Teaching for Social

Justice:
Social Justice in Read
Aloud Texts
By Abby Maiwald
 Social Justice
Education
Teaching with a focus on
developing critical awareness
about marginalization of
minority groups- disrupting the
status quo.

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Why use Read Aloud
Texts?
Magical Consciousness of Injustice
× Superficial
× Controlled by dominant powers
× Powerless to create change

Critical Consciousness of Injustice

× Deeper understanding
× “Problematic”
× Sense of agency to create
change
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 Texts are
powerful, BUT
They cannot
stand alone.
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Why do we choose books?
× Texts as windows

× Texts as mirrors

× Texts as tools

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 Your Turn

Spend the next 10 minutes working in

your table groups to read children’s
books and identify them as windows,
mirrors, or tools for the students you
work with. Think about what you could
do with the book before, during, and
after reading. 6
How do we choose books?
Some things to consider when choosing books:
× What voices are included?
× Does the book perpetuate stereotypes?
× Is the book relevant?
× Will my students connect with the book?
× Does the book build on students’ background knowledge?
× Does the book disrupt the status quo?
Also consider:
× What voices are not heard?
× What issues are not addressed?

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Where should we begin?
Look at illustrations
× Overgeneralizations/Stereotypes
× Invisibility
× Tokenism
Examine the relationships and lifestyles depicted
× Power
× Bias
Think about the author
× Experiences
× Purpose

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 Your Turn
Spend the next 10 minutes working in
your table groups to read children’s
books and consider the questions listed
on your handout, the illustrations, power
relationships, and authors. Discuss with
your groups what purpose you might use
each book for, strengths, and potential
issues.
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Thanks!
Any questions?
You can find me at:
amaiwald@mnps.org

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