How and Why You Absolutely Should Teach The Hate U Give
Are you an English teacher looking for a powerful text to teach your students? Look no further than The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – this critically acclaimed novel overflows with timely themes, inspiring characters, and thought-provoking lessons that can be adapted for both the classroom and life. Its brilliance is evidenced in its standing as the winner of the 2017 Williamsburg Award for Fiction Writing and ALA’s 2018 Notable Children’s Book honor. If you’re already teaching this novel – or if you’ve been on the fence about it – read on! I’ll discuss why it’s necessary reading, along with practical tips on how to teach The Hate U Give.
Table of Contents
Examining the Power of The Hate U Give book- Unpacking Its Meaning & Impact
The Hate U Give book is a powerhouse of insight into the very real consequences and issues that surround black youth in today’s world. It explores a range of topics such as racism, police brutality, gang violence, and privilege with awareness and sensitivity. In doing this, it reveals the power of stories to increase understanding of difficult topics and spread empathy among its readers. This masterpiece invites discussion among young adults, challenging them to consider traditional perspectives while also enabling them to confront their own prejudices and biases. As educators, we must embrace this opportunity to guide students through examining this text so they can develop tools for being a positive change-maker in our communities.
Exploring How to Teach The Hate U Give
Teaching The Hate U Give can be an empowering experience for both students and teachers alike. One of the best ways to dive into this novel is to supplement it with activities that explore the themes of activism and racism in creative, yet critical ways.
A great way to do this is through a nonfiction gallery walk—having students research and read up on public figures or group movements outside of the book. Then, hold an in-class exhibition where students share what they’ve learned by writing post-it notes or creating visual artifacts and displays inside the classroom.
Alternatively, exploring the themes within a film analysis would help open up topics for discussion beyond the scope of this book—introducing movies like Hidden Figures or 13th as examples of racism and bureaucracy still widely present today.
Last but not least, a tried-and-true method taught by many English teachers: reader response journals! This activity gives students freedom to express their perspectives without fear of judgement, and provides opportunities for meaningful dialogue between classmates while being guided gently by your leadership. I like to use this reader response journal where student’s summarize chapters and then respond to discussion questions. They also get to take breaks with quote coloring pages distributed through the journal.
To sum up learning, you can always do a traditional assessment like an essay or multiple choice exam, but I love to have my students create projects like podcasts and public service announcements on a key issue they’re passionate about from the novel, incorporating their voice in the educational process.
All in all, The Hate U Give makes a strong argument for why we should bring more diverse books into our classrooms; with these tips & tricks you’ll be sure to have your students engaged in every step of the journey!
Showcasing Key Scenes & Quotes From The Hate U Give – Teachable Moments & Thought Provoking Questions
Arguably, every moment in this novel is key and your students will likely be racing ahead of you in class to finish the book. But there are a few key scenes in The Hate U Give and quotes that really showcase Starr’s intense journey and serve as excellent starting points for discussion.
From her initial struggle with accepting the injustices of police brutality to the moment she finds her self-worth by standing up for what she believes in, each scene carries an important moral that students can learn from. In my class we like to analyze most of the interactions Starr has with the adults in her life, how she manages code switching, and how she navigates her friendship with Hailey.
Not only can these teachable moments help illustrate some major ideas within the book, but posing thought provoking questions such as “How does Starr’s sense of justice develop over time?” or “In what ways is Starr a powerful example of perseverance?” encourages students to form their own opinions and develop further insight on the ever-important themes explored in The Hate U Give.
Discussing Relevant Real-World Contexts of the Racism in The Hate U Give – Connecting it to Current Events & History
When discussing The Hate U Give and the racism that the protagonist Starr experiences in the novel, it is important to explore relevant real-world contexts. This book can be used to connect current events and history, creating a meaningful discussion about racism in our society.
For example, it can be used to draw parallels between Starr’s story and the Black Lives Matter movement and its importance today, or to investigate racism within America across different time periods such as pre-Civil Rights Era or during the Reconstruction Period. As I mentioned before, I like to do nonfiction gallery walks with my students to make that connection from fiction to nonfiction. I also do my best to take plenty of breaks as we are reading to let students bring in there own connections about the novel.
The Hate U Give provides a unique avenue through which teachers can help their students understand these complex dynamics at play in our society and how they all contribute to today’s larger social issues.
Teaching The Hate U Give is a hugely important and meaningful, not only for its students but all of us.
At its core, it focuses on issues of racial injustice, police brutality, and systemic racism—all still painfully relevant and imperative to speak up about. It can provide an invaluable understanding to our students who may never witness or experience these issues first hand but through this novel gain the critical skills needed to analyze them in educated and informed ways. Plus, it’s an incredibly well written book!
The Hate U Give illustrates how stories can bring individual people together – how they can affect change and bridge gaps in thought—a lesson we can all be reminded of now more than ever. So as you delve into teaching this amazingly powerful novel with your students, don’t be afraid to ask tough questions and dig deep into the complicated issues at hand.
After all, that’s what art provides us—an opportunity to think reflectively and empathically in order to create social and cultural transformations from the ground up.