EDRG 3321 M&W- Chapter 2

Chapter 2 was on Culture, and how to make your classroom culturally responsive. Every teacher or future teacher should be open to diversity. As a teacher you have to be prepared to have students in your classroom from a different culture or even students that bring there home/community culture into your classroom. Like Professor Pickett always say you need to acclimate yourself for your students. I believe its important to incorporate cultural and linguistic identities, and i would do that by studying multi-cultural literature with my students. Say maybe every 2weeks or a different month we would read a book that reflect diversity in racial, ethnic identity, disabilities, families, and gender roles. Then have them work on a solo or group project coming up with ways to compare and contrast with the book we read and there cultural diversity. Its important for each student not only to learn about accepting there culture, but also to learn that there are different culture out in the world also. They might be sitting right next to them in the classroom. This chapter was refreshing and i didn't disagree with anything. I myself would love to teach on multi-cultural literature.

Shen’s Books is a publisher of multicultural children’s literature that emphasizes cultural diversity and tolerance, with a focus on introducing children to the cultures of Asia. Our incredibly talented authors and illustrators have created books for elementary grade children that reflect the highest standards of art and literature.
Through books, we can share a world a stories, building greater understanding and tolerance within our increasingly diverse communities as well as throughout our continuously shrinking globe. http://www.shens.com/

Domitila: A Cinderella Tale from the Mexican Tradition
By Jewell Reinhart Coburn
Illustrated by Connie McLennan

Domitila is not only "sweeter than a cactus bloom in early spring," she is also a talented cook and an amazing leather artist. Most of the classical elements of a Cinderella story can be found in Domitila. A gentle weaving of her mother's nurturing with strong family traditions is the secret ingredient for Domitila to rise above hardship to eventually become the Governor's bride. Moreover, with a firm belief in simplicity and realism, Domitila makes a lasting impression as a triumphant Cinderella in her humility, service, and unassuming modesty.
Unlike most ivory tower Cinderellas, the only transformation in this story is Timoteo's—Domitila's suitor—as we watch him mature from an arrogant politician's son to a compassionate family man. There is no glass slipper to fight over, and no fairy godmother to save the day. All Domitila has are her innate qualities and her family legacy. Finally, the readers are invited to get to know Cinderella for who she is, unlike the typical fantasy character!
With love and care in every stroke, McLennan captured on canvas the warmth of relationships, the fondness for color and texture, and the versatile patterns characteristic of the Mexican people. Readers will soon fall in love with the shimmering light of the desert landscape and this well-told story of Cinderella-with-a-twist.

The Day the Dragon Danced
By Kay Haugaard
Illustrated by Carolyn Reed Barritt

Sugar and her Grandma are going to the Chinese New Year’s Day parade, but Grandma is skeptical about New Year’s in February and scary dragons. Sugar has learned all about what to expect from her teacher Miss Peng, though, and is more than ready to try dragon beard’s candy and watch her daddy dance in the New Year’s dragon.
Finally, after all the other floats drive by, the huge red and gold dragon pokes his head around the corner and dances down the street. Sugar tries to remember which shoes are her daddy’s, and realizes the dragon isn’t dancing so well…
Sugar’s quick thinking saves the day and the dragon’s dance, and everyone in the community is ready to celebrate the new lunar year. As the dragon dancers emerge from beneath the dragon, Sugar recognizes her neighbors, including shopkeeper Mr. Chu, barber Mr. Johnson, teacher Mr. Gonzalez, and her own African-American daddy.
Kay Haugaard’s exuberant storytelling and Carolyn Reed Barritt’s equally colorful and lively paintings perfectly embody truly multicultural celebration of our American melting pot.

Selvakumar Knew Better
By Virginia Kroll
Illustrated by Xiaojun Li

The bright December morning dawned like any other. The Ramakrishnan family went about their daily business, but their scruffy yellow dog, Selvakumar, felt something in the air.
When a low rumbling noise began to fill the village, Papa climbed on the roof to see what was happening. What he saw was a wall of water rushing toward the shore. “Tsunami! Run!” The family scrambled to outrun the huge wave, but seven-year-old Dinakaran misunderstood. He ran toward his house, where he huddled in a corner for safety.
But Selvakumar would not let him stay there. Barking, nudging, and dragging Dinakaran by the collar, Selvakumar managed to convince him to flee from the house toward the hill. As they reached higher ground, the boy stopped to catch his breath, but Selvakumar knew better. He pushed him even higher to where Mama and Papa had fled and were waiting, worrying about their eldest son.
This true story of a courageous and clever dog who saved a boy’s life during the devastating tsunami of 2004 is sure to touch the hearts of readers of all ages. While the region is still struggling to recover from the disaster and families rebuild what they have lost, Selvakumar reminds us that with our loved ones beside us, no obstacle is too great to be overcome.

I found a website on how to choose multicultural books for K-8 and the site is: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3757

This Web sites offers listings and reviews of multicultural children's literature: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/presrvce/pe3lk28.htm

I found these to be very helpful resources!