readings

I just recently finished the readings for next class. Yes, I did stay in on a Friday and do homework. I feel pretty lame, but I have no choice! I have to much homework these weekend to go out! Anyways. I found these articles very interesting. I am not sure how much I cared for Shannon's piece. I feel the statements made in the beginning, I really cannot say I agree with. He states that "They view discussions of multiculturalism in children's literature as new impositions upon their students and themselves because they believe that they stand apart from culture and lead "normal lives"" (I am the Canon: Finding ourselves in multiculturalism, Patrick Shannon.) I just don't feel I agree with this, it almost upsets me. I know that I have not experienced all there is to know about multiculturalism but I don't not feel that multiculturalism is an 'imposition' upon my future students and myself. Now I know he goes on to talk about what he feels multiculturalism is and different points of view and discusses that multiculturalism involves more then just race and culture, but really goes into class, and economic place, etc. This makes a lot of sense to me. Just personally knowing certain people of different classes and different values, all bring different points of view and opinions into the classroom as well as a melting pot of different students. 

As for who is qualified to write for a different race or culture then their own, I am not sure where I stand with this. After reading these articles, I still am not sure how I feel. Bishop feels strongly that those who are embraced and know the culture from the inside out have the most knowledge and experience to write about that particular race/culture. "I do know the difference between race and culture, and what I tried to say is that you have to know a culture intimately if your going to reflect it accurately in your fiction" (A Reply to Shannon the Canon, Rudine Sims Bishop.) I do agree with these. But, I feel I also agree with another person who say is of a different race/culture and they chose to write about another race/culture that they know a lot about and have accurate facts. There is a lot that goes into children's literature. Every detail matters, no matter what it is. 

adult vs. children's biography books

Recently I have been going to the East Lansing Public Library and checking out biographies on old presidents and writers. I have always been a fan of certain people in politics. The Kennedy's are my favorite political family, although I have found a new favorite president. President Lincoln. His birthday is coming up in February and I thought that I would learn more about this man. I checked out an 'adult' biography book as well as a children's biography book. I was actually quite stunned at what was and what was not included in the children's book. Obviously, the biography from the adult section had much much more detail and was about 4oo pages, but still, the things included in the children's book I found really did not show what this man acutally did for our country. I am wondering if that's becuase it could be to complex for a younger auidence to understand. Although I feel that if there are going to be books written about people of our country's past, that they should be written with information worthwhile of knowing. I have already retunred the children's book or I would give an excat example and I dont remember the author's name but I feel they could of done a better job at writing about President Lincoln in a children's perspective. I also think it is important to have biographies in your classroom, of all different people and all different diverse races and cultures. I find it fasicinating to learn about people from many years ago and I hope that I can fill my classroom with well-written books on important people of our past.

Hello!

Hi everyone. I created this blog account for my TE 448 class. I have never had a blog before, so I am interested to see how this will play out over this semester. I am a junior at Michigan State University. Going into elementary education with a specialty in language arts. I find literature very interesting. Reading and writing is a part of just about every aspect of your life. Literacy starts from the second you speak your first word. I feel that literacy is very important to our students and especially diverse literature. Knowing and growing in the knowledge of those different from you or your culture is crucial to a successful school career. Personally, knowing of other cultures and being interested and learning about them has helped me see who I really am and what I want to do with my life. There are always ways to learn and explore other cultures and what diversity is. I enjoy learning about others lives and different people. I love asking questions and learning about others and I feel diverse literature should be apart of every classroom. Reading takes children anywhere they want to go. Diverse Literature takes them anywhere they want to go, while they learn how others got there.