Children's Literature 443

Section 6 Fall 2000

Mondays 7-9:30

Instructor: Linnea Hendrickson, M.A.T., M.A., M.L.S.

e-mail: Lhendr@unm.ed


  1. August 21. Introduction to Course. Earliest memories.
  2. August 28. Newbery and Caldecott books. Read: Nodelman, Chapter 1 ("How to Read this Book"). Continue reading first novel. Library search for "your" picture book and remembered book. Weekly writing: Describe your library visit and reflect on why you chose as you did. Begin reading Trelease: Read Aloud Handbook. Bring: Chosen picture book, remembered book, novel.нннннннннн
  3. September 11. Read: Nodelman, Chs. 2, 3 (How to Read Children's Literature, Teaching Children Literature). Weekly writing: Exploration, p. 20 (What are your pleasures?). Apply to a children's novel. Select next novel to read with book club. Bring: novel.

In class presentations: Nodelman Explorations, pp. 22, 40 # 1, 40 #2, 40 #3.

  1. September 18. Discuss second novel, move into poetry. Read: Nodelman, Ch. 4 (Strategies for Reading a Literary Text). Weekly writing: Have each book club member select one of the 6 consistency-building procedures: concretization, character, plot, theme, structure, or focalization to apply to your current common novel. Read and Bring: Poetry, novel.

In class presentations: Nodelman Explorations, pp. 48, 49.

  1. September 25. PORTFOLIOS DUE. Read: Nodelman, Ch. 10 (Poetry). Begin reading Kennedy (optional) or other anthologies. Explore the children's poetry section in libraries. Weekly writing: Exploration, p. 212 (Devise a strategy to use with children). Bring: Novels and poetry. Continue novels with book clubs. Nodelman Explorations, pp.197, 198.
  2. October 2. POETRY PROJECT. Finish reading Trelease. Begin Picture Books. Begin reading Nodelman, Ch. 11 on Picture books. Begin reading 3rd novel with book club. Bring: Novel, poetry. Nodelman explorations, pp. 225, 241, 242 (top).
  3. October 9. Picture Books. Read: Nodelman, Ch. 11 (Picture Books). Weekly writing: Have each book club member select format and first impressions, plus one other aspect (mood and atmosphere, style, meanings of visual objects, or pictorial dynamics to explore in relationship to a chosen picture book). Bring: Caldecott books, picture books. Nodelman explorations, pp. 242 (middle), 242 (bottom).
  4. October16. Picture books, continued. Weekly writing: Comparison of illustrations of two picture book versions of the same folktale. Bring: Picture book versions of folktales. Nodelman explorations, pp. 246, 250, 262.
  5. October 23. PERSONAL TEXT SETS. Weekly writing: Two page paper reflecting on each of six books in your personal text set (one paragraph for each book, plus one paragraph for synthesis, plus bibliography). Bring: Books and display, plus 2-page hand-out.
  6. October 30. PORTFOLIOS DUE.н Folk and fairy tales. Storytelling. Read: Nodelman, Ch. 12; selected tale in Opie. Weekly writing: Folktale comparison, using one of the following Nodelman explorations as your guide: p. 254 (top or bottom) or p. 260. Bring: Folktales.н Nodelman explorations, pp.267-68.
  7. November 6. Begin informational books. Bring: informational books, biographies. Discuss research for author/illustrator fair. Nodelman explorations, pp. 97, 99, 102.
  8. November 13. AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR/POET FAIR.
  9. November 20. Informational books. Work on research for Issues presentations.
  10. November 27. ISSUES PRESENTATIONS.
  11. December 4. PORTFOLIOS DUE (3). Weekly writing: Review of portfolio and construction of growth statement. ISSUES PRESENTATIONS.
  12. December 11. Course evaluation, celebrations, special topics and finishing up.

Bon Voyage!


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