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Program Overview

The IDENTITY/ACTIVISM IN YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE, PT 2 program is designed to help participants reach a deeper emotional intelligence on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This will enable them to foster more inclusive and welcoming classrooms and select diverse and impactful literature to foreground inclusion and belonging for all students.

Program Details

• Instructor: Meghan Stinar
• Grading Method: Letter and/or S/U (Combo)
• Credits: 3
• Department: EDUC (2000)
• Academic Level: K-12 Professionals
• Start/End Dates: 06/07/2026 - 08/09/2026
• Register By: 07/03/2026
• Term: Summer 2026
• Location: Online
• Instruction Mode: Internet Asynchronous (online class)
• Cost: $195

Meeting Pattern

No specific meeting pattern is provided for this asynchronous online course.

Description

This course focuses on studying current fictional Young Adult Literature (YAL) and middle-grade (MG) literature to increase knowledge of diverse students within schools and classrooms. It aims to help participants reject a color-blind approach to teaching and foster a more inclusive environment. Although the course is asynchronous, participants are encouraged to engage in discussions with others through discussion boards and share final projects and reflections.

Syllabus, Objectives, and Outcomes

Objectives

Participants will:

• Identify their own biases
• Understand what intersectionality is and how it affects their students
• Analyze and evaluate texts for authenticity, accurate representation, and bias
• Synthesize knowledge into an organized project

Materials

Course Texts

Participants must pick 5 out of the 6 following texts:

• Spin With Me by Ami Polonsky: A middle-grade novel about a girl who moves to a new town and befriends a nonbinary kid, developing a crush on them.
• Obie is Man Enough by Schuyler Bailar: The story of Obie, who loves swimming but faces challenges after coming out as transgender.
• The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta: A novel in verse about a boy in London trying to fit into spaces that don't seem to make room for his bi-racial and queer identities.
• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: A YA fantasy novel about a trans boy whose family has trouble accepting his identity as a brujo.
• Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher: A revisit to the land of King Arthur, where the protagonist and his betrothed are not interested in each other.
• A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat: A middle-grade graphic memoir about Dan's school trip to Europe, where he makes friends, has a crush, and finds a love for European Fanta.

Testimonials

Previous participants have praised the course for its great recommended books, supplemental materials, and enjoyable discussion posts. They have also appreciated the instructor's approach, allowing for many opportunities of choice, and have found the course to bring greater understanding of their students.