ED 230 Children’s Literature in the Diverse Classroom

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Discusses high quality children’s literature and how to use it to promote literacy in children in elementary and middle school. Explores the cognitive, emotional, and social process of literacy development, with a special focus on literacy development in bilingual and bicultural students.

Prerequisite: Placement into or completion of WR 115 (or higher); and completion of ED 216; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Student Learning Outcomes:

Explain the concepts and role children’s literature plays in the learning process for children in elementary and middle school.
Exemplify proficient knowledge of the genres, multicultural perspectives, and major authors in children’s literature.
Demonstrate understanding of how literacy develops on a cognitive, emotional, and social level.
Describe the link between literacy development and language acquisition.
Implement strategies to promote literacy through children’s literature in the classroom.
Exhibit cultural sensitivity in multicultural issues connected with the literacy
process and the impact of literature on children’s identity.
Explain the needs of second language learners in literacy development.
Describe learner diversity and its impact on literacy and love of reading.
Assess children’s literature and apply strategies to use it in the elementary and middle school classroom.

Content Outline

Understand Central Concepts and Structures of Children’s Literature, Including Major Authors and Illustrators
- Connect the concepts to the important role that literature has in children’s lives
- Understand the community context of children’s literature
- Develop proficient knowledge of the genres and major authors of children’s literature from a multicultural perspective
Gain Deep Understanding of Literacy Development, with Knowledge of Cognitive, Emotional and Social Aspects of Literacy Development
- Build awareness of readiness to read and varied learning needs that exist in the elementary and middle school classroom
- Understand the link between literacy and language development
Understand Multicultural Issues Connected with Children’s Literature
- Gain cultural understanding of diverse student needs
- Explore the needs of second language learners in literacy development
- Explore culturally sensitive practices in literacy and the promotion of children’s literature, including family inclusion in the process
Gain Knowledge of Literacy Development Practices that Affect Reading and Language Acquisition