“Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” – Rudine Sims Bishop

Rudine Sims Bishop is an American author who has taught me the importance of displaying multiculturalism through children’s literature. She shares her teachings through her unique metaphor: “Mirrors, Windows, and Sliding Glass Doors” (Bishop, 2015). Please see the below video:

Based on my learning from Rudine Sims Bishop and my Instructor A.K, I have created the following chart as an action plan for myself to ensure my classroom shares books that highlight multiculturalism.

Teacher Resources For Diversifying Literature

  1. Book List
This is a list of books from the Institute for Human Education to support teachers to find books that support incorporating diversity into literature.

2. Teachers can use “Amina’s Voice” written by Hena Khan as a middle school novel study that promotes diversity.

This is a video about the author of “Amina’s Voice” in relation to Rudine Sims Bishop metaphor about books being mirrors and windows.

3. BROOKE’s Blog has compiled 16 wonderful resources for teachers to find diverse books and classroom materials. https://blog.brookespublishing.com/16-resources-for-finding-diverse-books-and-classroom-materials/. Some of the resources even have lessons or discussions to go with them!

(Above photo from BROOKE’s Blog)

References

Bedwards. (2022, August 22). 16 resources for finding diverse books and classroom materials. Brookes Blog. https://blog.brookespublishing.com/16-resources-for-finding-diverse-books-and-classroom-materials/ 

Blogger, G. (2023, July 13). Windows and mirrors and sliding glass doors: Ensuring students see themselves and others in literature. Institute for Humane Education. https://humaneeducation.org/windows-and-mirrors-and-sliding-glass-doors-ensuring-students-see-themselves-and-others-in-literature/ 

Lbreiseth. (2023, December 7). Why diverse books matter: Mirrors and windows. Colorín Colorado. https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/why-diverse-books-matter-mirrors-and-windows 

Phillips, J. (2022, August 16). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors: A metaphor for reading and life. Great Schools Partnership. https://www.greatschoolspartnership.org/mirrors-windows-and-sliding-glass-doors-a-metaphor-for-reading-and-life/#:~:text=Books%20are%20mirrors%20when%20readers,feel%20empathy%20for%20the%20characters.