Honoring Multiple Identities Using Multicultural Literature

Multicultural texts are essential classroom tools because they create opportunities for all students to feel visible, included, and valued. In this summary paper, the authors begin with an overview of why multicultural literature and multiple identities have a place inside elementary and secondary classrooms. The authors then describe three literacy practices embedded with hands-on teaching activities to support the use of multicultural literature in the classroom. The authors argue that given the current sociopolitical realities of injustice, discrimination, and violence, multicultural literature is an essential classroom tool to honor children and youth's humanity and safeguard their well-being.