Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction

Learn to identify cultural assumptions in literature and incorporate diverse texts and critical conversations into your practice.

Overview

Literature is embedded with a variety of cultural norms and assumptions. We need to choose carefully to provide texts that represent our students’ diversity. And as our students read, we need to create space for and help them engage in critical conversations about culture.

Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction is designed for K-12 teachers, literacy coaches, reading specialists, principals, and other school leaders. Drawing from the research of HGSE Professor Pamela Mason, the workshop explores the concept of “critical literacy” as a tool for examining the cultural assumptions embedded within literature. 

During the workshop, participants will learn to take a critical stance when analyzing texts, discover resources for finding and integrating culturally sustaining literature in the classroom, and consider how to invite all students to engage in discussions of culture.

Program Details

This three-week online workshop includes a mix of self-paced learning, group discussion, and job-embedded application. Activities include:

• Video lectures from Professor Mason
• Research summaries and assigned readings
• Self-assessment and reflection prompts
• Facilitated cohort discussions
• Job-embedded practice

Cohort learning is a core part of the HGSE experience. Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction is designed to create a community of practice for participants to learn with and from each other.

This online workshop is an asynchronous learning experience with no live components and is designed to be self-paced. All materials are provided and can be completed at times that best fit a participant’s schedule within the three-week program period. Participants should plan to devote a total of 15 hours of work over the three weeks. Participants who complete all individual assessments and contribute to group discussions prior to the end of the course period will receive a certificate indicating completion of 15 clock hours of instruction.

Learning Goals

• Understand how language is used to portray culture
• Identify what cultural assumptions are embedded in children’s literature
• Build space to include student discussion of culture in literacy instruction

Who Should Participate

• Teachers
• Reading specialists
• Literacy and instructional coaches
• School administrators
• Principals and school leaders

English Language Proficiency Requirements

English language proficiency is a requirement for application to and successful participation in this online course. All participants are expected to have fluency in English, including a basic knowledge of education terminology, in order to effectively engage with the content, complete assignments, and interact with other members of the learning community.

Fees & Policies

Tuition includes all instructional materials required for participation in the program.

Full tuition is due by the indicated payment deadline, please refer to the individual program’s community and application page for payment deadlines. While a purchase order confirms enrollment, full payment is still required by the final payment deadline. Please note that failure to pay by the payment deadline will result in your withdrawal from the program.

Please click here for more information on payment, refund, and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. The school is not responsible for any planning expenses incurred.