Reading Across Cultures: Teaching Literature in a Diverse Society (Language and Literacy Series (Teachers College Press))

The process of "Reading Across Cultures: Teaching Literature in a Diverse Society" does not occur without struggle and resistance, and there are no operating instructions for teachers. Instead, these stories and insights from a range of students, teachers and classrooms are offered to continue the conversation about literature, culture and teaching. The book should be an important resource in graduate courses in literacy and children's/YA literature and courses in teaching of literature, as well as for teachers of English. The book features: application of reader response theories to issues that arise when teaching multicultural literature; real-life vignettes from actual elementary, secondary and teacher education classrooms; and extensive discussions and listings of multicultural literature and films for children and young adults. Stories of actual classrooms and the ways teachers teach a variety of texts illustrate that literature can be a catalyst for engaging students in critical discussions and eliciting multiple perspectives and voices in pursuit of understanding. The following selections are included: (1) "Negotiating the Meaning of Differences: Talking Back to Multicultural Literature" (Patricia E. Enciso); (2) "Re-Visioning Reading and Teaching Literature through the Lens of Narrative Theory" (William McGinley and others); (3) "Students' Resistance to Engagement with Multicultural Literature" (Richard Beach); (4) "No Imagined Peaceful Place: A Story of Community, Texts, and Cultural Conversations in One Urban High School English Classroom" (Theresa Rogers); (5) "Multiplicity and Difference in Literary Inquiry: Toward a Conceptual Framework for Reader-Centered Cultural Criticism" (Mary Beth Hines); (6) "Exploring Multicultural Literature as Cultural Production" (Arlette Ingram Willis); (7) "Reflections on Cultural Diversity in Literature and in the Classroom" (Laura E. Desai); (8) "Out of the Closet and onto the Bookshelves: Images of Gays and Lesbians in Young Adult Literature" (Mari M. McLean); (9) "Reader-Response Theory and the Politics of Multicultural Literature" (Mingshui Cai); and (10) "Reading Literature of Other Cultures: Some Issues in Critical Interpretation" (Anna O. Soter). Each chapter contains references. (SLD) Classroom Stories. Negotiating The Meaning Of Difference : Talking Back To Multicultural Literature / Patricia E. Enciso -- Re-visioning Reading And Teaching Literature Through The Lens Of Narrative Theory / William Mcginley [and Others] -- Students' Resistance To Engagement With Multicultural Literature / Richard Beach -- No Imagined Peaceful Place : A Story Of Community, Texts, And Cultural Conversations In One Urban High School English Classroom / Theresa Rogers -- Multiplicity And Difference In Literary Inquiry : Toward A Conceptual Framework For Reader-centered Cultural Criticism / Mary Beth Hines -- Authors, Teachers, And Texts. Exploring Multicultural Literature As Cultural Production / Arlette Ingram Willis -- Reflections On Cultural Diversity In Literature And In The Classroom / Laura E. Desai. Out Of The Closet And Onto The Bookshelves : Images Of Gays And Lesbians In Young Adult Literature / Mari M. Mclean -- Reader-response Theory And The Politics Of Multicultural Literature / Mingshui Cai -- Reading Literature Of Other Cultures : Some Issues In Critical Interpretation / Anna O. Soter. Edited By Theresa Rogers And Anna O. Soter ; Foreword By Rudine Sims Bishop. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. The process of reading across cultures, and teaching literature in a diverse society does not occur without struggle. There are no operating instructions for teachers. These stories and insights from a range of students and teachers are offered to continue the conversation.