Using multicultural literature in the classroom to encourage tolerance and respect

The purpose of this research study was to determine what happens when multicultural children's literature is used to supplement the kindergarten curriculum. Over the course of four weeks, students were read eight books about diverse cultures during centers and during circle time. Qualitative inquiry strategies such as parent questionnaires, audio recordings of small group and whole group discussions, student artifacts, and observations recorded in a teacher research journal were all used as a means of collecting data. Upon analyzing the data and searching for main ideas throughout the study, I found that multicultural picture books helped the children become more comfortable with talking about difference in a positive way. Additionally, it helped encourage the students to search for similarities between their own lives and the lives of members of diverse cultures around the world. Lastly, this study supported the idea that read-alouds are an effective way to present multicultural literature to young children in the classroom in an effort to supplement the standard curriculum.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.T. Teaching

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Teacher Education

Year dc:date.available

2011

Author dc:creator

• Hartmann, Laurel

Contributors dc:contributor

• Madden, Marjorie

• Multiculturalism; Children's literature
• Elementary Education and Teaching

Repository record dc:identifier

https://rdw.rowan.edu/etd/122

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rdw.rowan.edu:etd-1121