Prologue
Part 1: What is a Rebellious Read Aloud
Part 2: Rebellious Read Aloud Lessons
Introduction to Lesson Format
Our NAMES Are Important
Our FEATURES Are Important
Our TRADITIONS Are Important
Our ACTIONS Are Important
Our FAMILIES Are Important
Our IDENTITIES Are Important
Our DISABILITIES Are Important
Our FOODS Are Important
Our HISTORIES Are Important
Part 3: Communicating with Parents, Administrators, and
Colleagues
Epilogue: Wishes
Appendix
Vera Ahiyya (nee Corbett) was born in Germany, and raised in El
Paso, Texas. Originally a pre-med student, Vera realized her
calling as an educator at Austin College in Sherman, TX, a calling
shared by many of her family, including her beloved Papa. Vera
majored in History and Psychology and earned her MA in Education.
Vera has taught Kindergarten and first grade for 16 years in Texas,
Massachusetts, and Brooklyn.
Vera’s love for children’s books has led to her becoming an
Instagram book influencer where she showcases her love of
children’s literature and highlights books and authors that
discusses the necessity and power of diversity and voice in
children’s books. Vera uses her extensive online presence to
advocate for teachers to be purposeful and always inclusive with
their choice of text in their classrooms.
Following a video showing Vera discussing racism with her
Kindergarten class that went viral and was shown on Good Morning
America, Vera was approached to write her first children’s book,
You Have a Voice which will be released in December 2021. She has
other titles in the works.
Vera lives in Brooklyn with her husband Lonnell and dog Mozi. You
can find her on Instagram at @thetututeacher.
Are you wondering how to have conversations with your youngest
learners about essential topics for today’s classrooms? In
Rebellious Read Alouds, Vera will support you every step of the way
beginning with her accessible three-part framework—start small, be
consistent, be constant. In each lesson, she skillfully weaves
together literacy and social justice standards, without losing
sight of your primary focus—learners. Every rebellious read aloud
includes key questions to spark conversation and action. With Vera
whispering in your ear, you’ll feel confident in taking steps
toward "activating your young activists."
*Author of The Ramped-Up Read Aloud and Shake Up Shared
Reading*
I have spent decades promoting the art and function of read aloud
experiences and have been a staunch advocate for revisiting books
with a different lens to provide students opportunities to unearth
nuance, shift perspective, build empathy, and take action. As I was
reading Rebellious Read Alouds I found myself nodding and saying,
"amen," a lot. If you believe that small children cannot be part of
big conversations, this book is for you. If you find "hushed"
topics uncomfortable, this book is for you. If you are searching
for books that can spark interest and action for social justice,
this book is for you. If you are searching for a way to bring read
aloud, deep conversations, big thinking, and the growth of human
potential into your classroom while addressing the "have tos" of
school, this book is for you. As you read you have Vera there with
you, nudging, encouraging, offering scaffolds to help you take the
next step. Vera has curated an impressive list of books around 9
themes that are general enough to fit in almost any elementary
classroom. She has developed 45 lessons (enough for each week of
the school year with a bonus lesson within each theme) that are
organized around a simple framework (start small, be consistent,
keep constant) that can be generalized to any theme you may choose
to pursue. I’ll say it again, this book is for you.
*Educator, Author, and Consultant*
I will be sharing Vera′s book with all my preservice and early
career teachers, who understand the importance of filling their
classroom libraries with books that serve as windows, mirrors, and
sliding glass doors. Vera empowers us with manageable and engaging
ways to use books as the springboard for the essential - though
often tricky to start - conversations about race, ability, and so
many other areas of identity. She encourages rebellion in the best
possible way - to ensure that all children are seen and valued in
classrooms.
*Author of Every Minute Matters, and Think Big With Think Alouds,
Grades K-5*
Vera Ahiyya has created something amazing for every stage of the
rebellious reader′s heart! The power of a great story is that it
can be the catalyst to so much change. In Rebellious Read Alouds,
Ahiyya beautifully breaks down stories, lessons, and ideas about
books that inspire the most important conversations, the
conversations about who we are. The framework of Rebellious Read
Alouds effortlessly empowers educators and parents to start using
literacy to better understand their world and themselves. A must
read for all.
*Elementary School Teacher, Speaker, and Social Media Content
Creator*
As I read the manuscript, I kept thinking to myself, this a book
teachers need in their hands. So many teachers don’t know how to
read and talk about these topics and this is the guide to help
them. The breadth of diversity is overflowing, and teachers can
follow along with a sample scope and sequence OR pick and choose
topics/books as they see fit. Vera’s passion for the subject rings
through and her voice is loud and clear.
*Education Consultant, Speaker, and Author*
One of the most important aspects of professional learning is that
the experience not only explains why it’s important to make an
instructional shift, but how. Rebellious Read Alouds: Lessons to
Invite Conversations About Diversity With Children’s Books is one
of those precious gifts for teachers that is both inspirational and
practical in a way that is empathetic and responsive to and
supportive of the needs of teachers and students. Vera Ahiyya
provides the why -- rationale for being rebellious as a teacher and
interviews with featured educators – as well as the how, with
standards-based read-aloud lessons that show teachers how to make
necessary shifts to instructional practices that use a framework of
the small, the consistent, and the constant as a scaffold. In these
pages, we see what it looks like to partner with parents,
administrators, and colleagues along the way, and how to make the
journey both enjoyable and transformational for teachers and
students as a community of learners.
*DEI Director, Educational Consultant, and author of Open Windows,
Open Minds: Developing Antiracist Students*
Ready to break free from the confines of what may sometimes seem
like stale literature not representative of the world around us,
but more importantly the world of our children? The Rebellious Read
Aloud is a must-read for anyone and everyone lucky enough to stare
into young eyes full of wonderment and a thirst to learn about
their peers around them. Ahiyya Vera provides an invitation to
venture into what many naively still view as uncharted territory in
children’s literature. The Rebellious Read Aloud boldy –and
responsibly!- provides title after title of literature that serve
as catalysts for dialogue and are rooted in topics that are
beautifully a part of our children’s lives: immigration, divorce,
religion, LGBTQ+, and others, all while promoting an environment of
celebration and appreciation of the beauty of our differences. As
global educators, we have the responsibility to interrupt and
dispel stereotypes and ignorant ideologies that often run rampant
in the world around us, and instead instill awareness, compassion,
and acceptance of others so that our children may engage with their
community and beyond to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable
and equitable.
*M.A., NBCT, 2020 San Diego County Teacher of the Year, Early
Literacy Resource Teacher*
Rebellious Read Alouds is a book that is needed right now and it’s
presented in a way that is simple, easy to use and yet, has a
strong call to action for the urgency of this work in our world
today. Children deserve to have teachers who honor the
identity of all children in their classrooms and beyond and the
author shows us how this is possible with read aloud books and
powerful conversations.. This book is an excellent entry point for
brave teachers to do the work.
*Kindergarten Teacher and co-Author of Catching Readers Before They
Fall*
This beautiful and impactful guide will change the
pedagogical approach of educators worldwide.Vera′s overall theme is
to create a true safe space for students and all
involved to come face to face with their deepest emotions,
fears, and ultimately reflections in the mirror via Read Alouds. By
doing this educators, parents, and community members will be
challenged to do the same as they learn the importance of taking
time to connect with your students, embracing diverse perspectives
to inspire change beyond the classroom through creative critical
reflection, thanks to this text.
*GAEYC 2016 Childcare Giver of the Year, Educator, Writer, Poet, &
Illustrator*
Vera is the QUEEN of books for a reason! This book is for any
teacher that wants to center inclusiveness and diversity, but isn′t
always sure where to start. She has taken the time to
carefully cultivate a list of books that you should be reading
and walks you through how to tackle the lessons and topics that
some might find controversial or intimidating.
*Founder of Read Like a Rock Star, Content Creator, and Author*
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