Teaching K-5 Reading Using an Anti-Bias Framework

PURPOSE: General education teachers are unprepared on how to pick culturally sensitive books and use it for reading instruction targeted towards English Learners (ELs) from diverse backgrounds. The purpose of this project is to train general education teachers using an anti-bias framework of how to include diverse texts in their everyday reading curriculum and instruction. PROCEDURES: The project was created by first identifying standards from Teaching Tolerance’s anti-bias framework. These age appropriate standards are organized based on grade level bands (K-2 and 3-5) and four categories: identity, diversity, justice, and action. For this project, standards from each category were identified and aligned to the appropriate grade level Common Core English Language Arts Standards. The alignment also includes examples of diverse texts to use based on the standards and grade level. OUTCOME: This project is a flexible curriculum curated for K-5 general education teachers to use and modify as they see fit based on their classroom needs. It is meant to equip teachers with an anti-bias framework to use when including texts and stories. Teachers will be introduced to it at a professional development workshop at the beginning of the year so they have time to plan an inclusive reading curriculum grounded on anti-bias. IMPACT: The number of ELs across public schools in the United States has grown exponentially and continues to increase. This makes it crucial to reshape the general education curriculum in a manner that mirrors the diversity of the student population and meets their academic needs. The aforementioned project is meant to train teachers how to include diverse texts into their reading curriculum so they can reduce bias and stereotypes, empower ELs, and also improve their reading skills