Multicultural books promote learning in a diverse student population
Lohfink said, "Cognitive theorists maintain that learning is a process dictated by a learner's previous experiences, and those teachers who build upon students' prior knowledge impact learning positively." In other words, students have better comprehension when teachers use books that concern things that are familiar to the students.
The need for this project is reflected in the increasing culturally and linguistically diverse student populations in K-5 classrooms within USD 259. Demographics for the Wichita school district indicate increasing racial and ethnic diversity, with McLean Science and Technology Magnet Elementary School experiencing significant population increases as well.
Lohfink's research showed that there were few multicultural literature read-aloud or picture books in McLean's library. Funds from the WSU College of Education provided for the purchase of approximately 80 children's books. Research of two kindergarten teachers' reading aloud of multicultural literature occurred during the 2011-12 school years, and the findings from the study is scheduled to be presented at a conference of the National Association of Professional Development Schools.