DIVERSITY AND MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF TEACHING
Educators who are passionate about teaching realize the importance of including multiple perspectives. The National Council for Social Studies (NCSS) and the New York State Department of Education stress the importance of the inclusion of multiple perspectives when teaching history. Research also shows us that comparing, contrasting, analyzing, and evaluating multiple perspectives helps all students become critical thinkers engaged in the learning process (Banks, 2000; Banks & Banks, 2004).
With all the demands and time constraints associated with teaching it is easy to neglect some aspects, but the inclusion of multiple perspectives and issues of diversity during the planning of curriculum and instructional experiences is very important and must be a core component of good teaching and learning.
Examining history, families, traditions, culture and values through multiple perspectives will increase students' empathy and understanding as well as their ability to analyze and think critically. Looking at people, events and issues from different angles or perspectives engages students deeply as it provides them with a skill that is essential in a democratic society as diverse and complex as our own.
Teachers can help students develop multiple perspectives and cultural sensitivity by modeling and by using culturally diverse materials. Exposing students to multiple sources of information created by diverse individuals will cultivate an understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives. Students must be exposed to learning that develops compassion, insight and awareness, capacity to deal with conflicting sources of information, ability to detect and analyze bias, and stereotypes. They should also experience first hand how new information can shape previously held beliefs and conclusions.
Using quality diverse texts that represent a variety of individuals, views and perspectives on the same topics or events can help students develop empathy. When teaching topics in social studies or other content areas, instead of relying on one definition or accepted sequence of events, encourage students to explore a broad range of understandings by asking important questions such as:
Whose perspective is this?
Could there be other perspectives or interpretations?
Why might this be so?
Whose voices are heard?
Whose voices are omitted?
How are specific groups or individuals portrayed? Why might this be so?
Is this accurate? Fair? Why or why not?
Our goal is to nurture democratic thinking and civic engagement; we can achieve this goal if we provide our students with the authentic voices of many peoples and the opportunity to explore alternate ways of perceiving the world.
Picture Books about Diversity and Tolerance
Adler, David One Yellow Daffodil: A Hanukkah Story
Allen, Debbie Brothers of the Knight
Alma, Flor Ada I Love Saturdays y Domingos
Beaumont, Karen Being Friends
Bradby, Marie More Than Anything Else
Breckler, Rosemary K. Sweet Dried Apples: A Vietnamese Wartime
Childhood
Bruchac, Joseph Between Earth and Sky: Legends of
Native American Sacred Places
Bunting, Eve The Blue and the Gray
Bunting, Eve Gleam and Glow
Bunting, Eve How Many Days to America: A Thanksgiving
Story
Bunting, Eve Smoky Night
Bunting, Eve So Far From the Sea
Cannon, Janell Stellaluna
Cannon, Janell Verdi
Cave, Kathryn The Boy Who Became an Eagle
Chinn, Karen Sam and the Lucky Money
Cohen, Miriam Down in the Subway
Collier, Bryan Uptown
Conrad, Pam Blue Willow
Cooper, Floyd Jump! From the Life of Michael Jordan
Cooper, Melrose I Got Community
Crowther, Kitty Jack and Jim
Coy, John Strong to the Hoop
Curtis, Jamie Lee I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little
Self-Esteem
Da Costa, Deborah Snow in Jerusalem
Davis, Ossie Just Like Martin
De Vries, Anke Piggy’s Birthday Dream
Deedy, Carmen Agra The Yellow Star: The Legend of King
Christian X of Denmark
Del Negro, Janice Lucy Dove
DePaola, Tomie The Art Lesson
DePaola, Tomie The Knight and the Dragon
DePaola, Tomie Oliver Button is a Sissy
Dooley, Norah Everybody Cooks Rice
Edwardson, Debby Dahl Whale Snow
Fleming, Candace Boxes for Katje
Fox, Mem Whoever You Are
Friedman, Ina R. How My Parents Learned to Eat
Glaser, Linda Our Big Home
Gollub, Matthew The Jazz Fly
Greenfield, Eloise Grandpa’s Face
Grifalconi, Ana The Village that Vanished
Hall, Bruce Edward Henry and the Kite Dragon
Hamanaka, Sheila All the Colors of the Earth
Herrera, Juan Felipe The Upside Down Boy/ El Nino de
Cabeza
Hesse, Karen The Cats in Krasinski Square
Hest, Amy When Jessie Came Across the Sea
Hoffman, Mary The Color of Home
Hopkinson, Deborah A Band of Angels
Hume, Lachie Clancy the Courageous Cow
Jaskol, Julie and Brian Lewis City of Angels: In and Around Los Angeles
Johnston, Tony Uncle Rain Cloud
Johnston, Tony The Worm Family
Jones, Rebecca C. Matthew and Tilly
Jordan, Deloris and
Roslyn M. Jordan Salt in His Shoes
Khan, Rukhsana The Roses in My Carpets
Kajikawa, Kimiko Yoshi’s Feast
Katz, Karen The Colors of Us
Keats, Ezra Jack Louie’s Search
Kindersley, Anabel and
Barnabas Children Just Like Me
Klevin, Elisa The Dancing Deer and the Foolish Hunter
Krull, Kathleen M is for Music
Kurtz, Jane Faraway Home
Kyuchukov, Hristo My Name Was Hussein
Lattimore, Deborah Norse Flame of Peace: A Tale of the Aztecs
Lee, Milly Nim and the War Effort
Leodhas, Sorche Nic Always Room for One More
Lewin, Ted The Storytellers
Lionni, Leo Little Blue and Little Yellow
Lipp, Frederick The Caged Birds of Phnom Pehn
Littlesugar, Amy Freedom School, Yes
Long, Hua The Moon Maiden and Other Asian
Folktales
Look, Lenore Love as Strong as Ginger
Luenn, Nancy A Gift for Abuelita: Celebrating the Day
of the Dead
Madrigal, Antonio Hernandez Blanca's Feather/ La Pluma de Blanca
McCann, Joseph There’s a Skunk in My Bunk: Helping
Children Learn Tolerance
McKissack, Patricia Goin' Someplace Special
McKissack, Patricia Ma Dear's Aprons
Miller, J. Philip and
Sheppard M. Greene We All Sing with the Same Voice
Munson, Derek Enemy Pie
Nolen, Jerdine Harvey Potter’s Balloon Farm
Normandin, Christine, ed. Echoes of the Elders: The Stories and
Paintings of Chief Lelooska
Park, Frances and Ginger Good-bye, 382 Shin Dang Dong
Parr, Todd It’s Okay to Be Different
Partridge, Elizabeth Oranges on Golden Mountain
Peet, Bill Pinkish, Purplish, Bluish Egg
Pin, Isabela When I Grow Up I Will Win the Nobel
Peace Prize
Pinkney, Andrea Davis Alvin Ailey
Pinkney, Andrea Davis Dear Benjamin Banneker
Pinkwater, D. Manus The Big Orange Splot
Piper, Watty The Little Engine That Could
Polacco, Patricia The Butterfly
Polacco, Patricia Chicken Sunday
Polacco, Patricia The Keeping Quilt
Rappaport, Doreen The Secret Seder
Raschka, Chris Charlie Parker Played Be Bop
Raschka, Chris Yo! Yes?
Raven, Margot The Circle Is Unbroken: The Story of a
Basket and Its People
Recorvits, Helen My Name is Yoon
Ringgold, Faith Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad
in the Sky
Rosen, Michael Elijah’s Angel: A Story for Chanukah
and Christmas
Rubin, Susan Goldman The Flag with Fifty-Six Stars
Ryan, Pam Muñoz When Marian Sang
San Souci, Robert D. Nicholas’s Pipe
Say, Allen Grandfather’s Journey
Say, Allen The Sign Painter
Say, Allen Tea With Milk
Schroeder, Alan Satchmo’s Blues
Schubert, Ingrid & Dieter Amazing Animals
Schubert, Ingrid & Dieter Beaver’s Lodge
Seskin, Steve Don’t Laugh at Me
Seymour, Tres Jake Johnson: the Story of a Mule
Shannon, David Bad Case of Stripes
Shannon, David David Goes to School
Shea, Pegi Deitz The Whispering Cloth: A Refugee Story
Singh, Pushpinder Bab Ditta’s Turnip
Sisilu, Elinor Batezat The Day Gogo Went to Vote: South
Africa, April 1994
Smith, David J. If the World Were a Village: A Book about
the World’s People
Smith, Will Just the Two of Us
Smothers, Ethel Footman The Hard-Times Jar
Steckle, Richard The Milestones Project: Celebrating
Childhood Around the World
Stock, Catherine Gugu's House
Stojic, Manya Hello World
Swope, Sam Araboolies of Liberty Street
Tyler, Michael The Skin You Live In
Ulick, Michael Alderman Romeo the Rhino’s Rocky Romance:
A Cautionary Tale About Differences
Vander Zee, Ruth Mississippi Morning
Wahl, Jan. Candy Shop
Wells, Rosemary Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina
Wells, Rosemary Yoko
Williams, Karen Lynn When Africa Was Home
Winthrop, Elizabeth Dumpy LaRue
Woodson, Jacqueline Coming on Home Soon
Woodson, Jacqueline The Other Side
Wong, Janet Apple Pie 4th of July
Wong, Janet The Trip Back Home
Wyeth, Sharon Dennis Something Beautiful
Yang, Belle Hannah is My Name
Yee, Paul A Song for Ba
Yolen, Jane Encounter
Yorkinks, Arthur Company’s Coming
Yost-Filgate, Susan Rip Squeak and His Friends
Zarin, Cynthia Wallace Hoskins, the Boy Who Grew Down
Trade Books on Tolerance
Ajmera, Maya To Be an Artist
Budhos, Marina Ask Me No Questions
DK Publishing A Life Like Mine
Donahue, Jill L. Being Tolerant
Gallo, Donald, ed. First Crossing: Stories about Teen
Immigrants
Gay, Kathlyn Cultural Diversity : Conflicts and challenges:
The ultimate teen guide
Kent, Susan Learning how to Appreciate Differences
Koja, Kahte Buddha Boy
Kranz, Rachel Straight Talk about Prejudice
LaMachia, John So What is Tolerance Anyway?
Lester, Julius Let’s Talk about Race
Levy, Debbie Bigotry
Mann, Gurinder,
Numrich Singh, David Paul
and Raymond B. Williams Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs in America
Meiners, Cheri J. Accept and Value Each Person
Middleton, Don Dealing with Discrimination
Miller, Connie Colwell Tolerance
Nelson, Robin Respecting Others
Osborn, Kevin Tolerance
Palmer, Ezra Everything You Need to Know about
Discrimination
Pryor, Kimberley Jane Tolerance
Raatma, Lucia Tolerance
Rotner, Shelly Many ways : How families practice their
beliefs and religions
Sanders, Pete Dealing with Racism
Scheunemann, Pam Learning about Differences
Scheunemann, Pam Tolerance
Schuette, Saral L. I Am Tolerant
Singh, Pushpinder The Boy With the Long Hair
Wandberg, Robert Tolerance : Celebrating Differences
Watson, Susan Respecting Cultural Differences
Trade Books on Diversity
Barrow, Joy Sikhism
Buchanan, Sue Mud Pie Annie
Brown, Alan Christianity
Brown, Tricia Salaam: A Muslim American Boy's Story
Conover, Sarah Ayat Jamilah: Beautiful Signs
Davol, Margarite The Paper Dragon
Dewey, Jennifer Owings Minik's Story
Dhanjal, Beryl Sikhism
Douglass, Susan Ramadan
Freeman, Deena How People Live
Ganeri, Anita and Dalton,
David This Is My Faith: Sikhism
Graham, Ian Judaism
Hamilton, Olivia A Sikh Wedding
Katha, Amar Chitra Banda Bahadur
Katha, Amar Chitra Guru Gobind Singh
Katha, Amar Chitra Guru Nanak
Katha, Amar Chitra Guru Teg Bahad
Kaur, Kanwaljit Stories about Sikh Traditions
Khan, Rukhsana Muslim Child: Understanding Islam through
Stories and Poems
Lord, Bette Bao Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
Macaulay, David Mosque
Matthews, Mary Magid Fasts for Ramadan
Osa, Nancy Cuba 15
Perkins, Mitali Monsoon Summer
Prime, Ranchor Hinduism
Senker, Cath My Sikh Year
Singh, Amrit & Rabindra K. Bindhu's Weddings
Singh, Ravi Leadership by Turban – An American Story
Singha, S.H. and Satwant
Kaur The Illustrated Ardaas
Smalls, Irene, Paul
Goodnight and Melodye
Benson Rosales Jennie and the Christmas Masquerade: The
Johnkankus
Stanley, Diane Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam
Thompson, Jan Islam
Thompson, Mel Buddhism
Wolf, Bernard Coming to America: A Muslim Family's Story
Young, Ed Voices of the Heart