1990 | Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature

Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature
Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm CT / 6:30 pm ET

What books influenced your perspective when you were in school? Did you read stories about people from a variety of backgrounds? When you immerse yourself in a good book, even if the story is about someone who may seem dissimilar to you, your world is opened to different perspectives and you can recognize our shared humanity.

Integrating Asian American perspectives into English Language Arts and Literature classes involves actively involving students in discussions that delve into topics such as immigration, assimilation, racism, economic challenges, and justice, as well as familial and ethnic pride, resilience, and joy, as seen through Asian American experiences and voices. By incorporating a range of viewpoints from different backgrounds and using an interdisciplinary approach, educators can deepen students' knowledge of the vibrant cultural tapestry within our communities as well as enrich their understanding of material across their classes.

You’re invited to our upcoming Teachers Workshop titled “Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature” on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 3:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm CT / 6:30 pm ET with Speakers Noreen Naseem Rodriguez and Diana Liu.

This workshop is designed to equip middle and secondary school educators with valuable insights they can pass along to their students about Asian identity, history, and issues through literary works, with consideration to the intersectionality of race, ethnicity, gender, and other characteristics.

Presenters:

Noreen Naseem Rodríguez serves as an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education and Educational Justice in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on examining pedagogical practices employed by teachers of color and teaching of challenging historical topics through children's literature and primary sources. She has published over three dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, featured in esteemed publications like Harvard Educational Review, Journal of Children's Literature and Literacy Today.

She also co-authored "Social Studies for a Better World: An Anti-Oppressive Approach for Elementary Educators" alongside Katy Swalwell. She is currently working on a forthcoming project titled "Teaching Asian American in Elementary Classrooms" co-authored with Sohyun An and Esther Kim. Prior to her career in teacher education, Noreen was a bilingual elementary teacher in Austin, Texas for nine years.

Diana Liu is currently a secondary English Language Arts and English as a New Language educator in the New York City public school system. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, a master’s in English Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a certificate in TESOL through Hunter College. Diana is also a Ph.D. student in the English Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She also serves as an adjunct instructor to preservice teachers, cooperating/mentor teacher, curriculum developer, and workshop leader and serves as a member of several professional organizations including the National Council of Teachers of English’s (NCTE) Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity. She is one of NCTE’s 2020-2021 Early Career Educator of Color Leadership award recipients.