, biography, or other form of nonfiction.Must portray the emotional, mental, or physical disability as part of a full life, not as
something to be pitied.Representation of characters with disabilities should be realistic, avoiding exaggeration or
stereotypes.Person with disability should be integral to the presentation, not merely a passive
bystander. The theme must be appropriate for and respectful of the intended audience age.Information on a disability must be accurate
Schneider Family Book Award
Style
Should be well writtenShould be engaging with distinctive use of language for plot and character
development and setting delineation.Book should be judged on its own merit as a self-contained entity, not as part of
a series, and irrespective of supportive materials such as a CD or other supplemental material.
Schneider Family Book Award
Illustration and Design
Text and images should complement or enhance each other, with differentiated contrast between text, pictures, and background.
Format and typeface must be of age appropriate size, clearly readable, and free of typographical errors.
Layout should be easy to follow, enhancing the flow of the story or information.Preference will be given to books that can be made available in accessible
formats
Schneider Family Book Award
Blog Posts to check out:
Schneider Family Book Award 10th Anniversary Blog Tourhttp://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-frenzy/2014/7/4/schneider-family-book-award-10th-anniversary-blog-tour-giveaway
Demystifying the Schneider Family Book Awardhttps://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/demystifying-the-schneider-family-book-award-by-alyson-beecher/
National Inclusive Schools Week
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