Using multicultural literature across curriculum to foster an understanding and acceptance of diversity

The purpose of this teacher research was to (a) use multicultural literature across curriculum to foster an understanding and acceptance of diversity and (b) examine more deeply how using multicultural literature in this manner might impact student learning, teacher-student relationships, student-student relationships and the overall environment of an elementary school classroom. In response to a cross-curricular multicultural literature unit, the four first grade self-contained participants of this study demonstrated progression from a recognition of physical differences to an acceptance of diversity. My methods for data collection were: keeping a teacher journal, conducting teacher interviews, informal student interviews, read-alouds, audio recordings of student discussion, daily observations and student response activities, such as role playing and drawings. Student responses are analyzed in terms of the impact of multicultural literature on student attitudes, behavior, and learning. The students were able to apply a newfound view of diversity to their daily classroom interactions with one another. Also discussed are the benefits and challenges of using multicultural literature within a special education setting