• Totally online - no travel to campus required
• 3 graduate credits
• Next sessions:
  RDGED 703 June 9 - August 15, 2008
  RDGED 703 September 17-  December 5, 2008
  

Description: If you are a classroom teacher, media specialist or reading specialist and haven't taken a recent children's literature update, this class is a must!

This class provides a broad survey of children's literature (birth-12 years) -- from folk and fairy tales to today's stories, poems, and novels for children. Explore the world of today's authors and illustrators and the best new fiction and information books. Discuss exciting new ways to integrate children's literature with curriculum activities.

Participants will extend their knowledge of the genres of children's literature and increase their ability to evaluate, select, and use children's literature as an integral part of the classroom and library media center curriculum.

Review a few of our past participants' comments.

Participants will extend their knowledge of the genres of children's literature and increase their ability to evaluate, select, and use children's literature as an integral part of the classroom and library media center curriculum.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Analyze the role of children's literature in the development of children
2. Summarize language, cognitive, personality, and social developmental skills that can be strengthened through the use of children's literature
3. Analyze the factors that influence the responses of children to literature
4. Summarize the steps involved in creating a book from author/illustrator to final published book
5. Evaluate the style and illustrations of contemporary picture book illustrators
6. Develop a lesson plan for sharing the books of one illustrator and introduce the artist to young readers
7. Compare and contrast related titles in the folklore genre
8. Distinguish between traditional versions of a tale and the literary variants and fantasy created by a contemporary author
9. Model methods of sharing and enjoying poetry with young readers
10. Distinguish elements of fiction, informational, and historical fiction books
11. Survey books used in the classroom and library and assess goals for creating a climate of understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures and ethnic heritages.
12. Create a focus unit/program plan that correlates with a content area or an author/illustrator unit to demonstrate understanding of the body of contemporary children's literature and best practices for using literature with young readers

This online course is designed as a highly interactive asynchronous learning experience and participants must have reliable Internet access, including an e-mail account and access to the World Wide Web, and must regularly access the university email account.

Participants will be using Internet access frequently to participate in asynchronous discussions with the instructor and other participants. Participants will discuss and share readings with colleagues and the instructor via a private discussion board, and there will be opportunities for communication with guest speakers.

Participants will be asked to post comments/questions on the discussion board a minimum of three times a week. All projects/assignments will be submitted via the course management system or presented for peer and instructor comment via the course discussion board.

ADA Statement
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), students are encouraged to register with UW Stout Disability Services for assistance with instructional accommodations due to disabilities. The phone number of the Disability Services office is 715-232-2995 or contact the staff via email at this website: http://www.uwstout.edu/disability/contact.shtml

Required Textbook:
Norton, Donna E. Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children's Literature, Seventh Edition (2006) Pearson-Merrill Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0132202964.

• Purchase from Amazon
  
• Purchase from Barnes and Noble
  
• Purchase through an independent dealer: book sense.

In addition to the textbook, participants will be asked to read widely in the area of children's literature. Specific titles will not be required, but readings on each topic or genre will be required to successfully participate in the class discussion.

Additional recommended articles will be available via the course website.

Instructor:
Sharron L. McElmeel
Sharron's background information

Prerequisite:
Hardware and Software Requirements

What are the minimum technology requirements?

Complete the system checkup on this website, https://uwstout.courses.wisconsin.edu/
by clicking on the link that says: Check your system.

Review the list of compatible/recommended browsers and software programs for Learn@UWStout at the Online Help Desk.

If you have any questions about these preferences, please call one of the numbers listed below and indicate that you are a UW-Stout student needing help with Learn@UW-Stout. Help is available 7 days a week.

1-888-435-7589 select option 3
or
1-608-264-4357 select option 3

All projects will be exchanged by posting to online storage or the course DropBox, and your peers and instructor will provide suggestions and comments by posting to the discussion board.

Take a few minutes to review the Frequently Asked Questions, (FAQs).

Registration:
Sign Up Soon
Tuition is payable by university billing, MasterCard, or Visa.
Participants may select the payment plan option in fall and spring, but it is not available during summer session. Refund policy

Enrollment is limited to twenty participants; register online .

Check out the list of additional online classes .

For additional information, e-mail your comments or questions to:

Contact: Joan M. Vandervelde
Online Professional Development Coordinator
School of Education
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
phone: (715) 642-0209
fax: (715) 232-3385

Orientation Activities
After you are enrolled, complete the orientation activities. Review the Student Expectations and Responsibilities and Academic Expectations and Dishonesty Policy.

Alignment with Teaching Standards
This class will provide a firm grasp of literature available for young readers (children's literature) and information about how to select and integrate appropriate texts in every area of the curriculum.

Knowledge of children's literature will contribute to the ability to select appropriate texts and reading material to meet the twelve basic Standards for the English Language (on a national level).

Specific alignments are not currently developed for all states' standards but participants may access specific standards for the location from which their certification is granted by checking the appropriate links at www.edstandards.org/St/StandardsSED.html.