Children's Literature as Counterstory: Teaching Asian American History Through Picture Books

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 79
  In Roundtable Session: Emerging Research in the Teaching of History

Abstract

Asian American history is minimally addressed in secondary history textbooks and typically absent in elementary social studies curriculum. However, the recent increase in Asian American children's literature offers educators an opportunity to introduce Asian American narratives, history, and culture through picture books. This qualitative case study of three elementary teachers examines how they used Asian American children's literature to teach Asian American counterstories. In particular, their pedagogical approaches disrupted simplistic pro-American narratives and traditional assimilationist immigrant stories of overcoming adversity. Given the post-NCLB trend of elementary educators integrating social studies with language arts, this study has important implications for current and prospective elementary social studies teachers.

Author

• Noreen Naseem Rodriguez, Iowa State University