Exploring the promise of multicultural literature: a case study exploring the impact of the use of mulitucultural literature on the engagement of students from diverse backgrounds

UnrestrictedFor years students from diverse backgrounds have continued to achieve at rates below those of their white peers. The educational community has termed this problem the achievement gap, and they have sought for years to find methods to improve this situation. This study examined the impact of the use of multicultural literature on the engagement of students from diverse backgrounds. Researchers have linked engagement to academic achievement. Interviews, observations, and document analysis were utilized to study whether there was a relationship between the use of multicultural literature and student engagement. Interviews focused on criteria used to select multicultural literature, as well as adult perceptions of student engagement. Observations examined student engagement. Document analysis was used to examine multicultural literature and student work samples.; Results from this study suggested that the use of multicultural literature could have a positive impact on the engagement of students from diverse backgrounds. Data from observations and interviews demonstrated that students were engaged when multicultural literature was utilized. The data also suggested that the teacher played a critical role in both providing access to multicultural literature, and facilitating student engagement. The teacher's active use of multicultural literature and efforts to incorporate it throughout the curriculum were an important catalyst for student engagement.; As the educational community continues to try to close the achievement gap, the use of multicultural literature as supported by this study appears to be promising, due to the fact that student engagement is a key factor in student achievement. When students are engaged, as they were with multicultural literature in this study, they perform better academically. There is however more to be learned. The data from this study suggested that the role of the teacher was central in how students related to multicultural literature. There is a need to continue examining both the impact of the use of multicultural literature, and the role of the teacher as is relates to the use of this type of literature