#UrbanEdChat Archive
#UrbanEd chat is a twitter chat for educators. Topics relevant to the subject of urban education will be discussed, but all educators are encouraged to join the conversation. The chats will be moderated by Ben and Neil, founders of Engaging Educators and elementary school teachers in Detroit, MI.
Thursday July 28, 2016
Welcome to ! Today we’re going to be discussing using culturally relevant text to teach literacy.
Please introduce yourself, what grade you teach or position, and your location!
Hi How I've missed you! Rita from Wisconsin.
Know anyone interested in hosting ? Have them go to the website & send us an email. Go to https://t.co/DyKX0loIy5 or tweet us!
Hi, everyone! It’s Jane Fleming (), tweeting on the Kids Like Us handle. We're excited to guest host
Meg. I'm an author in Virginia.
Hi Rita! We missed you!!!
On for a few minutes! Kim, Boston, HS ELA
Hi guys Bradford Harris iTech from Spring, TX
Meg Medina's in the house!
I'm Marella a second grade teacher in Chicago's Austin community.
I'm KT a librarian from Wisconsin
Hi everybody in ! I'm Ashley, author living & teaching in Ohio. Texan originally--and still writing for "my kids" in Houston.
happening right now! https://t.co/MfEVDDclYS
Please introduce yourself, what grade you teach or position, and your location!
Before we start find somebody new to follow to grow your PLN
Michelle 5th teacher Houston
Let's welcome our guest host & member of UrbanEdChat
I'm Sandy, a resource teacher for dual language learners co-host with .
Hi all! Im Sonia. Im a college prof & my research focuses on excited about this chat!
follows a Q & A Format. Q1/A1 Q2/A2
Thanks to for inviting us to guest host !
First Question coming up in 1 min
Hello! I'm Jessica and I teach a grade 2/3 split in Regina, SK. Canada
Hi there! Rachelle a Digital Learning Specialist in Texas!
A1 , , to start...how long do we have, lol?
I've successfully used Gary Soto's books for lit circles.
I'm Claudia, mom and author in Chicago
Hello everybody we are a QA platform that connects educators around the world
Kids loved to use Miracle's Boys by Woodson with 5th grade.
A1.Favorites have depended on where my students are developmentally, what they have experienced, and what interests them.
Q 1: Not a specific title but my story hour kids always relate to books where kids live in apartment buildings. Hard to find!
A1: Unfortunately in private schools I didn't get much urban literature.
A1: BALL DON'T LIE by (his debut) is a bar-setter for me in urban lit. THE VOICE. Wish I'd had it in Houston.
A1 Knockout Games by , all the Kimani Tru series books
My 2nd grades love the EllRay Jakes series. I read them during read aloud.
Story lines have ranged from the routine to life-altering experiences, such as leaving one’s country.
A1:my students favs have included poems, America is Her Name, Secret Saturdays
A1: I also want to share my post on the best hi/lo books to engage reluctant readers available. https://t.co/wbVELtEVgP
A1 It's also important to have a range of "urban" experiences! I'm always looking for that.
Yes! 's ZAPATO POWER books features a great apartment community. Son & I love them. https://t.co/37YDdOvPTe
Q 1: Not a specific title but my story hour kids always relate to books where kids live in apartment buildings. Hard to find!
A2: I love that description. I never looked at books that way.
A1 I used to teach social studies and I found that my Ss were excited to hear about historical POC as children
Ive used these texts at a youth center in SoCal to create an anthology of original youth poems, short stories, art, & photos
Read your short story in anthology. LOVE IT!!!!!!!
A2: Books are mirrors AND windows. They help us learn about ourselves and others.
Of course! Come join in on the if you like!
I'm fond of how we get around. Pub transportation, Busses, subway, walking. Points to city life and to diff economics.
I have used these books for the joy of reading, to “hook” reluctant readers, plant seeds for writing.
A2: I can't say that I really connected w/books growing up my mother is an avid reader
A2: Making connections is so important for readers and an essential reading strategy.
A2 urban learners thrive on connection they want to see people in all sorts of media like them. Esp. If it is positive.
offers SO MUCH nuance in what it means to live in urban and suburban contexts...every kid needs that.
sorry im late. Chris from SW MO. Just doing what I can, whenever I can, to help kids transition from HS to life after.
A2: I wrote WHAT CAN'T WAIT as a mirror book for my students, who felt no book honored their particular challenge...
Cultural relevance also supports word recognition and comprehension for novice and struggling readers
Or they present the city as broken, problematic. Does capture the energy & sense of community that is real.
Great books for city life with diversity include Walter Dean Myers and the Bluford High series https://t.co/457dnKH1P7
A2. Books that serve as mirrors help children see the value in their lives and experiences.
Can I join in even though I'm no longer a bilingual teacher?
Q2.anytime we can make learning more relatable to our students, it empowers them.
Q2: Kids like to see the familiar in books. "Like me!" They make them feel good about themselves. They feel important.
I need an ARC like, yesterday, lol. But isn't it out? Ima buy it.
A2 They wanted a book that showed compromises & heartbreak of pursuing personal goals despite need & expectation on home front.
A2. Relateability is key to learning. All kids deserve the opportunity to connect to the C an I.
Sure jump right in! It's for everyone!
Reminds me of that line in FLOTUS' speech on Wed, "A little boy asked, 'If your hair like mine?'"
Taught in a school district close to East LA for 8 yrs. Then was a sheltered English teacher in another inner city district.
A2: lots of my students have low selfesteem about where they from bc of neg reps &stereotypes. Mirrors show what they cant see
A2:Kids in urban schools should be able to see themselves in the text they read & what's read to them.
Hey Kim, I'm sure I speak for everyone in in saying OF COURSE! Bienvenida!
of course come join the fun
Also was in the bilingual/bicultural grad program at CSUF.
They build confidence and motivate them to take “risks,” because they are the experts.
I have lots of them bookmarked!
A3 have noticed most positive response when Ss can select own books, talk about them, be in a classroom literacy culture.
A2: they need stories that challenge neg representations & instead show ppl actually living.
I agree. Those connections really add to their ability to comprehend. https://t.co/Dtmsw1BNlo
A2 urban learners thrive on connection they want to see people in all sorts of media like them. Esp. If it is positive.
In the reflection, they see themselves as readers and writers.
As a former bilingual teacher, I saw the need for bks to mirror my mostly Latin@ students. They weren't there.
A3 More engaged. Feel safer.
A2: This! To recognize that OWN culture/experience can serve the focus of lit that has universal appeal https://t.co/KMi4USIyuY
A2 urban learners thrive on connection they want to see people in all sorts of media like them. Esp. If it is positive.
A2: they need stories that dont always tell students they need to leave their urban hood to succeed.
Q3. Certainly! They can understand the text better and more deeply!
A3: Student engagement is increased because all students can make a connection in one way or the other.
Unfortunately for bilingual education materials there' s a lot of lack of resources.
Yes! Read Theresa Perry's Young, Gifted and Black. Great resource for this.
A1: I also want to share my post on the best hi/lo books to engage reluctant readers available. MORE >> https://t.co/hMgdYWBwvV
A1 It's also important to have a range of "urban" experiences! I'm always looking for that. MORE >> https://t.co/hMgdYWBwvV
Back in the 90s? Had to put my own together. Thank god for a few bilingual mentors and CSUF bilingual program.
yes it is a shame that the school system breezes through it
Putting it on my to-read this now!
A3. It's important to remember that when humans, children, or adults, connect with something, esp lit then comp increases.
A3. I think of everything a student navigates when reading a book. Depth is added when students can apply what they know.
is now trending in USA, ranking 50
My ELA program involved using Alma Flor Ada's take on Latino stories/folk-tales,history that dealt with Latino heroes and more.
Sometimes kids who never saw themselves as readers pick up a book b/c it spoke 2their exp. Yaqui Delgado W2KYA
Refused to use so-called bilingual books like SKIPPY JONES. Totally stereotype that made my parents shudder.
it lessens the cognitive load. Many times, higher order thinking surges naturally.
A3: I also think it's empowering for POC to see being taught to folks of all backgrounds.
A1 I still want UL to be more: what about the kids who live in cities and want to ride horses, for instance?! They exist!
Yes. Thank you so much for Yaqui. https://t.co/ePK1ehKziX
Sometimes kids who never saw themselves as readers pick up a book b/c it spoke 2their exp. Yaqui Delgado W2KYA
A3: More thought provoking questions are asked from the students
A5: had many boys finish Bluford books and say, "It was the 1st book I read cover-to-cover! Got more?" Happiest surprise ever.
Back in the 90s? Not many role models that my Latin@ students could look up too.
A5: One surprise is the persistent need to work through assumptions relate to gender. 1/...
Great books for city life with diversity include Walter Dean Myers and the Bluford High series MORE >> https://t.co/ecCtDWFfYs
A3: students feel validated and empowered. allows them to connect to lit.As in, reading is for them bc stories are about them.
At the same time I was teaching I was discovering my own Mexican heritage. Shared with my students.
A5: When I teach ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PT I, students can experience it as a "universal" narrative. 2/...
A5:Reading these text bring out the real convos about home life
But luckily many new voices coming 2 the table now. https://t.co/P5HXjAu2wB
Back in the 90s? Not many role models that my Latin@ students could look up too.
I remember in my Chicano Studies class hearing the other side that isn't in history bks. I'll never be the same now!
LOVE this book! I worked for years in "bush Alaska" with Inuit kids they loved it as well.
A5: But I have had students react to GABI, A GIRL IN PIECES as less relatable bc it focuses on a chica. We deconstruct... 3/..
A3: stories also allow students to see themselves as writers & gives them agency
A5: not all Ss like violence or reading about violence. Some Ss want to escape their realities.
I agree I told my husband this very thing.
A5: We deconstruct that response: What does that tell us about what we've been socialized to recognize as "universal"? 4/..
We might need to write them, lol. I grew up on a farm.
Truth! Also, violence and the like is not a part of many of our "urban" students' lives. They cannot relate.
The biggest thing I learned is that you empower students when they learn about role models like them.
A5: I had urban 7th graders really relate to A MONSTER CALLS by Ness. They connected with mc's anger.
when is it coming out? Any way I could get an ARC? I teach LOTS of Caribbean kids!
pet peeve when educators think urban kids only connect to violent stories
How I love that book, maybe for the same reason. https://t.co/Y64alEHIGP
A5: I had urban 7th graders really relate to A MONSTER CALLS by Ness. They connected with mc's anger.
A5: Students have a ton of background knowledge in this area. There is engaging conversations these types of books create.
A5. I think that both the beauty and challenge is that you can't always predict how students will respond.
Q6. Gave away lots of these books at a family reading night. Parents raved and were surprised by the number of texts.
Right?! Even better is when the kids know what's up and call you on it, too! They need a RANGE of stories.
Walter Dean Myers always said "if you can't find what you're looking for in a book, write it." https://t.co/iM1t69sJsX
We might need to write them, lol. I grew up on a farm.
Agreed. There needs to be EVERYTHING on shelf https://t.co/MUMYr9CeSO
pet peeve when educators think urban kids only connect to violent stories
A5: A book can be a mirror to the teacher or the child. My mirror isn't always theirs.
A5: stdnts have responded well. They really enjoy stories that reflect their urban surrounding. They see themselves&feel good!
A6 we had a reading with dad it was very successful
A6. My families especially enjoy when they see their languages represented in books.
A6. Latinx fams, where diff lang r spoken within a single fam, benefit from dual lang editions. Conxsn 2 be made around story
A5: when stories are written to positively reflect their lives then they feel good. Poorly written reps can do more harm
A6: Sharing the titles of some of the class favorites for them to purchase or borrow from the library
But, I have to shout out for Kevin Henkes! Chryanthemum, I love you and all your little mice pals!
A6 Yes--critical to build relationships around the reading, empower parents & allies for readers.
I had a student tell me, "My mom will practice reading in English and I will practice in Spanish."
A6: Also, when teachers read lit from diverse perspectives we learn about our students-makes us better teachers, don't u think?
A7: Never my school leaders ROCK!!!
A6:I gift bks all the time. Not every1 has access to these bks&my work gives me access so I share bc these stories matter
Wow was it lovely,So many delicious lines. I'm gifting it to lots of folks. Yes, ! https://t.co/UJq4l5zpC3
OMG, me, too It's like the spirits of Virginia Hamilton and Walter Dean Myers have come to rest in Jason Reynolds. https://t.co/at62wr6SCf
Our kids love Crysanthemum, too! But it's not the same kind of connection as when books reflect self. https://t.co/BaSkASTmJK
But, I have to shout out for Kevin Henkes! Chryanthemum, I love you and all your little mice pals!
A7. Not really resistance, just a lack of awareness about the power/importance of culturally relevant books
Wait! What? Did I miss a great book?
Aww. Warms my heart that my book Secret Saturdays is one your students favs
A7) I've had the unique pleasure of having wonderful bosses. Wouldn't trade any of them for the world. They truly are great
I also read lots of Gary Soto's books to my first graders. They loved!
Yes, As Brave as You, kids in the country, mystery, family, incredible. H/T to .
Got it! Another on my to-read this!
A7: More fear than resistance, esp w pre-service teachers. It's scary--& necessary--to release position of authority..
Have a team that supports you is big. My first school, I didn't really have that support. https://t.co/5AGVfl8brr
A7. Not really resistance, just a lack of awareness about the power/importance of culturally relevant books
Thank you for joining us for ! A very special thanks to for moderating.
A7 since my district is urban we welcome diversity & as long as it's appropriate & connects w/ Ss & standards it's gr8
Yes, we want children to have access to all kinds of books, especially those where they see themselves.
Right. Letting kids bring their expertise sometimes intimidates teachers who lack shared experience https://t.co/SXHAQrdpTK
A7: More fear than resistance, esp w pre-service teachers. It's scary--& necessary--to release position of authority..
A7: ive had admin tell me they dont want bks that reinforce their "neg behavior" but often admin dont read the bks themselves
Thanks, ! Great chatting with you all!
It can be scary to some that have stereotypes of that population. Seen it when I was teaching. https://t.co/pI2uGnsHnJ
Right. Letting kids bring their expertise sometimes intimidates teachers who lack shared experience https://t.co/SXHAQrdpTK
A7: More fear than resistance, esp w pre-service teachers. It's scary--& necessary--to release position of authority..
Thank you and everyone on the thread. Wow! Lots to take in... https://t.co/dW1JKmyPCS
Thank you for joining us for ! A very special thanks to for moderating.
Or reactions 2 lang or "dangerous" ideas. For God's sake... https://t.co/9YinWXWWIY
A7: ive had admin tell me they dont want bks that reinforce their "neg behavior" but often admin dont read the bks themselves
What I tell them is that they will grow as professionals by MODELING sincere inquiry. Earns buy in. https://t.co/C6vshCwO02
Right. Letting kids bring their expertise sometimes intimidates teachers who lack shared experience https://t.co/SXHAQrdpTK
A7: More fear than resistance, esp w pre-service teachers. It's scary--& necessary--to release position of authority..
Have adm come in to see how students respond, what the quality of discussion is like. Can change minds! https://t.co/0CPV9b4Tsw
A7: ive had admin tell me they dont want bks that reinforce their "neg behavior" but often admin dont read the bks themselves
A8. Make these books visible and ADVOCATE for their use.
is a really good chat. If you're looking for good discussion, follow and/or look at
Thanks everyone for the conversation! Loved learning with you.
Thanks for an awesome chat, y'all!
