LIB 528 Children's Literature, K-5

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

An introduction to children's literature for educators. Students will read from a variety of categories and book genres appropriate for children in grades K-5. Emphasis is on the characteristics, responses and appeals of a broad range of quality literature to encourage children to experience the pleasures of reading.

PREREQUISITES

There are no required prerequisites for this course. However, learners are assumed to be teachers with access to K-5 students.

COURSE
STRUCTURE

Readings of books, articles, and Internet with postings to discussion board; classroom-based assignments for K-5 students; culminating project.

STANDARDS

This course supports the following International Reading Association's 2010 Standards for Reading Professionals:

1.2	Candidates understand the historically shared knowledge of the profession and changes over time in the perceptions of reading and writing development, processes, and components.
1.3	Candidates understand the role of professional judgment and practical knowledge for improving all students' reading development and achievement.
2.2	Candidates use appropriate and varied instructional approaches, including those that develop word recognition, language comprehension, strategic knowledge, and reading-writing connections.
2.3	Candidates use a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources.
4.2	Candidates use a literacy curriculum and engage in instructional practices that positively impact students' knowledge, beliefs, and engagement with the features of diversity.
4.3	Candidates develop and implement strategies to advocate for equity.
5.1	Candidates design the physical environment to optimize students' use of traditional print, digital, and online resources in reading and writing instruction.
6.2	Candidates display positive dispositions related to their own reading and writing and the teaching of reading and writing, and pursue the development of individual professional knowledge and behaviors.
6.4	Candidates understand and influence local, state, or national policy decisions.

PRACTICAL
APPLICATIONS

Students will:

Identify and describe basic artistic elements of picture books.
Evaluate and analyze children's books based on the artistic elements
Participate in multiple art forms (drama, music, art, poetry, reader's theater, literature, storytelling) as a basis for academic engagement and development of literacy.
Be familiar with a variety of high-quality and awarding winning authors of diverse children's literature, both classic and contemporary.
Identify bias-free, age appropriate, relevant, and diverse literature, and utilize it as a means of motivate children to engage in meaningful literacy activities, but, most importantly, to cause them to love reading.
Identify selection and evaluation criteria for children's books.
Demonstrate effective cross-cultural literature, creative dramatic, and read aloud activities as a means of engaging children in both competency and a genuine passion for reading.

CORE/ELECTIVE

This graduate course can be used as 3 elective credits in the Literature thematic area in the 24-credit Reading Endorsement program, the 12-credit Literary Education program, or for individual professional development. Please consult an advisor at your home institution about adding this course to your program.

INSTRUCTOR

Dolores C. Johnston, MA, is a retired library media specialist and teacher from the West Linn/Wilsonville School District. She managed technology in her school and collaborated with teachers to integrate technology and information skills and literature into the curriculum. She coordinated a pre-school storytelling program in the small town where she had her first teaching job.

TARGET
AUDIENCE

K-5 teachers, teachers seeking a reading endorsement, school library/media specialists, and children's librarians interested in using children's literature in classrooms and libraries to strengthen young readers' motivation and connections and to expand student knowledge and perspectives.

TIME
COMMITMENT

Students should expect to spend 9 hours per week for 10 weeks in course-related activities (e.g., reading assignments and course materials, posting to discussion forums, completing written reports/papers and classroom-based assignments). This course is online and does not require in-person attendance. Assignments are completed on the learner's time schedule and are due as posted.

TEXTBOOK

No required text. Instead, students are expected to extensively choose and read children's literature from a list of required LIT CIRCLE and PARTNER books. Extensive BIBLIOGRAPHIES will be provided by the course.

COST

No course in the ReadOregon curriculum will cost more than $359 per credit, including fees, for students in the ReadOregon program.

CONTACT

For more details on this course, please contact Dolores Johnston (instructor) or Elizabeth Snyder (PSU coordinator).