Syllabus

Course Description
Evaluation, selection, and teaching of literature in the elementary school language arts program. A survey of historically significant books with a focus on authors and illustrators writing for today's young readers. This course may be used as a selective for the MS Education Professional Development Concentration degree program. For use in other degree programs, please check with your program advisor prior to registration. This course meets Wisconsin Teaching Standards 1, 4, 7. This is one of the courses that meets Wisconsin 316 Reading Teacher licensure requirements.

Calendar with assignment due dates

Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will:

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 course consists of 10 modules. Each module will include assigned readings and discussion of those readings. Three major assignments will be required.

1. At the conclusion of Module 4, participants will be asked to submit a lesson plan guide for an illustrator study.
2. At the conclusion of the class, participants will submit a final project and present it online. Each participant will choose his/her own topic and method of presentation.
3. The final activity will involve submitting a reflection paper.
   
4. Every two weeks a very brief discussion summary must be submitted to the instructor, in the dropbox, reflecting the student's participation during that specific two week period.
   
5. Discussion participation, reflection papers, and final project will be evaluated using rubrics created for that specific activity.  The online gradebook will provide a current assessment of each participant's cumulative points as assignments are evaluated and recorded.

Modules

Module 1: Introduction - Getting Acquainted

Module 2: Understanding the Role of Children's Literature

Module 3: Putting Books in the Hands of Young Readers

Module 4: Investigating Children's Book Artists and the Books They Illustrate

Module 5: Folklore and Literary Tales

Module 6: Poetry

Module 7: Fiction and Information Books for Older Readers

Module 8: Multicultural and Ethnic Diversity

Module 9: Final Class Presentation

Module 10: Reflection

Each module is structured around an introduction, readings, discussion, and an activity or reflection/process paper. A final project will be presented by each participant.  Evaluated assignments and other requirements are evaluated holistically based on the published rubric for that assignment.

Participation Requirements
In this online course, you are not required to attend at a particular location or time of day. However, you should plan to log in and participate in the course discussion at least three times each week.

This course is designed as an interactive course in which you contribute and respond to the discussion postings of other students. Your instructor has access to a login summary including the date of each entry you make to the discussion board or drop box—this includes a response to an assignment, a posting on the threaded discussion, submission of an assignment, or general participation. Posts that are merely affirmations of a previous post or general agreement without the inclusion of added ideas or titles are not considered responsive to the course goals/objectives.

If your professional/personal obligations or illness require you to be absent for more than 3 days, please contact the instructor.
 
Please do not "drop out" for a period of time and then expect to "drop back in" without losing points. This makes it difficult for your colleagues to complete their response assignments. Many of the course instructional concepts are developed through discussion using our discussion board, and it is important that participants check into the discussion board regularly so that a viable exchange of ideas can be developed.

Participants will:

• participate regularly (minimum of three times a week) in the class discussion with comments/questions relating to each module;
• review and discuss assigned reading materials;
• read books related to the module being discussed and contribute comments/questions about those readings to the online discussions;
• submit discussion summaries every two weeks (summary plus reflection);
• Submit required assignments as designated on the course calendar and within specific modules;
  
• create a final project using guidelines presented during the ten content modules.

The discussion board's most vital use is to exchange ideas about books and reading with other class participants. And to respond to ideas presented on the "news" section of the board, by the instructor and to respond to the text book/course  readings. 

You will be able to customize readings in the area of children's literature to your specific educational situation and needs.

Class participants are encouraged to find creative ways to share their thoughts and questions related to each module and to collaborate with peers in the class to create outstanding teaching projects.

Evaluation
A discussion summary/reflection of your course participation  (a summary of your discussion board participation,) is required every two weeks. Those summaries, backed up by your actual attendance online and your participation, will equal 50% of your grade.

Other assignments that are also to be  put into the drop box for evaluation constitute the additional 50% of your grade.  Those assignments are listed on the course rubrics page and within specific modules.

Rubrics
 
Grades will be assigned based on this percentage grading scale.

Late Policy
Late assignments will receive a 10% point deduction, per day. Those assignments over 2 days late will not be accepted for credit. Exceptions may be made with prior approval or in extenuating circumstances, based on the instructor’s judgment.

Academic Honesty and Misconduct
From the university policy, “Students are responsible for the honest completion and representation of their work, for the appropriate citation of sources, and for respect of others’ academic endeavors. Students who violate these standards must be confronted and must accept the consequences of their actions.
Definitions of academic dishonesty as provided by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators include:

Cheating
The use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.

Plagiarism
The use of others’ ideas and words without a clear acknowledgement of the source.

Fabrication
The intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in any academic exercise.

Assisting
The facilitation or assistance in academic dishonesty.
UW-Stout also considers academic dishonesty to include forgery of academic documents, or intentionally impeding or damaging the academic work of others."
This information comes from http://www.uwstout.edu/stusrv/dean/facstaff/chp14.shtml
"Academic misconduct in the University of Wisconsin System is defined by UWS Chapter 14. Student Academic Misconduct / Disciplinary Procedures - UWS Ch. 14

Any time that you want to ask about your progress, send a message directly to your instructor.

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.

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