Overview

This course introduces students to the spectrum of children's literature, past and present. It has been structured chronologically around authors whose work has had a profound impact on children’s literature.

This is a three-credit class.

 

Requirements

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.

Required Resources

This course is organized into 25 lessons. For each lesson, there will be approved picture books and novels to read. We have established a Goodreads Community Group called "BYU-Idaho ENG 355 Children's Literature" where you can find bookshelves with the options for each genre. Once you decide which books you want to read, you can check them out from your local library, read them online, listen to them as audiobooks, purchase them at bookstores, or borrow them from friends and family. You will want to keep a reading log, as it will become difficult to remember all of the books you will read during this course.

 

Structure

Course Outcomes

1. Understand and discuss children’s literature as a valuable source of information reflecting and enriching the human experience.
2. Read and explore children’s literature within such contexts as genre, style, readability, age-appropriateness, historical period, and culture.
3. Practice skills such as literary analysis, locating and selecting texts, reading aloud, creative writing, and/or creating extension activities for readers.

Major Assignments

Essentially, there are five types of assignments. This table shows how they address the established course outcomes:

Major Assignments

Major Assignment	Description	Course Outcome #
Lectures	Each lesson includes a recorded lecture lasting 30–45 minutes. A brief quiz will verify completion.	1
Picture Books	Each lesson requires reading a set number of picture books (usually about three) from an approved list. A brief quiz will allow you to submit titles and impressions.	2
Novels	Each lesson incorporates a novel from an approved list. A brief quiz will encourage analysis and creative thinking.	2, 3
Discussions	Starting in Week 03, there will be weekly discussion groups where you will share a couple of your favorite books from the previous week. These discussion groups will be held at a time chosen by the group members. The instructor may occasionally join your group.	1, 3
Exams	Tests will be given at mid-term and at the end of the semester. There will be objective items (multiple choice and matching) as well as short essay questions.	1, 2

Weekly Patterns

Except for the first and last weeks, there will be two lessons each week. The first will be due on Wednesday (mountain time), and the second will be due on Saturday (mountain time). Each lesson will include watching a recorded lecture, reading several picture books, and reading a longer novel. Each lesson will take about four hours to complete. You would be well-advised to look ahead when you're at the library and get books for two or three lessons at a time.

Weekly Patterns

Due Date*	Learning Model	Activity Title	Description
Midweek	Prepare	Lecture	Watch the video (30–45 minutes). Take a short quiz.
Midweek	Prepare, Ponder, and Prove	Picture Books	Read approved picture books (usually three). Submit titles and impressions on the quiz.
Midweek	Prepare, Ponder, and Prove	Novel	Read an approved novel. Complete tasks on the quiz.
End of Week	Prepare	Lecture	Watch the video (30–45 minutes). Take a short quiz.
End of Week	Prepare, Ponder, and Prove	Picture Books	Read approved picture books (usually three). Submit titles and impressions on the quiz.
End of Week	Prepare, Ponder, and Prove	Novel	Read an approved novel. Complete tasks on the quiz.
End of Week	Teach One Another	Discussion	Meet with discussion group to share two favorite books from the previous week.

*Set your time zone within user preferences so the dates and times for course activities will display correctly for your time zone.

Learning Model

Each lesson will provide opportunities for students to prepare, teach one another, and ponder and prove what they have learned. Within the first few weeks, a nice rhythm should emerge. Relax and enjoy the wonderful world of children's literature! 

 

Expectations

Feedback

You can expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the due date for all assignments.

Workload

This is a three-credit course, which means you can expect to spend at least 9–12 hours per week completing the assignments. If you are a slow reader (or choose to listen to an audiobook slowly), there might be a few weeks that require a bit more time. Likewise, if you choose shorter books or read faster, you might find there are lighter weeks. Since you select the books you read each week, you can manage the reading load to fit around major life events that might be happening this semester. No problem!

Group Work

Book discussion groups are a lively part of this course. You can select a group of people who have similar open times in their schedule (say Monday afternoons or Thursday mornings), then find a regular meeting time. Each week, you will share two favorite books from the previous week. Try to have the actual book with you, since it is helpful for others to see the cover and, in the case of picture books, even a bit of the interior artwork. It's also fun when someone reads a passage to show an author's style.

Students in face-to-face classes sometimes like to change groups halfway through the course, so let your instructor know if you're ready for a change of pace.

Late Work

As a sign of professionalism and respect, you should complete your work on time. Late work is penalized by 50%. If you're not quite finished with a book when it's due, report where you are in the book. Later, if you finish the book, send your instructor a message. Most teachers will allow a couple of late finishes without penalty, so keep your teacher informed!  

For copyright reasons, the lectures will open the week before they are needed, and they will close at the end of the week when they are due. Be aware that there won't be a way to watch them later.

Retries

Although most of the assignments have been created using the quiz tool, they aren't quizzes in the traditional sense. Think of them more like worksheets where you submit the titles of the books you are reading and complete a few tasks to demonstrate that you're actually paying attention while you read. You are welcome to retry the reading assignments but not the lectures. That said, you shouldn't need to retry anything.

Extra Credit

There is no extra credit given in this course.

Grading Scale

Grading Scale

Letter Grade	Percent
A	100%–93%
A-	92%–90%
B+	89%–87%
B	86%–83%
B-	82%–80%
C+	79%–77%
C	76%–73%
C-	72%–70%
D+	69%–67%
D	66%–63%
D-	62%–60%
F	59% and lower

   

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Accessibility Services Office at 1-208-496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Accessibility Services Office.

This course does require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Accessibility Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at 1-208-496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.