The Interdependence of Social Awareness and Literacy Instruction

It is essential to help foster students' social awareness in addition to their academic skills. Through discussions of stories that emphasize social issues such as racism and prejudice, students have the opportunity to develop and explore their own beliefs. But what do they really learn, and how? In this article, the authors document their efforts to understand children's comprehension, both of socially themed books and of the belief systems they represent. They also describe the supports that must be provided to ensure that students comprehend the plot of a story and the underlying messages. Finally, the authors offer suggestions for supporting children at different levels within the classroom, as well as appropriate books for children of different ages. (Contains 1 table.)