SYLLABUS FOR CHILDRENS
LITERATURE
Term: Spring 2004
Course Number: EDU 400
Instructor: Marlene Kaplan
Office
Phone: 219- 473-4264
E-mail: alkmlk@juno.com
Office
Hours: Thursday 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Course
Time: Thursday
7:00 p. m – 10:00 p.m.
Course
Description: This is a survey of diverse traditional and
contemporary literature form kindergarten through junior high school. Emphasis
is placed on types of literature, methods for use, authors, and illustrators.
Teacher candidates are required to develop and implement multi-media
presentations. Field Experiences Required.
Learning
Outcomes/ Competencies:
Students in this course will:
·
Teacher candidates will build a knowledge base of
literature
·
Teacher candidates will demonstrate an
understanding of the basic needs and interests of the young reader
·
Teacher candidates will demonstrate a knowledge of
evaluation criteria in the selection of literature for young readers.
·
Teacher candidates will demonstrate the ability to
use special bibliographic tools as guides in selecting literature for children
and adolescents.
·
Teacher candidates will develop, write , design,
and construct their own children’s literature book.
RELATED INTASC PRINCIPLES:
All
INTASC principles are discussed and reviewed IN EDU 400.
Textbooks:
Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children’s Literature. Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Learning
Strategies: (Group Discussions, Team Projects, Collaborative
Learning, Lecturing…etc.)
Reading assignments are listed in the timeline
section of this syllabus. As minimum
preparation for class discussion and participation, students should read the chapters
to be examined on that day.
Library visit:
Visit your community library.
Draw a schematic map of the children’s section. Find out the annual circulation of children’s
books and the special programs and services offered by the library to children
to encourage them to read. Write a
short (2) page report on the information you have discovered and attach your
schematic map to your report. 25 pts.
Due February 5.
Student Interview:
Interview three children of different ages to find out about their
favorite books.
Sample interview questions:
Tell me about your favorite
movies, TV programs, activities, and books.
What is the last book you
read? Why did you choose it? What did you like or not like
about the book?
How much do you read every
day? At school? At home?
Do you have a favorite
place to read?
Do you have a library card? How often do you go to the library?
What do you look at when you
decide whether or not to choose a book to read?
Record your interview data. Then examine the data and draw some
conclusions about
children’s reading interests and
habits. 25 pts. Due February 19.
Book Display Activity: Select a book and create a poster, puzzle, model, or anything
that will encourage others to read the book.
40 pts. Due March 11.
Additional reading books: Select a book to read from each of the following categories: fiction, historical fiction,
nonfiction/biography, science fiction/fantasy, picture book, poetry,
traditional literature (fables, myths, folktales), multi-cultural fiction,
Newbery Award winner, Caldecott Award Winner.
On an index card, list the category, title, author, publisher, date and
a 2 or 3 sentence synopsis of each book.
Each book will be worth 5 pts. for a total of 50 pts. Due April 1.
Publication of a Children’s Literature Book: The college will provide a binder, we will
laminate; you are asked to design, write, compose and illustrate a book. Visit
the CCSJ Library to view past student publications. You will read and present the book to the class on April 15 or April 22 (this is your final). 60 pts. which will include 10 pts. for the
delivery and presentation.
Reading Field Experience: Arrangements have been
made for you to read to children at the Highland Borders Book Store. Please contact Maria in the children’s
literature department. at 219- 922-1103
for available dates and reading themes.
Reading at a local public library will also be accepted. You must handle the arrangements. 25 pts.
Due by March 25.
Blackboard
Discussion :
Activity #1. “We do not
need to burn books to kill our civilization; we need only to leave them unread
for a generation.”
What do you think the writer
meant? Do you think that is true? Why?
Answer and post March 14 – March 20.
10 pts.
Class
Policy for Assignments: Assignments need to be completed as scheduled.
Grading
Scale:
Attendance 45 pts.
Class Participation 20 pts.
Library Fieldtrip 25 pts.
Student Interview 25 pts.
Book Display Activity 40 pts.
Additional 10 books 50 pts.
Publication of Children’s Book 60 pts.
Field Experience 25 pts
Blackboard Activities 10pts.
.
280 - 300 pts. A
260 - 279 pts. B
240 – 259 pts. C
220 - 239 pts. D
0
– 219 pts. F
Class
Policy on Attendance:
Attendance
is mandatory. Students are expected to be present and on time for all
classes. Attendance will impact student
grades; two unexcused tardies (arriving
late or leaving early) amount to one unexcused absence from class and more than
2 absences from the class will result in the lowering of the final grade by one
letter grade.
Class
Policy on Electronic Devices: (Optional)(Cell phones, Beeper, Pagers…etc.)
Students
may need to be contacted by those outside of class from time to time. However, should the use of electronic
devices become habitual to the point of disrupting the regular class schedule,
the student will be asked to turn-off such disruptive devices.
Course
Outline:
January
15,2004
Introduction/Class Syllabus
January
22,2004 Chapter 1
January
29, 2004
Chapter 2
February
5, 2004 Chapter 3
February
12, 2004
Chapters 4 & 5
February
19, 2004
Chapter 6
February
26, 2004
Chapter 7
March
4, 2004 Chapter 8
March
11, 2004 Chapter 9
March
18, 2004 Independent Work
March
25, 2004 Chapters 10 & 12
April
1, 2004 Chapter 11
April
15,2004 & April 22, 2004
Student Book Presentations
Center for Academic Excellence:
Tutoring
assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the
Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The
Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help
students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to
do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.
Statement
of Plagiarism:
If an instructor or other Calumet College of St.
Joseph personnel finds that a student has plagiarized or been involved in
another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may
elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any
form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for
judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses
student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)
Citation
Guidelines:
Calumet College
of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular
discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.). All of these guidelines are available in the
Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore. These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of
sources, including electronic media.
Withdrawal
from Classes Policy:
After the last
day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw
from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty
member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the
withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal
must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final
examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to
the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to
make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is
forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or
deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive
notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate
why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD)
students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD
withdrawals.
An official
withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript.
Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an
"F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).