culturally relevant literature

what is it? why should i use it? and how?

Demographics in the United States have shifted. It’s up to Hannah Sikes
educators to meet the needs of their learners. Using
culturally relevant literature benefits the entire classroom,
as it allows children of color to see themselves in literature,
opens white students up to new experiences, and keeps
educators dynamic, constantly developing their collections
and engaging with their students.

what?
culturally relevant literature
texts that align with students’ backgrounds and
experiences (Kibler and Chapman, 2019)

1a. Demographic breakdown of learners in a 2014-2015

National Center for Education Statistics study (Kibler and
Chapman, 2019)

why?
Children at risk of falling behind need
individualized instruction. Children of color
(especially boys) are more likely to fall behind
than their white peers.
Children respond best when presented with
materials that reflect their interests and
experiences.
how?
50% of children’s books published in 2018 featured A multicultural experience encourages
white children (Dahlen and Huyck, 2019). Cultivating a students of all backgrounds to grow as critical
multicultural collection requires care. thinkers (Cartledge et. al, 2015).

• Get to know students generally and individually;

develop collection based on their needs
• Encourage inquiry and dialogue (Kimbler and
Chapman, 2019)

Cartledge, G., Keesey, S., Bennett, J. G., Ramnath, R., & Council, M. R. (2015). Culturally
Relevant Literature: What Matters Most to Primary-Age Urban Learners. Reading &
Writing Quarterly, 32(5), 399–426. doi: 10.1080/10573569.2014.955225

Dahlen, S., & Huyck, D. (2019). Diversity in Children’s Books 2018. [Image]. School Library
Journal. https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=an-updated-look-at-diversity-in-childrens-books

Kibler, K., & Chapman, L. A. (2019). Six Tips for Using Culturally Relevant Texts in Diverse
Classrooms. Reading Teacher, 72(6), 741–744. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1775

sof_lo. Child reading. [Image]. https://pixabay.com/photos/children-studying-book-reading-

2a. Breakdown of diversity by race in children’s book
read-670663/
for the year 2018 (Dahlen and Huyck, 2019)
Charts my own.