Black Heritage Content Readers for K–3

Supporting Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy

SANKOFA K–3 extends the opportunity to younger learners that SANKOFA
offers for 4–8 students.

Number of titles: 16

Reading levels:
Kindergarten–Grade 3

Specs: 6″ x 9″

Pages:
Kindergarten–Grade 1: 24 pages
Grades 2–3: 32 pages

Sankofa K–3 is a contemporary Black heritage resource for students in primary grades. The 16 cross-curricular content readers are designed to celebrate the inspiring and complex histories, stories, and cultural legacies of Black Canadians and people of the African diaspora.

All Sankofa K–3 content readers:

  • have been written and reviewed by Canadian authors and consultants of African descent.
  • include both fiction and non-fiction selections that support global citizenship and focus on one of the following aspects of Ubuntu (“I am because we are”) — Relationships, Community, Environment, Identity & Belonging
  • feature Think About It and Connect It activities that encourage comprehension by drawing on students’ background knowledge, encouraging them to make inferences and connections, confirm their predictions, and draw conclusions as they read and reread
  • are available in both print and digital formats

Each grade includes a 48-page teacher guide that includes information on culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy (CRRP) as well as detailed instructions to support evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction in foundational knowledge and skills, including oral language, vocabulary, fluency and comprehension, and writing.

Build Knowledge That Reflects the Diversity
of Canadian Classrooms

Features

Team

Darcie Sutherland

Series Consultant

Toronto-born Darcie Sutherland is a proud Afro-Latina (Honduras) and West Indian woman (Guyana). For the past 20 years, Sutherland has served to empower Black and marginalized students from K–12 in various capacities — as classroom educator, African/Caribbean Teacher Liaison, Vice Principal, and Principal.

Darcie Sutherland is currently a Principal of Inclusive School and Community Services: Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy in the York Region District School Board. She’s responsible for coordinating the implementation of the York Region District School Board’s Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy. A significant part of the role includes supporting all YRDSB staff in acquiring the racial literacy skills needed to recognize, discuss, dismantle and disrupt racist ideologies that perpetuate the disparities that Black students face.

REVIEWER PANEL

  • Sarah Adomako-Ansah (ECSD, AB) Educator and EDIAR Consultant
  • Racquel Brown (PDSB, ON) Co-ordinator, Literacy
  • Matthew Webbe (SCDSB, ON) Superintendent of Education
  • Maureen Kassy (Ecole du Park, SK) Elementary Teacher
  • George McAuley (LDCSB, ON) Teacher
  • Linette Ballantyne (TDSB, ON) Elementary Teacher
  • Wendie Wilson (NS Teachers Union, NS) Executive Staff Officer BIPOC Engagement and Advocacy
  • Cicely Blain (BC) Writer, Activist
  • Jessica Amadi (RCSB, SK) Teacher, VP of Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan
  • Karen Murray (TDSB, ON) System Superintendent for Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression
  • Tenisha Inengi (SK) Board of Directors, Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan

BLACK CANADIAN AUTHORS

  • Cicely Blain
  • Coleen Birkett
  • Greg Birkett
  • Marsha Griffiths
  • Natalie Mascoll
  • Christian Mbanza
  • Tisha Nelson
  • Jay Williams
  • Rajean Willis
  • Wendie Wilson