Controversial+Issues+and+Topics


 * How to Deal with Conterversial Issues and Topics through Literacy **

**No matter how hard you try to avoid it, eventually controversial issues and topics will come up in your classroom. Issues can arise from current events, the curriculum, or topics brought up by the students or the students' background. How you react as a teacher is very important. There is a big difference between reacting in a deeply shocking manner and calmly discussing and educating student on the issue or topic. Integrating literacy is an excellent way to incorporate language teaching while educationg students on social responsibility and controversial issues.

Here is an article from [|ERIC digest] about controversial issues in the classroom.**  [|A website about teaching and learning about racial issues in the classroom.].

[|How to deal with prejudice and racism in your classroom.]

[|Raising gay/lesbian issues in your classroom]  "Tackling Controversial Issues in the Primary School: Facing Life's Challenges with Your Learners" by Richard Wolley. This book discusses several issues that may come up in your classroom, and how to educate your students about them.


 * These are books to use in your classroom to help educated and discuss controversial issues that may arise:**

For students who may have a family member in jail:

"The Visiting Day" by Jacqueline Woodson



Adoption

"We Belong Together" by Todd Park



Death:

"I Miss You" by Pat Thomas



"When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death" by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown



 Homosexuality

"And Tango Makes Three" by Justin Richardson and Peter Parneff



"Heather Has Two Mommies" by Leslea Newman



Racism

"The Skin I'm In: A First Look at Racism" by Pat Thomas



"The Colors of Us" by Karen Katz

 The Environment: "Not Your Typical Book About the Environment" by Elin Kelsey