Multicultural Literature (Questions) 1) What is multicultural literature? Multicultural literature is a literature of diversity.

. It can be described as a literature that portrays racial or ethnic groups. It represents the historical and current experiences of various cultural ethnic groups.

2) What is the purpose of learning multicultural literature? Learning multicultural literature can help children gain a better understanding of people from other countries and ethnic backgrounds.

3) Why multicultural literature is important in the classroom? Expand horizons - give opportunities for students to encounter people of different racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups. Open our eyes to other cultures Affirms identity - minority students feels recognised and appreciated Build understanding Build bridges - Cultural diversity is a strength for building powerful learning contexts. Difference, not sameness, makes a classroom and society strong.

4) What are the benefits of learning multicultural literature? Realize cultural heritage For the children of a specific ethnic minority, reading positive stories about their own ethnic group can increase self-esteem and make them feel part of a larger society Develop self-concepts and cultural identity. For children of a "majority" group, reading stories about other cultures can increase their sensitivity to those who are different from themselves, improve their knowledge of the world, and help them realize that although people have many differences, they also share many similarities. Learning other cultures allows students to understand people as individuals with feelings, emotions and needs- as human beings are not stereotypes. Learn to respect and value others Broaden childrens understanding of history, geography, and natural history when they read about cultural groups living in various regions of their country and the world. It has been proven to have positive developmental affects on children of all backgrounds.

Multicultural Literature (Questions) 5) What are the values of multicultural literature? Understand and respect each childs cultural group identities Respect and tolerance for the cultural differences, including differences of gender, language, race, ethnicity, religion and disabilities. Understand and respect universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. 6) What are the categories of multicultural literature? Racism Poverty Gender equity Religious beliefs 7) Who are the main cultural groups that can be included in multicultural literature? African-American Latino American Asian American Native American Jewish Not only them but also from around the world. (Middle-Eastern, Indian, South American) 8) What are the issues that we need to consider when we read books which are outside of our cultural familiarity? The words used may be unfamiliar and the context may place readers as outsiders. Readers may make different inferences than those anticipated by the author; thus, discussion is important. Discussion gives the chance to be exposed to ideas that may be new to readers and their way of thinking about a cultural group may be impacted in a positive manner.