Diversity Reading Club - KS3, Year 7 8

The Diversity Reading Club: 12 Engaging Classes for KS3 English

The Diversity Reading Club is a carefully curated 12-lesson course designed for Year 7 or 8 students (depending on maturity), aimed at broadening their literary horizons with a wide range of voices and perspectives. This course features extracts from fiction, non-fiction, and poetry by underrepresented authors, including Black, Indigenous, queer, disabled authors, immigrant stories, and authors living with chronic illnesses.

The mission of this reading club is to expose students to diverse narratives and experiences, helping them develop empathy, cultural awareness, and a deeper understanding of the world around them. While not discouraging the reading of literary “classics,” this course focuses on expanding the traditional curriculum to include stories that are often overlooked.

What’s Included:

• 12 Fully Structured Lessons: Each lesson introduces students to a new text, fostering discussions around themes such as identity, resilience, and belonging. The texts include:

1. Refugees by Brian Bilston
2. The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf
3. Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
4. Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor
5. I Can Make This Promise by Christine Day
6. The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis
7. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
8. A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold
9. The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones by Wendelin Van Draanen
10. Wonder by R. J. Palacio
11. Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World by Ashley Herring Blake
12. Running Through It by Lorie Scarfarotti

• Diverse Themes and Perspectives: Each class explores a different perspective on themes such as migration, disability, identity, and equality, challenging students to think critically about the world around them.
• Creative and Analytical Activities: Students will engage with the texts through group discussions, reflective writing, and creative projects, helping them to build key skills in empathy, critical thinking, and literary analysis.
• Contextual Discussions: The course includes discussions on the historical and cultural context of each text, helping students to understand the societal issues the authors address.

Why This Resource?
This reading club is perfect for KS3 English teachers who want to inspire a love for reading while exposing students to a more diverse range of literature. It encourages critical thinking, cultural awareness, and personal reflection, making it an essential addition to any classroom that values inclusivity and representation.

Keywords: KS3 English, diversity in literature, Black authors, Indigenous authors, queer literature, disability narratives, immigrant stories, multicultural education, literary analysis, creative writing.