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I used this read aloud to launch conversations on culture and the importance of cultural identity. There are a lot of ways to take this text!

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Little Lola has a homework assignment. Her teacher asks each of the students to draw the country they are originally from and bring it with them to class the next day. Lola's classmates are all excited to share their memories of their home countries, but Lola has a problem. Lola moved from "the Island" when she was a baby and doesn't have any memories to draw. "No problema", says her teacher, Ms. Obi, because even though Lola can't remember the Island, she has a family and community of people who do!

Genre - realistic fiction
Text Structure - picture book
Lexile Level - not yet available
Themes - Afro-Latino identity, Afro-Caribbean/Afro-Dominican culture, immigrant experience, family/community, self-knowledge/ancestry, appreciating diverse experiences

Why it's Validating/Affirming/Building/Bridging(VABB)
"Reading "Islandborn," I saw myself immortalized in a children's book for the first time, something that I would carry with me and my future family, forever. If I have a daughter one day, she won't have to wait until she's in her early 20s to see a character that resembles not just her looks but her life. The existence of "Islandborn" as a children's book gives young Afrolatino children a small slice of representation that didn't exist before." Bianca Betancourt - The Washington Post

Diaz validates/affirms the experiences of ALL immigrant children, in particular Afro-Latinx immigrant children, whose cultures/identities are often overlooked in discussions of race & identity in America

Builds/bridges the authentic lives and experiences of Afro-Latinx in a way that helps to challenge misinformation, misrepresentations and stereotypes of Afro-Latinx people

Illustrations validate/affirm the vibrant culture, skin color, hair texture, rich history and community of island born Afro-Latinx people in America.

Click here for complete article/interview
Culturally Responsive Lesson Ideas

Set it Off (Into the Text)

1. Walk and Talk (A Turn and Talk but with walking!) - Use a walk and talk to activate prior knowledge, and help students think about, share information about their home country, and/or community before reading.

Virtual Option - Have students stand up and walk around their chairs, musical chairs style, or around the room they are in. While they walk, they can practice saying their responses aloud. Have them get creative if they want and talk to a stuffed animal, toy, pet or someone in their home. Use an attention signal like "When I say 'have a'/ You say 'seat'" to have them sit back down. Use break out rooms to have them share, or use a non-volunteer protocol to have them share whole group.

Precise: Teacher sets a timer for the amount of time students will Walk and Talk. Even more precise, the teacher assigns a specific amount of time that each person talks in the Walk and Talk. Then the teachers signals students to transition back upon completion of the set amount of time.

Relative: Students are told to use the time for the Walk and Talk as needed. Each student does not need to talk a set amount of time. When their discussion is compete, give options for what the students can do next. (Think individual accountability)

Use with precise or relative time, which would be appropriate when sharing/discussing elements of Afro-Latinx culture. (See more about responsive teaching and Concept of Time in April VABB Perspectives)

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Islandborn by Junot Diaz - Responsive Reads

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Little Lola has a homework assignment. Her teacher asks each of the students to draw the country they are originally from and bring it with them to class the next day. Lola's classmates are all excited to share their memories of their home countries, but Lola has a problem.

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I used this TedTalk to discuss cultural identity and the importance of honoring one's cultural traditions.

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Kayla Briët: Why do I make art? To build time capsules for my heritage

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Kayla Briët creates art that explores identity and self-discovery -- and the fear that her culture may someday be forgotten. She shares how she found her creative voice and reclaimed the stories of her Dutch-Indonesian, Chinese and Native American heritage by infusing them into film and music time capsules.

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I used this image to have students explore the terms "inequality", "equality", "equity", and "justice". This lead to deep conversations that allowed students to 'unpack' their thinking on the idea of fairness.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds.

Images
Teaching the Difference Between Equality, Equity, and Justice in ...

paperpinecone.com

Images may be subject to copyright.

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Please click here if you are not redirected within a few seconds. Images Teaching the Difference Between Equality, Equity, and Justice in ... paperpinecone.com Images may be subject to copyright.

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I used this website to help students explore economic boundaries.

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Unequal Scenes portrays scenes of inequality around the world from a drone.