Reading to Belong

Identity, Perspective, and Advocacy in the Elementary Grades

This book equips educators with tools to facilitate conversations about identity to ensure that all students feel a sense of belonging, empathy, and can advocate for a more just world

At the present time, schools in many places have found themselves in the midst of a culture war. While interest from teachers in having critical conversations with students is growing, they nonetheless face challenges. These tensions reflect a larger world of social and political unrest, where our nation’s schools are often caught in the middle.This work aims to equip educators with tools to facilitate critical conversations with students - to question what they read, consume, and hear. Reading to Belong: Identity, Perspective and Advocacy in the Elementary Grades bridges the gap between research and practice by sharing snapshots of conversations happening in real classrooms. The language of mirrors and windows anchors discussions as students deepen an understanding of themselves, experience different perspectives, and ultimately use this knowledge to change their world for the better.