Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction

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

Overview

What cultural norms and assumptions are embedded in the literature we use in our classrooms? How do we select texts that represent our students’ diversity and support them to engage in critical conversations about culture?

Culturally Responsive Literature Instruction is an online professional development program for K-12 teachers, literacy coaches, and principals. 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. 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 two-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 where you will apply the concepts and techniques learned

A core part of the HGSE experience is cohort learning, and this curriculum 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 at the start of the program and can be completed at times that best fit a participant’s schedule within the two-week program period. Participants should plan to devote a total of 5-7 hours of work. 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 five clock hours of instruction.

Objectives

• 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. Participants receive a certificate of participation and a letter confirming clock hours of instruction.

Payment is due by credit card at registration. Payment is non-refundable. Click here for more information on payment and financial aid. Please click here for more information on our on-campus and online refund and withdrawal policies.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education reserves the right to change faculty or cancel programs at its discretion. In the unlikely event of program changes, the school is not responsible for non-refundable travel arrangements or other planning expenses incurred.