Gemma Meade

Professor Donnelly

EDUC 375

15 November 2022

CRT Assignment

The first text I would choose to teach would be The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. This novel

follows sixteen year old Starr Carter. Starr is forced to navigate her two worlds: the poor neighborhood

where she lives and the fancy, suburban prep school she attends. Any semblance of peace or balance in

her life is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the

hands of a police officer. The story details Starr’s journey of finding a voice in activism as a young, black,

female. I read this book in high school when it first came out, but I think that it would be appropriate to

teach in an advanced eighth grade class or a ninth grade class. I think this book is a great way to

incorporate culturally relevant pedagogy into my classroom. Students find more value in the books they

read when they can see themselves in the characters they are reading about. Starr is an imperfect teenages

who is faced with really tough situations. I think students of color would be able to relate to the characters

in the book as they navigate racism, police brutality, and black empowerment. White students should also

be exposed to this type of literature since it is so realistic. It gives white students perspective into what

daily life is like for people of color, and how vastly different their worldly experiences are simply because

of the color of their skin. A NYS standard that I think pairs well with this text would be: 9-10R3:

“Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. In

literary texts, analyze how complex and/or dynamic characters develop, interact with other characters,

advance the plot, or develop a theme. In informational texts, analyze how the author unfolds an analysis

or argument, including the sequence, the introduction and development of ideas, and the connections that

exist”. The development of Starr’s character is extremely valuable for young readers and could teach them

a lot about how characters function in literature, while also incorporating real life issues. This text pairs

perfectly with the Delpit book and H. Richard Milner’s chapter called, “Yes, Race and Politics Belong in
the Classroom”. This article encourages teachers to include controversial topics into their classroom

instead of stifling them. This creates an effective environment for difficult conversations to be had. By

encouraging this dialogue, teachers are ensuring their students are well-informed. One activity that can be

done with The Hate U Give is pairing alongside Harry Potter. In the book, Starr loves Harry Potter, and

oddly enough her life has a lot of parallels to Harry’s in interesting ways. Harry’s journey to saving the

wizarding world reflects Starr’s mission to fight for justice in her community. Although, Starr's actions

are condemned while Harry’s are revered. This highlights an important racial double standard. Students

will appreciate discovering the connections between these two works which forces them to compare

character traits and also juxtapose fantasy and reality.

The second text that I would choose would be, The Skin I’m In by Sharon G. Flake. This story

follows Maleeka, a seventh grade girl who struggles with body image issues due to society's views on

women of color, as well as individual remarks and relentless bullying from her classmates. Throughout

the novel, Maleeka struggles, but ultimately succeeds in standing up for herself and coming to love the

skin she’s in. This novel covers issues such as bullying, racism, body image issues, which are all really

prevalent in the lives of middle schoolers. The standard I would pair with this novel would be 9-10R2,

“Determine one or more themes or central ideas in a text and analyze its development, including how it

emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; objectively and accurately summarize a text”. This

text encourages students to discover a broader understanding of an inclusive society in ways that they

might not have noticed before. This text pairs well with the Amy Milsom and Laura L. Gallo reading on

bullying and bullying prevention in middle school. This reading talked about bullying from both the

victims and bullies perspectives. I think it provided insight into the harmful ramifications of bullying, and

how they are lifelong. The Skin I’m In promotes important conversations to be had in the classroom about

bullying, bullying prevention, as well as race and racial identity.

It is also important to highlight the ways in which these texts can be adapted for struggling

readers. The text can be broken down into smaller, shorter paragraphs so that the reader does not become

overwhelmed. Additionally, key phrases or important words could be highlighted in the text, so the
student is aware of key vocabulary words. Reading the text as a whole group and guiding the reader

through the text can also increase comprehension. Discussing and summarizing key points after each

section can reinforce understanding. The goal is to make the text more accessible and less overwhelming,

so it is essential to adapt these strategies on an individual basis. Tailoring the approach to better suit the

reader’s level and interests can significantly enhance their reading experience.
 Citations

Thomas, Angie. The Hate U Give. Walker Books, 2017.

Flake, Sharon G. The Skin I’m In. Hyperion, 2000.