Perspectives for a Diverse America is a K-12 literacy-based anti-bias curriculum aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy. The Integrated Learning Plan revolves around a unique collection of meaningful texts that speak to a diversity of voices and reflect the goals of anti-bias education. The Perspectives central text anthology follows the Common Core’s approach to text complexity as well as the expectation that students be exposed to a balance of text types.
Take a sneak peek at the kinds of texts Teaching Tolerance has curated to be included in the Perspectives for a Diverse America text collection:
K-2 Central Text Exemplars
Title: “Beyond the Barbed Wire” by Helen Tsuchiya
Text Type: informational, literary nonfiction
Grade Level: K-2
Voices/Issues: Immigration, Race and Ethnicity
Anti-bias Domains: Diversity, Justice
Title: “A Girl and a Word” by Laura Linn
Text Type: Informational, literary nonfiction
Grade Level: K-2
Voices/Issues: Ability
Anti-bias Domains: Justice, Action
3-5 Central Text Exemplars
Title: In Our
Mother’s House by Patricia Polacco
Text Type: literature, narrative
Grade Level: 3-5
CCSS Text Level: middle to end of 5th grade
Voices/Issues: Gender Expression, Sexual Orientation
Anti-bias Domains: Diversity
Title: “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth
Text Type: informational, speech
Grade Level: 3-5
CCSS Text Level: early to middle of 5th grade
Voices/Issues: Race and Ethnicity, Gender Equity, Wealth
and Poverty
Anti-bias Domains: Identity, Justice
6-8 Central Text Exemplars
Title:
“Deaf Culture: Changes and Challenges” by Paul Bacon
Text Type: informational, essay
Grade Level: 6-8
CCSS Text Level: middle to end of 8th grade
Voices/Issues: Ability
Anti-bias Domains: Diversity, Justice, Action
Title:
“Why Chicken Means So Much to Me” by Sherman
Alexie
Text Type: literature, narrative
Grade Level: 6-8
CCSS Text Level: early to middle of 7th grade
Voices/Issues: Race and Ethnicity, Wealth and Poverty
Anti-bias Domains: Identity
9-12 Central Text Exemplars
Title: “Hand Me Downs” by Sarah Kay
Text Type: literature, spoken word poetry
Grade Level: 9-12
CCSS Text Level: early to middle of 9th grade
Voices/Issues: Gender Expression
Anti-bias Domains: Identity, Justice
Title: “Why Should We March?” by A. Philip Randolph
Text Type: informational, journal article
Grade Level: 9-12
CCSS Text Level: middle of 11th to early of 12th
grade
Voices/Issues: Race and Ethnicity, Wealth and Poverty Anti-bias Domains: Justice, Action
