EDU 235 - Children’s Literature

Credits: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Practicum Hours: 0
Work Experience: 0
Course Type: Core

1. Analyze the history and evolution of children’s and young adult literature and access in America, including works from a range of genres and age levels from preschool to 8th grade as it pertains to Language Arts and Literacy Instruction
   1. Describe the scope and evolution of children’s literature, including both historical figures and notable authors
   2. Summarize the role of key institutions and resources that provide access to children’s literature, such as libraries, digital collections, and specialty bookstores
   3. Identify and explain classroom applications for the distinct types of children’s and young adult fiction, poetry, graphic novels, picture books, and informational texts across the curriculum with the goal of enhancing students’ learning and engagement
   4. Examine children’s literature that portray diverse ethnic, cultural, gender, and family identities in order to emphasize literature that fosters empathy, respects varied experiences, and provides young readers with perspectives and tools to navigate life’s challenges and complex social dynamics
2. Apply theories of child development and teaching pedagogy to texts
   1. Discuss major components of literacy instruction, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and reading comprehension
   2. Categorize the stages of reading development (Emergent, Early, Transitional, Fluent) in the classroom
   3. Categorize the stages of writing development from drawing and scribbling to phonetic and conventional spelling
   4. Analyze criteria for evaluating the quality and developmental appropriateness of children’s literature, considering literary purpose, narrative styles, and genre distinctions
   5. Determine strategies to evaluate and select literature that is tailored to students’ diverse reading and writing stages, as well as language development
3. Analyze literary elements across genres, including symbolism, narrative techniques, characterization, text-illustration connection, and poetic devices
   1. Identify and interpret themes, symbolism, and figurative language (e.g., similes, metaphors) in fiction, poetry, and picture books
   2. Describe narrative structures, including plot elements such as conflict, climax, and resolution and examine how they engage readers and convey meaning
   3. Examine the impact of setting, character development, and dialogue on themes and reader connection
   4. Analyze the effects of various types of narration, the author’s point of view, and the sequence of events (e.g., chronological, flashback) on storytelling and comprehension
   5. Analyze the effects of the use of poetic devices such as alliteration, rhythm, rhyme, symbolism, tone and theme on storytelling and comprehension
   6. Examine the relationship between text and illustrations in picture books and the way that design and media choices, including artistic style and layout, influence reader engagement and interpretation
4. Evaluate First Amendment and intellectual freedom issues in regards to children’s literature
   1. Differentiate between restricting, banning, and censoring books within the classroom, school libraries, and public libraries, considering implications for promoting literacy among students of diverse backgrounds and reading abilities
   2. Identify the importance of intellectual freedom in fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment that respects the diverse interests, cultural backgrounds, and reading levels of young readers
   3. Evaluate the educational and literary merits of challenged books within the context of the First Amendment, considering their value to classroom and library collections
5. Design literacy-focused lessons using research-based strategies and instructional technology that features high-quality, developmentally appropriate literature across the curriculum to enhance learning and engagement for all learners
   1. Utilize research-based reading instructional strategies for PK-8 literacy instruction to develop lesson plans and read-alouds for elementary, as well as literacy strategies to support secondary students
   2. Leverage professional tools in children’s literature, such as reference texts, critical evaluations, academic journals and instructional technology to guide the development of effective literature-based lessons across the curriculum

AY2026
Competencies Revised Date: AY2026