Picturing Change: A picture book unit designed for grade 5 students to investigate and problematize real world issues presented in a kid

By Stephanie Fumiatti

In the United States (US) kindergarten through twelfth grade public school system, the classroom library has come to be a critical part of literacy instruction within the language arts classroom. This is especially true in the middle school grade levels (grades five through eight), where reading volume begins to rapidly increase (Wood, 2007). Additionally, a developmental norm for students within this age range includes a growing sense of independence and choice, and a desire to share and voice opinions (Wood, 2007). Classroom libraries have come to be a tool that are used regularly and are heavily influential on the way that students grow to perceive themselves, the world around them and the way they fit into that world. However, classroom libraries have remained stagnant and underrepresent the diverse populations of the students in those classrooms. This paper aims to bridge a connection between deep reflecting thinking, and anti-oppressive and transformative learning theories and how these theories might be used towards problematizing the current practices of classroom libraries. Through a careful analysis of what is seen as deep and critical thinking practices and reflective thinking practices, anti-oppressive and transformative learning theories can be linked to foster a social justice classroom culture within US public middle school language arts classrooms. This unit provides a look into classroom libraries and begins to problematize the lack of diversity within children's literature and pushes students to do this type of critical thinking as they read across a variety of picture books. Follow up book that includes sample student work, resources, and more is coming soon

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08JF2DDX4
• ISBN13: 9798687342728
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 68 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"