This course covers various topics concerning literature for children and young adults, including the history, various genres, trends, and issues of children’s literature. Throughout the semester, the class uses various methods to identify and analyze poetry, picture books, and traditional, realistic, and fantasy fiction. As a class, we will discuss these texts from both an adult’s and a child’s perspective, as well as learn how to evaluate works from a literary analytical view. We will also discuss ways works could be used in the classroom.
Just as with any industry, internships or exposure to field work is a key element in the preparation to teach. It is important to have students experience the classroom environment early on in their colligate career. Therefore, one of the assignments in this class is to volunteer in a classroom setting through the Service Learning Center program. Students may volunteer as in-class aides (through the SLC or through a school directly), mentors, or tutors. Please see the Service Learning Center website for a complete directory of agencies and orientation times. Students must complete 10 hours of volunteer teaching for this class. In addition, students will be required to write a two page essay chronicling their experience as a volunteer teacher and the program/school with which they completed the hours. ** For those students who work full-time in another industry, please see me for an alternate assignment.
Unit(s): 3
Class Hours: 48 Lecture total.
Prerequisite: English 101 or 101H with a grade of C or better.