The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature

	Cultural Studies Theory

	Teaching Strategies

	Authors and Literary Works

	Additional Resources


		Explore two poems using four approaches.

		Share your views on the discussion board.

Teaching Strategies

Carey-Webb, Allen. Literature and Lives: A Response-Based, Cultural Studies Approach to Teaching English. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 2001.
This book uses classroom anecdotes to illustrate reader response and cultural studies methods. The author makes numerous connections between canonical works and multicultural writers, popular culture, politics, history, and contemporary youth issues. It is full of useful information about literary scholarship and theory, and provides extensive annotated bibliographies for multicultural literature.

Harvey, Karen, et al. How to Teach about American Indians: A Guide for School Library Media Specialist. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995.
This book provides insightful and practical information on teaching about Native American history and literature.

Lee, Carol D. Signifying As a Scaffold for Literary Interpretation: The Pedagogical Implications of an African American Discourse Genre. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1993.
Lee explores African American discourse patterns as they are enacted in conversation and African American literature, and discusses ways of facilitating African American students' literacy development through this discourse.

Lee, Enid; Deborah Menkart; and Margo Okazawa-Rey. Beyond Heroes and Holidays: A Practical Guide to K-12 Anti-Racist, Multicultural Education and Staff Development. Washington, DC: Network of Educators on the Americas, 1998.
This discussion of the ways in which school curricula promote racism includes practical ideas for transforming classroom instruction and school culture.

Maitino John R (ed). Teaching American Ethnic Literatures: Nineteen Essays. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1996.
This collection of essays describes college-level approaches to American ethnic literature and includes critical analysis, teaching strategies, activities, and a bibliography.

Olson, Carol B. Reading, Thinking, & Writing about Multicultural Literature. Glenview, IL: ScottForesman, 1996. The California Writing Project put together this collection of 29 writing exercises, each one based on a text. Texts studied include The Bluest Eye, The House on Mango Street, Like Water for Chocolate, and The Joy Luck Club.

Singh, Amritjit (ed). Memory and Cultural Politics: New Approaches to American Ethnic Literatures. Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1996.
This collection of essays features critical analysis and teaching strategies for American ethnic literatures.

Susag, Dorothea M. Roots and Branches: A Resource of Native American Literature -- Themes, Lessons, and Bibliographies. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1998.
This book provides analytic and pedagogic ideas for teachers of Native American literature.

Witalec, Janet and Joseph Bruchac (eds). Smoke Rising: The Native North American Literary Companion. New York: Visible Ink Press, 1995.
This teacher's reference guide focuses on traditional and contemporary Native American literature.

The American Indian Quarterly
http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_indian_quarterly/
This is the online home of American Indian Quarterly, a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary journal of scholarship featuring archived materials along with new articles.

American Pictures
http://www.american-pictures.com/english/
This multimedia presentation on racism and oppression is ideal for teaching reading through storytelling, and using pictures to address social and cultural issues.

Teaching Resources: Literary Lessons
http://home.att.net/~teaching/litlessons.htm
This site provides useful materials for literature circles, such as literary lesson files and graphic organizers.

Authors and Literary Works

The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature