Introduction

First, I would like to introduce myself. I am a senior at Michigan State University with a focus in Elementary education and a minor in Language Arts. I am writing this blog to discuss matters from a class I am currently taking called Issues of Diversity in Children's and Adolescents Literature. I am looking forward to reading the sampling of literature chosen for us. I also am interested in looking at the power of images, parallel cultures, class, religion, ability, gender and sexuality within each of the texts. I am hoping my blog may allow me to further our class discussions, while gaining experience with a new technology.

I am interested in diverse literature because I am specifically interested in literacy within education. I feel that it is extremely important to expose children and adolescents to diverse literature during these formative years. This exposure can make a difference in the lives of your students by allowing them to see themselves in the literature or by allowing your students to use the literature as a window into other cultures.