S10 Episode 6: Inclusive Literacy Practices with JoEllen McCarthy

Episode Notes

The books we chose to read to students and have in our classroom hold power. In this episode, 3Ps in a Pod hosts Mary and Marlys continue their focus on literacy from last week’s episode to this conversation with JoEllen McCarthy.

McCarthy is an educator whose work centers on the power of books and how to use books as co-teachers. In this episode, she shares the importance of books that represent and tell the stories of people from a variety of identities, cultures, and lived experiences. Mary, Marlys, and McCarthy share several strategies for staying alert to these books, including:

• Cooperative Children’s Book Center from the University of Wisconsin-Madison 
• Kirkus Reviews
• A Default in Our Stars, an article by Linda Sue Park in School Library Journal
• Reading for Social Justice from Learning for Justice (previously Teaching for Tolerance)
• The Strong Classroom Assessment from The Educator Collaborative
• JoEllen McCarthy on Twitter and Instagram
• HeartprintBooks on Instagram
• Layers of Learning by JoEllen McCarthy

Along with how to find and reflect on heartprint books, McCarthy talks about how to use these books to invite conversation that will nurture community, agency, respect, and empowerment. Conversely, she also shares how to address books that may do harm.

McCarthy also unveils the books she is currently excited for others to read. Be sure to check out the Arizona K12 Center’s group 3Ps in a Pod: An Education Podcast Community to talk about what recently published children’s books you love to share with students in your classroom!

Learn more about the Arizona K12 Center at azk12.org.