Teaching Globally: Reading the World through Literature

In today's globally connected world, it is essential for students to have an understanding of multiple cultures and perspectives. In this edited collection, Kathy Short, Deanna Day, and Jean Schroeder bring together fourteen educators who use global children's literature to help students explore their own cultural identities. The book lays out why this kind of global curriculum is important and how to make space for it within district and state mandates. Built around a curriculum framework developed by Kathy, the ideas and strategies in "Teaching Globally" will help teachers integrate a global focus into existing literacy and social studies curricula, evaluate global resources, guide students as they investigate cross-cultural issues, and create classroom activities with an intercultural perspective. "Teaching Globally" is filled with vignettes from K-8 urban and rural schools that describe successes and struggles, as well as real examples of students responding to global literature. Extensive lists of book recommendations, websites, and professional books, as well as an appendix of global text sets mentioned by the authors, complete this must-have resource. This book is divided into four parts. Part 1: The Transformation of Curriculum Through Global Literature contains the following: (1) Curriculum That Is Intercultural (Kathy G. Short); and (2) The Social Responsibility of the Reader: Becoming Open to Intercultural Perspectives (Holly Johnson). Part 2: Personal Cultural Identities contains: (3) Young Children's Explorations of Their Cultural Identities (Ray Martens and Prisca Martens with Michelle Hassay Doyle, Jenna Loomis, Laura Fuhrman, Elizabeth Soper, Robbie Stout, and Christie Furnari); (4) Connecting and Extending Children's Identities Through Inquiry (Sandy Kaser); (5) Explorations of Identity with Latina Mothers (Julia López-Robertson); (6) Responses of Native American Children to International Indigenous Literature (Angeline P. Hoffman); and (7) From Knowing to Feeling to Action: A Collaborative Inquiry on Culture and Identity (Wen-Yun Lin). Part 3: Cross-Cultural Studies presents (8) Sliding Glass Doors That Open South Korea for American Children (Yoo Kyung Sung and Genny O'Herron); (9) Investigating Nigeria in a Cross-Cultural Inquiry (Deanna Day); and (10) Encouraging Cultural Awareness Through an Exploration of Muslim Cultures (Seemi Aziz). Part 4: Integration of Intercultural Perspectives contains: (11) Understanding the Past and Present Through Intercultural Perspectives on Forced Journeys (Whitney Young and Janelle Mathis); and (12) Creating Intentional Space Through the Close Reading of Intercultural Perspectives (Jeanne Gilliam Fain). Part 5: Inquiries into Global Issues presents: (13) Global Children's Literature in Science: The Potential of Inquiry and Social Action (Jennifer Hart Davis and Tracy Smiles); and (14) Children Taking Action on Global Issues (Kathy G. Short with Lisa Thomas). Part 6: So What? Explorations of Intercultural Understanding contains: (15) The Importance of Global Literature Experiences for Young Children (Prisca Martens and Ray Martens with Michelle Hassay Doyle, Jenna Loomis, Laura Fuhrman, Elizabeth Soper, Robbie Stout, and Christie Furnari); and (16) Developing Intercultural Understanding Through Global Children's Literature (Kathy G. Short with Jaquetta Alexander, Amy Edwards, Jennifer Griffith, and Lisa Thomas).