Learn how to foster student engagement, cultivate empathy, and encourage a love of reading by bringing diverse literature into the classroom
Using an instructional coaching framework, Read Outside Your Bubble introduces teachers to a new mindset for helping students develop literacy and become lifelong readers. By building an accessible and inclusive literacy curriculum, you can pique students' interest in the world outside their #bubbles. “Bubbles” are identity markers of race, religion, orientation, and socio-economic status. In this book, instructional coach and parent Nita Creekmore takes a conversational and research-backed approach to introducing her L.E.A.P framework, which guides you through the process of crafting your curriculum. You'll also learn how to develop lesson plans that increase compassion, cultivate empathy, and encourage a love of reading and history.
- Follow the research-backed L.E.A.P. framework to choose diverse reading selections for K-12 classrooms
- Learn step-by-step techniques for creating an inclusive curriculum that engages students in literacy
- Help turn students into lifelong learners by encouraging them to think beyond their own circumstances and think critically about the world around them
- Teach students how to compare and contrast themes and ideas across content areas
The primary audience is teachers, curriculum coaches, curriculum specialists, instructional coaches, and homeschooling parents will appreciate the practical, future-minded approach in Read Outside Your Bubble. This book brings diversity into classrooms in a way that will prepare students to participate in the creation of a more inclusive world.
Table of Contents:
Foreword by Charnaie Gordon xiii
My Why xv
What Does the Title of This Book Mean? xvi
Why I Wrote This Book xvii
The Pathway xviii
What You Will Find in This Book xix
Let’s Reflect xxi
Chapter 1: What Is a Bubble? 1
Bubble 1
Reading and Your Bubble 2
Making a Change 3
Why Should We Read Beyond Our Bubbles? 5
Beginning to Step Outside Your Bubble 6
Let’s Reflect 12
Chapter 2: Expand Your Relationship Bubble: Relationships and Reading 13
Relationships 13
Community Is the Heart 14
Let’s Cultivate Love in Our Community—In Our Relationships 15
Community Meetings + Reading + Connecting Outside Your Bubbles 16
Getting to Know the Students in Your Learning Community 17
Let’s Visualize 18
Knowing Your Students as Readers 20
Expand Your Everyday 23
Let’s Reflect 24
Chapter 3: The LEAP Framework for Inclusive Texts 25
Framework 25
The Learning Ladder 27
The LEAP Framework 32
Learning Using the LEAP Framework 35
Let’s Reflect 39
Chapter 4: Learning: Seeing Mirrors with Inclusive Text 41
Learn 41
Let’s Visualize 42
The Importance of Mirrors 43
The Reflection of Mirrors Cultivate Engagement 44
Cultivating Active Readers 45
Creating an Inclusive Environment 45
Let’s Reflect 53
Chapter 5: Learning: Opening Windows with Inclusive Text 55
Learn More 55
Let’s Visualize 56
Why Are Windows Important? 57
Looking Out the Window Cultivates Engagement 57
Cultivating Active Readers through Windows 58
Creating an Environment of Windows That Cultivates Compassion 59
Let’s Reflect 66
Chapter 6: Learning: Gliding through Sliding-Glass Doors with Inclusive Text 67
Learn Some More 67
Let’s Visualize 68
Why Are Sliding-Glass Doors Important? 69
Gliding through Sliding-Glass Doors Cultivates Engagement 71
Cultivating Active Readers through Sliding-Glass Doors 73
Creating an Environment That Promotes Sliding-Glass Doors When Reading 74
Readers Often Forget about Sliding-Glass Doors 77
Let’s Reflect 78
Contents xi
Chapter 7: Equitable: Integrating Inclusive Texts in Equitable Ways 79
Equity 79
The Impact of Inclusive Texts and Equity 80
Whose Book Is Not Displayed? 82
Integrate Inclusive Texts Equitably 83
Community and Equity 86
Let’s Reflect 87
Chapter 8: Access: Getting Inclusive Texts into Everyone’s Hands 89
Access 89
Ways to Get Access to Inclusive Books 91
Make Teaching and Learning with Inclusive Texts Accessible 95
Let’s Reflect 97
Chapter 9: Purposeful and Professional Learning: Building Skill and Routine to Transform Teaching and Learning 99
Purposeful and Professional Learning 99
Before Professional Learning 100
Planning for Professional Learning 102
Integrating Inclusive Texts Professional Learning Pathways 108
Take Time to Reflect on Professional Learning 111
Continue the Professional Learning 112
Let’s Reflect 113
Chapter 10: Banned Books = VIBs (Very Important Books) 115
Banned? 115
A Reframe: VIBs (Very Important Books) 117
Using Our Voices 118
Teaching Today with Book Bans Swirling Around 119
What’s Next with VIBs? 124
Let’s Reflect 125
Epilogue 127
References and Resources 129
About the Author 131
Index 133
About the Author :
Nita Creekmore is a distinguished educator and instructional coach consultant. As the founder of Love. Teach. Bless., Nita has dedicated her career to enhancing literacy education through diverse texts and supporting teachers in their instructional journey. She is also the co-owner (with her husband Michael) of Creekmore Conversations, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in building school relationships and parent education. Visit www.love-teach-bless.com to learn more about her work or follow the handle @LoveTeachBless on Instagram.
