Introduction

My name is Katie and I am a senior in the elementary education program. Since I was very young my parents have always tried to introduce me to new cultures and diverse people and situations. They have expected me to make my own decisions about people and not to form opinions or stereotypes based on other peoples ideas and viewpoints. Because of this, I have always had an urge to learn more about cultures and groups of people I may not have the opportunity to interact with in my daily life. It is for this reason, that I have turned to literature and novels to learn more about diverse culture and people.
I am most interested in this class because I am hoping to broaden my horizons when it comes to children's literature. I think students learn best when the teacher puts subjects like history and science in the context of a story. Students usually become more engaged and want to learn more about the topic. I am hoping this class will teach me what to look for in diverse literature and what makes the book an appropriate and useful book for the classroom.