If you are a classroom teacher, media specialist or reading specialist and haven't taken a recent class on young adult literature, this course is a must!

This course provides a broad survey of young adult literature (grades 6-12) and focuses on building an appreciation of literature, encouraging student reading, developing life-long readers, and developing activities for critical thinking and the development of literacy skills across the curriculum. Discuss the culture of teens, popular fiction, information books and books cited for literary qualities.

Participants will extend their knowledge of the culture of the teen-age reader, genres of literature and increase their ability to evaluate, select, and use young adult literature as an integral part of the classroom and library media center curriculum.

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of the course, students will:

1. Articulate a definition of young adult literature in relation to the total body of literature
2. Analyze the role of young adult literature in the development of a young adult's world view and the development of a role as a life-long reader.
3. Summarize elements of and reading materials representing pop culture and how those elements affect teen reading interests.
   
4. Evaluate fiction and informational books in various genres and areas of interest.
   
5. Select an appropriate title for a specific audience and prepare a written plan for a book talk for that book.
6. 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.
7. Develop activities for motivating young adults to read and discuss books critically, for example: book discussions, literary circles, and so forth.
8. Analyze literary elements -- for example: content, plot, characterization, dialogue, and point of view -- in story and apply critical judgments to selected literature.
9. Create a literature unit demonstrating an understanding of the body of contemporary young adult literature and best practices for using literature with preteen and teenage readers
10. Integrate differentiated literacy activities among the community of learners.
    

Course Outline

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 their 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 the course discussion board, and in some semesters there will be opportunities for communication with guest speakers.

All projects/assignments will be posted to the class discussion board and placed in the course drop box for evaluation and point assignment by the instructor.  The final reflection need only be put in the drop box for evaluation.

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

Mary Ann Harlan, David V. Loertscher, and Sharron L. McElmeel. (2009). Young Adult Literature and Multimedia: A Quick Guide 2010. Hi Willow Research and Publishing; ISBN 978-1-933170-39-8.  $30.00

Completely updated in 2009, this 5th edition includes two- and four-page spreads that cover many genres in young adult literature and multimedia. Each spread gives a history of the genre, sample titles, and spotlights authors and how to keep up in that particular genre. Topics include: the young adult novel, fantasy and science fiction, history, popular music, and teen television, among others.

ORDER FROM: http://www.lmcsource.com -- search for "young adult lit" or go directly to http://www.lmcsource.com/isell3/product.php?id=55

Optional Textbook

Sharron L. McElmeel. (2010). The Best Teen Reads 2010. Hi Willow Research and Publishing; ISBN 1-933170-52-2; 978-1-933170-52-7. 

This 2010 edition of a popular resource features the best books, old and new, for teen reads in a wide variety of genres and interest levels. These include a list of the last several years of teen publications that have received star reviews in the reviewing media or have been tapped as books worthy of consideration for top awards and reading lists. The main list includes these recommended materials, but other sections of the book provide a guide to the best graphic novels, audio books, poetry, and picture books. Authors are spotlighted and tips are provided for using the books in school and public libraries.

ORDER FROM: http://www.lmcsource.com -- search for "best books" or go directly to http://www.lmcsource.com/isell3/product.php?id=56

In addition to the required textbook and optional title, participants will be asked to read widely in the area of young adult 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 and optional readings will be available via UW-Stout library databases and provided via class lectures linked in the course materials.

Instructor
Sharron L. McElmeel
Sharron's background information

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Registration

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 .

Request Information Online

School of Education
Online Professional Development
University of Wisconsin - Stout
Menomonie, WI 54751
phone: (715) 642-0209 or 715-232-2253

Orientation Activities
After you are enrolled, review the orientation activities, 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 preteen and teenage readers (young adult literature) and information about how to select and integrate appropriate texts in every area of the curriculum.

Knowledge of young adult 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).

Young adult literature texts will facilitate meeting the goals inherent in the Wisconsin Standards Teacher Development and Licensure. Alignment with Wisconsin Standards

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 http://www.edstandards.org/Standards.html

Alignment with Standards for Reading Professionals