Grades K – 2
Rising Voices Themes and Anchor Texts
Rising Voices texts are organized by five culturally relevant themes. These themes provide springboards for all children to connect to concepts that resonate with their lives, experiences, and interests. The themes provide a lens for reading that guides readers to consider concepts and ideas that affirm, celebrate, and foster pride and confidence in their identities. In addition, you and your children will be able to use these themes to make connections between Rising Voices books and other texts you have been exploring in your classroom. Use Rising Voices books to help build discussion of these five essential themes within and across texts. Connect to Texts and Expand Thinking Anchor texts for each of the five Rising Voices themes are intended to be shared through an interactive, teacher-led, read-aloud experience. Teaching Cards for each anchor text provide discussion questions and activities that bring the theme to the forefront, promoting discussion, conversation, and deep thinking. Building on anchor text instruction and discussion, you and your children can read on in the collection, continuing to make connections and deepen their exploration of each theme.
Expand Theme Connections to Other Texts • What problem do the people in the book face? • What makes the people in the book special? • Which friends and family members is the main character closest to?
Anchor Texts Theme
Questions to Reflect On
Someone Like Me/ Memorable Characters
• Do things the main character says, does, or thinks remind me of myself or someone I know? • What might the author want me to take away from this book? • Do things the main character says, does, or thinks make me feel seen, respected, and valued for who I am and the experiences I’ve had? • What do I like most about my family? • What do I like most about my community? • How do my family and community help me? • What can I do to be helpful in my community?
Grade K
How does finding ways that people
Grade 1
I read about are like me help me to better understand myself and others?
• What makes the main character feel proud?
Grade 2
Family, Culture, and Community How do the people around me help me feel safe and enrich my life? How can I help others around me? How do the people around me help me feel like I belong?
• Who are the characters in the book? • How do families or community members in the book help each other? • What do people in the book do to help their family or community? • How are the people in this book like people in my family and community? How are they different?
Grade K
Grade 1
Grade 2
10 • Rising Voices: Celebrating Girls of Color
8 Rising Voices | Celebrating Girls of Color
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