Spotlight on Young Children: Equity and Diversity
About the Book
Educators know that children’s uniquely rich and complex identities, experiences, families, cultures, and backgrounds shape their learning and development. The challenge—and the ultimate goal—is recognizing these strengths, building on children’s diverse knowledge and abilities, and empowering children to succeed. Informed and influenced by NAEYC’s forthcoming position statement on equity and diversity, this collection of articles contextualizes how educators of children from birth through third grade can advance equity and embrace diversity. It features a broad spectrum of topics, including how to
- Examine your own implicit biases and reflect on their influence on your beliefs and actions
- Address and navigate conversations about race and racism with children and their families
- Welcome and support families of all structures in your program
- Incorporate policies and practices that recognize and value immigrant and refugee children and their families
- Collaborate with professionals across your community to advocate for high-quality early learning opportunities for all children
Expand your knowledge and strengthen your commitment to designing and using inclusive and responsive curricula, teaching practices, and learning environments that help all children thrive in school and in life.
Table of Contents
This section includes links to full chapters from inside the book (PDF).
-
Introduction
Cristina Gillanders -
The Gifts of the Stranger: Learning from Others' Differences
Susan Bernheimer and Elizabeth Jones -
Moving Beyond Anti-Bias Activities: Supporting the Development of Anti-Bias Practices
Lisa P. Kuh, Debbie LeeKeenan, Heidi Given, and Margaret R. Beneke -
Capitalizing on Culture: Engaging Young Learners in Diverse Classrooms
Tyrone C. Howard -
Addressing the African American Achievement Gap: Three Leading Educators Issue a Call to Action
Barbara T. Bowman, James P. Comer, and David J. Johns -
Voices of Immigrant Families in Early Childhood Settings
Jennifer Keys Adair and Alejandra Barraza -
Challenging Gender Stereotypes: A Teacher's Reflections on Counteracting Gender Bias
Nadia Jaboneta, with Deb Curtis -
Reading Books, Writing Books: Reading and Writing Come Together in a Dual Language Classroom
Paola Pilonieta, Pamela L. Shue, and Brian T. Kissel -
Becoming Upended: Teaching and Learning About Race and Racism with Young Children and Their Families
Kirsten Cole and Diandra Verwayne -
Supporting Gay and Lesbian Families in the Early Childhood Classroom
Anna Paula Peixoto da Silva -
Developing Biliteracy with Intentional Support: Using Interactive Word Walls and Paired Learning
Iliana Alanís, Irasema Salinas-Gonzalez, and María G. Arreguín-Anderson -
"Don't Let My Son Dress Up as a Girl!": An Ethical Dilemma
Stephanie Feeney and Nancy K. Freeman -
Research to Practice: New Research on Helping Young Children Develop Positive Racial Identities
Ira E. Murray and Adam J. Alavarez -
Building a More Inclusive Sandbox: Inviting New Collaborators to Support Children, Families, and Early Learning
Titus DosRemedios
Book Details
ISBN: 978-1-938113-41-3
Publish Date: 2019
Related Resources
Position Statement
REVISED DRAFT: Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education - The final draft of NAEYC's position statement, "Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education" is now available for view. The time has come for a clear position statement on equity and diversity to guide our work as we define and advance the early childhood education profession and ensure high-quality early learning for all young children.
Webinar
Advancing Equity—Maximizing Learning in Diverse Classrooms - NAEYC hosted a webinar on advancing equity and its commitment to all children reaching their full potential. Watch this hour-long presentation as Tyrone Howard and Maurice Sykes discuss practical, classroom-based strategies for teacher and child agency in the service of social and racial justice.
Study Guide
Download the study guide for additional resources on Equity and Diversity.
Online Articles
Embracing Equity: Helping All Children Reach Their Full Potential - In this column, Rhian Evans Allvin outlines the initiatives around anti-bias education. This article appeared in Young Children’s May 2018 issue, which focuses on expanding educational equity and shrinking the achievement gap in early childhood education. (Young Children, May 2018)
Toward Equity - Read this column from NAEYC’s CEO to learn more about the ongoing anti-bias initiatives that are currently in development. (Young Children, November 2018)
Looking for more resources on Equity and Diversity? Visit our topic page to browse our collection of articles on the topic.
Cristina Gillanders, PhD, is associate professor at the University of Colorado Denver in the School of Education and Human Development’s early childhood education program. Her research focuses on dual language learners’ development and learning.
Rossella Procopio is editor of Books and Related Resources at NAEYC.
Reviews
The contributors of this resource are to be congratulated on this highly original and enormously useful collection of articles. Grounded in the lived experiences of teachers, children, and families, it gives a fresh perspective on how to create deeper understandings and develop effective responses to the wide range of abilities, cultures, family structures, languages, and opportunities so evident in our classrooms.
—Linda M. Espinosa, Professor Emerita of Early Childhood Education, University of Missouri, Columbia
What a transformative guide for early childhood educators who want to broaden their understanding of equity and bias! This book takes a revolutionary stance by calling on educators to engage in the challenging work of self-reflection and research, to consider their own culture, and to carry it with them into the classroom as they implement curriculum. Readers will be inspired by this important book and gain valuable tools and strategies for engaging colleagues in discussions about class, immigration status, race, and more.
—Brian Silveira, Lead Teacher and Program Coordinator, Pacific Primary
This volume invites educators to journey along a path of self-reflection and inquiry to explore issues of culture, race, equity, and bias. Each article provides a building block for examining personal values and beliefs as well as strategies for deepening and contextualizing knowledge and understanding of children’s and families’ strengths.
—Lisa Gordon, Project Director, School Systems Partnerships & Programs, Bank Street Education Center, Bank Street College of Education
