Kaitlyn Batts

Independent Study
Dean Metzger
October 26, 2023
Literature Recommendations for Website
1. Book Title: The Circles All Around Us
Intended Audience: Young children
Link to book:The Circles All Around Us Amazon
Author: Brad Montague
How does it relate to the topic: This book touches on the idea of community and
explains to young readers the importance of opening our “circles” to diversify and let
new people in. I believe that reading this book to young students in school is so
incredibly important because there are so many different cultures and types of students
that students will be exposed to that they won’t always be familiar with.
2. Book title:Included
Author: Jayneen Sanders
Intended Audience: children's book
Link to book:Amazon link to “Included”
How does it relate to the topic: This book is a great way to introduce to students the
idea of inclusion. It shared the story of a few students with various abilities and
backgrounds with students. The main idea behind the story is that kids with disabilities
are not different from kids with no disabilities; they often enjoy the same things. The
story also shares some ideas to the students on how to include students with everyday
activities. Although inclusion is always the aim for the classroom for teachers, explaining
inclusion to students is another great tool to ensure that the classroom environment is
truly inclusive because students are also part of the classroom.
3. Book Title:“I Wish My Teacher Knew”
Author: Kyle Schwatz
Intended Audience: educators/teachers
Link to book: Barnes and Noble link to purchase book
How does it relate to the topic: The topic for this website is creating safe and inclusive
classrooms for all students. I really like this book because it introduces an activity titled
“What I wish my teacher knew…”. This is a sentence frame that students fill out on
something as simple as a sticky note. The teacher gives students the opportunity to share
whatever they want to share with their teacher, whether it's a joke or something more
serious. As an educator, this book inspired me and I think it's a great read.
4. Book Title: You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why It Matters
Intended Audience: Adults (self-help book)
Link to book:Amazon link to the book
How does it relate to the topic: Listening is such an essential skill that often, in my
opinion, isn’t conducted properly. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in conveying our
 point that we are not actively listening. This book does an excellent job of pointing this
issue out and suggesting methods to ensure that we are having productive conversations.
5. Book Title: The Smallest Spot of a Dot: The Little Ways We’re Different, The Big Ways
We’re the Same
Intended Audience: young children/ students
Link to book: Amazon link to the book
How does it relate to the topic: The Smallest Spot of a Dot touches on the concept of
being unique. It touches on the idea of inclusion, which is the topic of this website.
Usually, I don't like the cliche saying of “we are all different and that's okay” because it's
such a blanket comment. In addition, I often think of the idea of being different as a
negative thing. However, I love that this book actually explains what makes us unique
and encourages students to embrace it. I also love this book because it provides a great
deal of representation for students to feel seen in their classroom.
6. Book Title: Safe Spaces: Making Schools and Communities Welcoming to LGBT Youth
Intended Audience: Administrators/ school staff/ educators
Link to book:Amazon link to purchase this book
How does it relate to the topic: Inclusion is far beyond just racially. This book
thoroughly specifies the challenges and situations that young LGBT members in a school
environment have faced. I think this minority group is often left out when we think of
making students feel seen and heard in a classroom. This book would be a great read for
educators that want to look into how to better support their students that might identify in
the LGBTQ community.