MurrayStateUniversity

Dept. of Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Course Syllabus

I.Readings and Research in Children’s Literature

Instructor / Johan Koren / E-mail /
Phone / 270-762-2760 / Website /
Office / 3202 Alexander Hall
Location / 2205 Alexander Hall

II.Catalog Description An in-depth study of chosen areas of children’s literature with emphasis on books and articles about children’s books.

III.PurposeThe purposes of this course are to provide students with opportunities for extensive readings in the various genres of children’s literature; readings and discussion of research informing the reading and teaching of children’s literature; and thorough and extensive research into a chosen area of children’s literature.

  1. Course Objectives

Class activities will be centered on the attainment of the course objectives listed below. These objectives are understood to be reflective of, but not limited to those behaviors advocated by the Kentucky Education Reform Act guidelines. Following each objective, and enclosed in parentheses, are numbers which reference the Kentucky Experienced Teacher Standards for Preparation and Certification (ETS) and the NCATE/ALA Program Standards (ALA) addressed by that objective. Upon successful completion of this class, students will:

  1. Be able to evaluate selections of children’s literature in accordance with a set of established criteria. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 4) (COE 2, 3)
  2. Understand the benefits of children’s literature and develop their own criteria for evaluating children’s literature. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 2, 4) (COE 2, 3, 4)
  3. Have an in-depth understanding of a particular issue in children’s literature. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 2, 4) (COE 4)
  4. Have an in-depth knowledge of a particular genre or other subdivision of children’s literature. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 2, 4) (COE 4)
  5. Write a professional paper suitable for submission to a professional journal on a topic related to children’s literature. (ETS I) (ALA 1, 2) (COE 4)
  6. Understand the elements of literature. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 4) (COE 4)
  7. Be familiar with the different genre in children’s literature and criteria for evaluating books in each genre. (ETS II) (COE 4)
  8. Identify strategies for using literature in the classroom. (ETS III) (ALA 1, 2) (COE 1, 2, 3)
  9. Be familiar with a variety of reading strategies. (ETS II) (ALA 1, 2)
  10. Be able to use technology in the study or teaching of children’s literature. (ETS III) (ALA 1, 4) (COE 2, 3)
  11. Be able to work collaboratively, display team membership skills, and analyze their collaborative experiences to improve future collaborations. (ETS VIII) (ALA 3) (COE 6)
  12. Be able to reflect upon their reading habits, evaluate their teaching of literature, and identify a plan for future growth and improvement. (ETS VII, IX) (ALA 2) (COE 4)

V.Content Outline

Topics

Introductions
Intro. to Children’s Literature
Evaluating and Selecting Children’s Literature
The World of Picture Books
Responding to Books through Talks, Art, Writing, Drama, Movement and Music
The Delights of Poetry
The Context of Children’s Literature
Multicultural and International Children’s Literature
Traditional or Folk Literature
Realistic and Historical Fiction
Modern Fantasy and Science Fiction
Nonfiction Books
Biography and Autobiography

VI.Instructional Activities

Because active involvement through speaking, writing, and interaction with ideas brings about in-depth learning, students will be expected to participate in diverse activities.

  1. Students will actively participate in class and Blackboard discussions and activities.
  2. Students will reflect upon what they have learned through reflective writing activities
  3. Students will write a professional-quality position paper.
  4. Students will read and discuss children’s books.
  5. Students will develop literature units to use in their classrooms.

VII.Field and Clinical Experiences

Clinical or field experiences may be included. In addition, graduate students are expected to draw upon their experiences when reading, studying, and participating in all activities and projects. Furthermore, the expectation is that all selected activities and projects will be relevant to students’ field or clinical professional practice.

  1. Resources
  2. Waterfield Library (MSU): children’s books, journals, books on children’s literature
  3. Local Public Libraries: children’s books, some journals and books on children’s literature
  4. Internet: students may access the Internet from Kentucky public libraries, extended site labs, home, or the student lab in Alexander Hall on the MSU campus.
  5. See Resources for Research in Children’s Literature website for additional resources. Online at

IX.Grading Procedures

  1. Course Assignments

AssignmentsPoints

Blackboard Discussion20 points

Evaluation Criteria20 points

Professional Paper 25 points

Collaborative Literature Unit25 points

Reflection Paper 10points

Total:100 points

  1. Grading Scale

Grades will be awarded for performance in accordance with this scale.

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  1. Attendance Policy

Class attendance is required. Completion of Blackboard assignments within one week of their posting will constitute attendance for virtual class sessions. Because participating in class discussions and other activities is such an important part of the learning experience in this class and cannot be made up, more than one absence may result in the lowering of the final grade.

  1. Text anD REFERENCES

Mitchell, Diana (2003). Children’s Literature: An Invitation to the World. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Companion website:

XII.Prerequisite

UndergraduateCollege Degree

XIII.Academic Honesty Policy

This course adheres to the policy published in the current MSU Graduate Bulletin.

Only your own work can prepare you to accomplish your professional teaching goals and to contribute significantly to the success of KERA. Using the work of others (for example, published lesson plans) as a starting point for course work is certainly acceptable, although you must credit your sources. Your own work beyond this point must be clearly identified and your sources fully cited.