Exploring the Impact of Culturally Responsive Young Adult Literature When Teaching Common Core Literacy Standards

• In Event: 75.053 - Strategic Approaches to Literacy Development

Abstract

In this study on culturally responsive Young Adult literature with middle school students, the achievement of two reading classes were compared. Group means on a state-developed benchmark assessment and on unit tests were compared with ANCOVAs, controlling for previous reading achievement. The intervention group, which read literature featuring Mexican American protagonists, performed significantly better on curriculum-based assessments (p=0.014) than the comparison group, which read the traditional textbook. According to questionnaires completed by the intervention group, students enjoyed and could make personal connections to the culturally responsive Young Adult literature.

Authors

• Janine J. Darragh, University of Idaho

• Elaine Radmer, Gonzaga University