Asian Americans are an extraordinarily diverse group of people, yet are
often viewed through stereotypical lenses: as Chinese or Japanese only,
as recent immigrants who do not speak English, as exotic foreigners, or
as a "model minority" who do well in school. This fundamental
misperception of who Asian Americans are begins with young
learners--often from what they learn, or do not learn, in school.
This book sets out to amend the superficial treatment of Asian America
histories in U.S. textbooks and curriculum by providing elementary
teachers with a more nuanced, thematically driven account. In chapters
focusing on the complexity of Asian American identity, major moments in
Asian immigration, war and displacement, issues of citizenship, and
Asian American activism, the authors include suggestions across content
areas for guided class discussions, ideas for broader units, and
recommendations for children's literature as well as primary sources.