While text and literacy can promote equity by introducing readers to a wider and more diverse set of content and situations than they may encounter in everyday life, they can also be used to promote a sense of belonging within the smaller context of a classroom. Literature can help children develop their cultural identity by providing positive representations of their culture and strengthening their self-identity. In turn, literature can also help children understand and appreciate other cultures, which can reduce negative stereotypes (Al-Hazza & Bucher, 2008). Over time, traits like a positive racial identity and a sense of belonging have also been associated with higher academic motivation and resilience (Butler-Barnes et al., 2018). Through text selection alone, R.E.A.L. can promote diverse perspectives and increase cultural awareness by using a highly varied collection of books for the read-aloud. Allowing children to then take these books home expands their impact further, making a wide range of stories and cultural perspectives available to the whole family. The titles selected for use within R.E.A.L. are curated based on the developmental needs of a child, whether they are in preschool or a proficient reader in eighth grade. The result of this work is a list of titles that promotes diversity, equity, and belonging in a way that is relevant for children, regardless of age.
Figure 5. Example of a book title used within the R.E.A.L. program that promotes women and the value of role models.
My biggest joy is introducing culturally responsive books to all students. I love it when all students can see themselves in the books they are reading. Janet Bertrand, an assistant principal using R.E.A.L. in Veterans Park Elementary, Kentucky
SCHOLASTIC R.E.A.L. FOUNDATION PAPER 14
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