This groundbreaking text provides practical, contextualized methods for teaching and discussing topics that are considered "taboo" in the classroom in ways that support students’ lived experiences. In times when teachers are scapegoated for adopting culturally sustaining teaching practices and are pressured to "whitewash" the curriculum, it becomes more challenging to create an environment where students and teachers can have conversations about complex, uncomfortable topics in the classroom. With contributions from scholars and K-12 teachers who have used young adult literature to engage with their students, chapters confront this issue and focus on themes such as multilingualism, culturally responsive teaching, dis/ability, racism, linguicism, and gender identity. Using approaches grounded in socioemotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and historical and racial literacy, this text explores the ways in which books with complicated themes can interact positively with students’ own lives and perspectives. Ideal for courses on ELA and literature instruction, this book provides a fresh set of perspectives and methods for approaching and engaging with difficult topics. As young adult literature that addresses difficult subjects is more liable to be considered "controversial" to teach, teachers will benefit from the additional guidance this volume provides, so that they can effectively reach the very students these themes address.

The neglect of faith and religious diversity within educational practices poses a significant challenge in fostering inclusive learning environments. The current educational landscape often overlooks the profound impact of religion on individuals' identities and beliefs, leading to a lack of understanding and appreciation for diverse faith perspectives. This omission limits the potential for meaningful dialogue and hinders the development of equitable educational spaces. The Role of Faith and Religious Diversity in Educational Practices, edited by Jason DeHart, offers a compelling solution to address this critical issue. This transformative book explores the intersections between faith and educational practices, drawing on research-based narratives and studies to illuminate the implications of policy and practice through a faith-based lens. By embracing a broad definition of religion and faith, it fosters diverse perspectives and encourages critical reflection on the importance of religious diversity in education. Through practical insights and evidence-based guidance, this book empowers researchers and educators to create inclusive spaces for faith-related discussions and develop policies that honor and respect religious identities. By engaging with this book, scholars and educators can take tangible steps toward cultivating inclusive and enriching learning environments that value and celebrate the diverse religious perspectives of all students.

In today's developing view of education, a disquieting trend looms—the erosion of students' right to choose what they read. This erosion, fueled by an alarming surge in censorship attempts, casts a shadow over the very essence of intellectual exploration. Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented number of challenges aimed at restricting access to books, targeting themes that embrace human diversity, inclusivity, and the tapestry of life itself. As educators, administrators, and scholars grapple with this critical juncture, Supporting Students’ Intellectual Freedom in Schools: The Right to Read serves as a comprehensive resource they can turn to for support and knowledge. This book is a call to action, resonating with teachers, school librarians, administrators, and scholars who refuse to let censorship erode the foundations of education. As censorship attempts proliferate, its chapters offer fortification, providing educators at all levels with the tools to safeguard students' intellectual freedom. From the hallowed halls of academia to the vibrant classrooms of K-12, the insights within these pages shape curricula, conversations, and a collective commitment to nurturing minds that thrive on diversity and inquiry. In a world clamoring for unwavering advocates of intellectual freedom, Supporting Students’ Intellectual Freedom in Schools is not just a solution—it is a declaration of resolute solidarity in the pursuit of knowledge and the unassailable right to read.

Academic scholars in the field of education face a pressing dilemma – the need for meaningful, transformative adult learning that can lead to equitable access and outcomes for all learners in P-20 classrooms. Despite over two decades of experience, the educational community still grapples with the challenge of creating an environment that fosters professional development with a lasting impact. This issue undermines the very foundation of our educational system, hindering both educators and students from reaching their full potential. Exploring Meaningful and Sustainable Intentional Learning Communities for P-20 Educators is a groundbreaking edited book that provides answers to this critical problem by offering an innovative approach to learning from more than 20 years of wisdom from P-20 educators. It presents a comprehensive exploration of intentional learning communities, demonstrating their historical significance, defining their principles, and outlining the incredible benefits they bring to the world of education.

Colleges and universities cannot ignore the increasingly diverse student population in their classrooms, and how a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion across disciplines trains students in the intercultural awareness they will need in competitive job markets. Yet while faculty may be aware of a need to understand EDI goals in relationship to their disciplines, and institutions may support EDI in theory, the onus of pedagogical training in EDI often falls on individual faculty. This book was written by faculty and administrators for educators who value the goals of EDI, and seek an intellectual community to help them develop their practice. Important to this book is an honest discussion of common challenges faculty may face when they engage in this difficult work, and effective strategies for addressing those challenges. The chapters are grouped according to six different themes: respect for divergent learning styles; inclusion and exclusion; technology and social action; affective considerations; reflection for critical consciousness; and safe spaces and resistance.

In company with its sister volume, this book explores arts-based approaches to research across media, including film and comics-related material, from a variety of geographic locations and across a range of subdisciplines within the field of education. This second volume has a focus exclusively on visual output and image-based research and methods. The book aims to highlight some of the approaches that are not always centered in arts-based research. The visual takes center stage as authors lead with comics-based representations, among other forms of arts-based inquiry. These chapters follow on from the first collection and serve to expand thinking about merging creative methods with analysis and exploration in the world of education. From mixtapes to the curatorial, these chapters showcase the ways in which scholars explore the multitude of human experiences. This second volume covers, among other topics: comics in qualitative research, visual journaling, multimodal fieldnotes and discourse, and creative visual outputs. It is suitable reading for graduate students and scholars interested in qualitative inquiry and arts-based methods, in education and the social sciences.

In company with its sister volume, Arts-Based Research Across Textual Media in Education explores arts-based approaches to research across media, including film and comics-related material, from a variety of geographic locations and across a range of subdisciplines within the field of education. This first volume takes a textual focus, capturing process, poetic, and dramaturgical approaches. The authors aim to highlight some of the approaches that are not always centered in arts-based research. The contributors represent a variety of arts-based practices and methods, and they weave this marrying of artistic and scientific expertise and experience into the fabric of the chapters themselves. Authors from international contexts speak to the importance of utilizing artistic approaches for research processes. From multimodal field notes to poetic forms to the dramaturgical, chapters in this book represent steps forward in educational inquiry to bringing together both the creative and credible. The book includes multiple images and rich descriptions shared from the field. This first volume covers amongst other topics: co-created narratives, creative fiction in research, analytic portraits, dramatic representation, and critical poetic inquiry. It would be suitable for graduate students and scholars interested in qualitative inquiry and arts-based methods, in education and the social sciences.