Coming of Age in a Complex World: ELA Collection Overview
This guide orients teachers to the contents of Facing History’s Coming of Age in a Complex World collection and supports them to plan and teach a coming-of-age literature unit in grades 7–12.
The Redneck Stereotype
Authors Joseph Flora and Lucinda MacKethan describe the characteristics of the “redneck,” a specific stereotype of a poor white Southerner.
“Be Like Wilt” by Neema Avashia
This narrative tells Avashia’s story of finding belonging unexpectedly on the basketball court as someone who felt like an outsider in a small, rural town.
“Be Like Wilt” by Neema Avashia (en español)
This narrative tells Avashia’s story of finding belonging unexpectedly on the basketball court as someone who felt like an outsider in a small, rural town. This resource is in Spanish.
“Coming into Language” by Jimmy Santiago Baca
This narrative exemplifies how one can find a sense of home and belonging through self-expression.
“Coming into Language” by Jimmy Santiago Baca (en español)
This narrative exemplifies how one can find a sense of home and belonging through self-expression. This resource is in Spanish.
“A Kingdom Bright and Burning” by Dave Connis from Welcome Home
This short story explores the inner journey of a young boy as he learns to communicate with his adoptive family.
"The Worlds I See" by Dr. Fei-Fei Li
This narrative describes finding a sense of home and belonging in learning and intellectual pursuits.
The Taiping Rebellion
Scholar Rana Mitter describes the history of the Taiping Rebellion (1850-1864).
Using Facing History's "Stolen Lives" in the Classroom
Hear from a former teacher and a residential school survivor on how our "Stolen Lives" book and professional development workshops equip educators to teach and contextualize the topic of Indian Residential Schools in Canada.
Using Identity Charts to Teach Mockingbird
A middle school teacher guides students in a group discussion around the question “What is identity?” as a pre-reading activity in a To Kill a Mockingbird unit.