Return to UNM-Gallup Children's Literature Syllabus, FALL 2003
BOOKLIST: Read randomly, read selectively, read methodically, read seriously, read entertainingly, read, read, read. Follow a ‘quest to find books in “sets” according to author, illustrator, or genre. Follow your heart’s delight. Risk new genre. Reread favorites. Read once as an “enjoyer” and once again as a “critic” to see how the author structured the book and why you laughed or cried. Come to some understanding of literature as an art form, that is, as a tool for educating the imagination.
AVERAGE AIM: 80 books | ABOVE AVERAGE AIM: 100-120 books | EXCELLENT AIM: 120-140 books
Prepare an annotated booklist of at least 80 children’s books to which you add about 8 books per week (80 total). From these annotated entries, you will be asked to present at least one 2-minute “book talk”, during which you are to “sell” your classmates on the merits of reading the books selected for Oprah’s Book List. All annotated booklists are to either be: recorded and saved on a 3x5 diskette – as an IBM compatible Microsoft Word Document - and handed in as a typed document (hard copy); typed as a hard copy and handed in; or emailed as an attachment file (to abiyoyoyo@yahoo.com) each week for accurate recording of your booklist assignment. Include: Name, Date, Booklist range (#1-8), Genre, Title & Author, Annotation. If quoting, give credit to source. Academic integrity is expected of you and is to be reflected in your coursework. (No Disney or Golden Books)
Types of literature (genre) you will explore (see our course text):
25 Picture Books | 5 Poetry and Verse | 10 Folktales | 10 Realistic Fiction |
5 Historical Fiction | 5 Auto/Biography | 5 Fantasy | 5 Science Fiction |
10 NonFiction/Informational = 80 total (The total number of books is not optional, however, the number of books read in each genre is. Only one RULE OF THUMB: Read at least 4 in each genre to total 80 books.)
Maintain a LITERATURE SHARING JOURNAL from your experiences with sharing stories with children - THREE SESSIONS. PLease listen and watch for spontaneous verbal and non-verbal responses to record in your Literature response journal. Record book/story you selected and why; grade for whom it was intended; what you might read the next time; andmost of all, what you discovered.
AUTHOR FOCUS: Choose a children’s author to explore biographic and literary contributions. Present a written presentation (one-sided, one-page) of the author to share with the class. If possible, include several books of the author for display. Remember to cite sources and to give due credit. Examples will be provided in class.
ILLUSTRATOR FOCUS: Choose a children’s illustrator to explore biographic and artistic contributions. Present a written presentation (one-sided, one-page) of the illustrator to share with classmates. If possible, include several books of the illustrator for display on the day of presentation. Remember to cite sources and to give due credit. Examples will be provided in class.
(optional) STORYTELLING: You will share a story orally (no book) with your peers. The story may be short (5-10 minutes) or longer (however long it takes you to tell it).
BOOK TALK/BOOK ADVERTISEMENT for Oprah’s Book List about your favorite book as a presentation in any form, other than a written book report. Following the ‘Sales’ pitch (book sell), please read a short excerpt. Each student will prepare to deliver at least one book sell during the course.
UNM CHILDREN’S LITERATURE CLASS COLLECTION: Each student will design his/her own page as part of a collective work – UNM Children’s Literature Class Collection. Use of the World Wide Web to research available information about children’s literature is encouraged in addition to your own reading.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE WEBSITES: Each week explore several children’s literature websites (list provided in class). Use the information learned for your own enrichment – personal and professional. Websites of particular interest to you can be added to your own website for the UNM Children’s Literature Class Collection.
STORYTELLING EVENTS will be encouraged for you to attend. Some dates may be outside of our scheduled class meeting dates.