Using Nonfiction for Civic Engagement in Classrooms: Critical Approaches

by Vivian Yenika-Agbaw (Editor), Ruth McKoy Lowery (Editor), Paul H. Ricks (Editor)

Overview

The book examines social issues prevalent in nonfiction literature and texts for children, their impact on society, and offers ideas on how educators might guide students to engage these issues effectively and critically.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475842333
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/22/2018
Edition description:	Critical
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

Vivian Yenika-Agbaw is professor of children’s literature and literacy at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park. She teaches courses on children’s and adolescent literature. Ruth McKoy Lowery is professor of literacy and associate chair of the Department of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. She teaches courses on children's literature and literacy education. Paul H. Ricks is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at The Pennsylvania State University, where he currently teaches children’s literature courses.

Table of Contents

List of Tables Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Critical Conversations: Approaches Some Authors Have Adopted to Address Social Issues Vivian Yenika-Agbaw Chapter 2: You Too Can Make a Difference: Young Civil Rights Activists Terrell A. Young, Barbara A. Ward, and Deanna Day Chapter 3: Advocating for Immigrant Experiences in Nonfiction Literature Ruth McKoy Lowery, Kathleen Colantonio-Yurko and Cody Miller Chapter 4: Teaching for Social Justice: Nonfiction Texts and Multi-genre Writing Ann Berger-Knorr and Mary Napoli Chapter 5: Sixth Grade’s Inquiry into the World War II Japanese Internment Camps Yoo Kyung Sung and Junko Sakoi Chapter 6: Critical Conversations Using Native American Autobiographies Paul H. Ricks Chapter 7: Biographies as Bibliotherapy: Using Nonfiction to Help Boys Overcome Bullying Lunetta M. Williams and Kelly C. Scott Chapter 8: Creating Spaces for Critical Conversations on Issues of Social Justice Mary Ellen 'slick, Terri Robertson and Melissa Parks Chapter 9: Helpful Resources to Engage Children in Conversations on Social Issues in Nonfiction Literature Suzanne Chapman, Mario Worlds, and Soowon Jo Contributors’ Biography

Editorial Reviews

Facts…or alternative facts. Now is an era when critical reading of nonfiction texts is vitally important, a need which this timely volume addresses. Its nine chapters focus on some of the most pressing issues of our time—racism, immigration, bullying—framed by critical lenses and demonstrated through teaching examples and current, noteworthy nonfiction titles. A new important resource for both classroom practitioners and teacher educators who empower students to strive for social justice!

Barbara Lehman

Reading this book feels like participating in a seminar in social justice literature. The authors present a wide variety of voices that make readers eager to dive into the examined texts. Chapter by chapter, readers will gain inspiration and courage to modify their teaching. Classroom by classroom, this book will help change the world.

Janet Wong

This book is a timely, much-needed resource for teachers who seek to engage their students in examining the issues of equality and power that we all face in today's complex and interconnected world.  Using nonfiction literature as a springboard, teachers can tap into the examples and strategies provided to promote critical inquiry and dialogue in the safe space of their classrooms.  The authors show teachers how to spur students to dig deeper into a wide range of social justice topics, using a problem-posing stance to investigate point-of-view, subjectivity, and accuracy of nonfiction literature.

Gail V. Ritchie