Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging in Literature

In our communities we celebrate diversity with special days to spread awareness to topics that matter. Pink shirt day for anti-bullying, light it up blue day in honor of autism awareness, rock your socks day for Down Syndrome awareness, black history month, truth and reconciliation day (or orange shirt day) to honour our Indigenous communities, and many more.

Thee days are important in bringing awareness to the diversities of our citizens young and old.

However, all too often the materials will be offered to our children and shared on these special days and then just as quickly removed from our programs.

In surveying educators, it was concluded that they do not always feel equipped to having these materials and conversations with their children and that there was a lagging understanding of the importance of offering these materials everyday.

Why everyday?: Keep these materials on your shelves and in your provocations at all times. By removing them after the special day we are indicating that they are important at only certain times of the year. As time goes on , without the materials our children will begin to forget. Instead, have the materials accessible at all times. Think.. how can I incorporate this into their current interests.

Ex:

The children's book "One Love"

Based on the song by Bob Marley, the story follows a black child through her day. We see her at home with her family starting her day, then she goes to school, where she is among her diverse peers in her community. This book is positive, uplifting, interactive with the reader and shares diversity in an authentic way. This book honors black history month but more so, this book honours black children, families and citizens and should be accessible always.

Diversity is everywhere. It is in our culture, our social economic status, our background, our faith and our ability. When assessing the literature in your classroom, ask yourself,

Have I identified each diverse citizen in this program?

Will each child find themselves, their culture, their dynamic, their family, their uniqueness in the material I offer?

Have I offered them materials that will help them to understand our differences?

Have I offered them materials that will have them k questions?

If you can say, for certain, that you have, then you are offering your children an inclusive environment where they feel a true sense of belonging.