LIBR 281
Seminar in Contemporary Issues
Focus: Explorations into Historic Children’s Literature
Summer 2003

Meredith Eliassen
eliassen@sfsu.edu

GREENSHEET

LOCATION: San Francisco State University Library, 1630 Holloway Avenue, Room 434, San Francisco, CA.

DATES: August 4-8, 2003, Monday through Friday, 10 am. to 5 pm.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Course will explore aspects of historic children's literature within literary and cultural contexts. Students will be introduced to children's genres and will examine significant themes presented in children's books that are designed to encourage learning, literacy and the enjoyment of reading. In the mornings, the instructor will present specific topic for discussion; and in the afternoons, students will work individually and collaboratively on projects where they are planning programs, exhibits or webtexts.

OBJECTIVES: The object of this class is to explore the world of children's literature with an adult's discipline and a child's heart in order to develop effective programs, exhibits and webtexts. Lectures and class discussions will comprise the bulk of the class time. We will move through a lot of material rapidly. For students who want to linger on a specific topic, the final research project will provide for in depth work. Beyond exploring children's literature, students will learn how to find and use print and electronic resources; evaluate and communicate concepts related to literacy; and practice storytelling.

This course supports the SLIS objective by providing a foundation for developing information services (programs, exhibits, and webtexts) specifically related to historic children’s literature.

OUTCOMES: Students will come out of this class with the following:

1. Students will create their own plan for further study which will include:
   1. A chronological bibliography of important writings for children;
   2. An example of an early curriculum for individualized reading developed by Frederic Burk for the San Francisco State Normal School student teachers;
   3. A glossary of terms related to the history of children's literature;
   4. Examples of programs that are developed in class (that the student will have completed or will take notes on presentations) which can be adapted for their own study and teaching.
2. Students will develop skills in using electronic resources and the Internet to locate and retrieve relevant information on historic children's literature and other children's materials. [http//www.library.sfsu.edu/special/archer.html]
3. Students will understand the elements of a good story, the evolution of storytelling from an oral tradition to written communication, and the reasons for teaching literacy and critical thinking to children.
4. Students will become more comfortable with their own oral communication skills from their experiences of discussions, presenting plans for programs, and reading aloud in class.

TEXTS: Students will develop their own reader. Students should be prepared to photocopy materials that are relevant to their projects and their specific interests in historic children’s literature. This course has a distinctly American emphasis.

REQUIREMENTS:
GRADING:

CLASS PARTICIPATION: (20%) : This seminar will include extensive class participation that includes reading excerpts aloud from books, class discussions, and students working together to “brainstorm” on ideas for projects.
ASSIGNMENTS: (60%)
QUIZ: (20%) Terms from glossary and chronology.
IN-CLASS PROJECT (30%): Developing a program using Native American themes
ORAL PRESENTATION (30%): An opportunity to look in depth at any genre discussed in class and present some aspect of children’s literature to the class that demonstrates substantial analysis, evaluation, synthesis or understanding of concepts covered in class. Suggestions for topics:
- Comparison of the approaches of different authors using the same story/motif
- Analysis of the works/themes of a single author
- Analysis of the development of a genre/recuperation of an old story in a new format
- Describe the day in the life of one of a specific character
- A curriculum plan for teaching children about a story in the context of the times in which it was written
- A special creative project that I have approved
Note: Students should expect to spend about 16 hours preparing for the Oral Presentations. Most afternoons will be devoted to working on presentation.

SCHEDULE OF CLASS DISCUSSIONS: