Theme Definition: The theme for my text set is people who are different. Our world is becoming increasingly diverse – but I’m not exactly talking about race and ethnicity . We limit diversity when we define it simply as ethnicity or race: the number of limbs people have, the learning disabilities that cause them to think differently, the autism that inhibits their social interactions, and the giftedness that puts them at a mental level much higher than their peers are just a few of the ways that people can differ from the supposed norm. These different people (and their families) have a unique perspective on life, one that is important that everyone – not just students or teachers – understand. One of my hopes in choosing this topic would be that children would talk about these things at home, sparking conversations and teaching their …show more content…
Middle school can be a very vicious place to people who are different; the goal is often to fit in and be like everyone else. I want my students to have an understanding of, empathy for, and acceptance of people who are different, and fifth grade, when they are still at a fairly formative age, is a perfect time to do that. If this theme has the desired effect, students will go into middle school with a much more open mind regarding people who are not like them in ways neither party can help. I also chose this theme because I want to show my students who are different like the students in the texts that there are other people like them who go through some of the same experiences. I have a heart for the loner, and these different people can often be loners. I want to use the power of literature to show them that they’re not alone. Having this knowledge heading into middle school will benefit those students greatly. Finally, I chose this topic because I personally enjoy many of these books and want my students to experience them,