I am planning out some PD on creating inclusive classroom libraries. And this is what I know. I will no longer run PD by giving book talks on books that teachers should buy and have in their classrooms. In some ways, I believe this may be doing more harm than good.

Teachers then walk away with a list of books to purchase or get from the library with NO skills on how to critically evaluate their own libraries and curriculum and the books that might go in those libraries and curriculum in the future. So this is what the PD needs to build.

We need to start by examining identity. What it means and what it is made up of. Teachers then need time to critically evaluate not only our classroom libraries, but the texts we are using in our curriculum. We need time to practice asking these questions:

"What identities are privileged in my classroom library and in my curriculum?" and "What identities are being left out or misrepresented in my classroom library and in my curriculum?"

Not only do we need these questions, but we need we to MODEL how we have asked and answered these questions ourselves. So I will model my own answers, make my own learning visible, and only then ask teachers to take the risk in examining their classroom libraries and curriculum.

But that is STILL not enough. We will then move into the discussion that it is NOT enough to ensure that the books in our libraries and in our curriculum represent a wide variety of identities. We MUST ensure that these books represent these identities well and responsibly.

And again, teachers need to see what that looks like. So I will model the thinking, the process that I go through, when deciding to buy a book or to keep a book or to get rid of a book. What questions do I ask myself, what steps do I take, what research do I make sure to do.

And then we need time to practice. So this is when I will pull out the books. But not in a way that asks teachers to write down these titles and get them for their classrooms. But, instead, as a way for us to learn. Take these books and lets learn to evaluate them critically.

Let's look at how characters are portrayed, if stereotypes are being reinforced or pushed beyond, at the images we are given of the people being represented, are they problematic or do they represent the reality that people in a group look all different ways.

Let's look at who the author is, let's research to find out more about them & learn if it's an #ownvoices text, let's learn to look at what @debreese, @booktoss, @CrazyQuilts or @readingspark have to say about these books. THAT is what I want & need teachers to walk away with.

Teachers do not need an endpoint, a final list of books to get so that they can check it off their list. We need a process and new way of looking at our libraries and our curriculum and our texts to ensure they are inclusive. That is what will bring about some much needed change.