EDU 619: Childrens Literature: A Critical Literacy Perspective Summer 2012 American University School of Education, Teaching &

p; Health Instructor: Alex R. Hodges, Associate Librarian/Professor Online Office Hours: Online via Gchat/Google+ Tuesdays, 3-5pm https://plus.google.com/109530999277649806514/ Phone: cell/text 202.210.8850 E-mail/Gchat: alex.hodges@gmail.com Class meets asynchronously online: July 2, 2012 through August 16, 2012 Each weekly module runs on a Monday to Sunday timeline. New work will be assigned on Mondays. Each weeks goals are to be met by the following Sunday. Catalog Course Description for EDU 619: Exploration and analysis of children's literature from a critical literacy perspective, including an explanation of social issues such as marginalization, racism, and censorship, as reflected in different genre. Textbooks: See course outline for reading assignments by date. REQUIRED: Vasquez, V. (2010). Getting Beyond I Like the Book: Creating Space for Critical Literacy in K-6 Classrooms (2nd ed.). Newark, DE: International Reading Association. ON RESERVE at the University Library, Lower Level. Call number LB 1576 .V37 2010 ISBN: 0872075052 RECOMMENDED: Jacobs, J. S. & Tunnell, M. O. (2008). Childrens Literature, Briefly. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. ON RESERVE at the University Library, Lower Level. Call number PN 1008.8 .J33 2008 ISBN: 780131734906 Required Childrens and Young Adult Literature: Elijah of Buxton, Christopher Paul Curtis ON RESERVE at the University Library, Lower Level. Call number PZ 7.C94137 El 2007 ISBN: 0439023440 The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Jon Scieszka ON RESERVE at the University Library, Lower Level. Call number PZ 8.S324 St 1992 ISBN: 67084487X Weetzie Bat, Francesca Lia Block ON RESERVE at the University Library, Lower Level. Call number PZ 7.B6194 We 1999 ISBN: 0060205342

Course Goals and Purposes for EDU 619: Our work together as an online learning community requires reflection, observation and communication. Together we will examine both childrens and young adult literature. Some of the texts we will examine will be considered classics. Other works may be so current that they will include allusions to modern social conventions or currently contested terrains. Students will apply what they learn in this class to their eventual teaching practice and to the development of their critical thinking skills. Careful evaluation of the literature along with an engaged, conversant dynamic will aid the discussion of curriculum-based discoveries. In order to achieve these means, the course will use critical theory and a critical literacy framework to uncover meaning, explore linguistic constructions and critique artistic imagery. As a community, the class will . . . 1. Experience an introductory overview of the field of childrens and young adult literature. 2. Engage critical thinking skills to evaluate, discuss, research and reflect upon reactions to the literature in order to . . . View literacy as a social practice, Explore the possibilities of multiple literacies, Discover situated meanings within individual works, and Examine the motivations of authors, illustrators and publishers. 3. Use the lens of critical literacy to . . . Discuss and learn about social issues such as diversity, difference, privilege, disadvantage, power and control as applied in books written for juveniles, Construct alternate versions of existing texts, and Inform the future teaching of childrens literature while also reflecting upon teaching practice and critical theory. 4. Develop, discover and share research methods and strategies. 5. Respect the diversity of communicated thoughts, experiences and belief systems. 6. Reframe traditional literacy learning within the multimodal online learning environment.

Learning Objectives for EDU 619: 1. Students will critically read the literature in order to unpack the social and political meanings that show the non-neutrality of juvenile literature. Students will have both assigned readings and self-chosen readings. Some of the self-chosen readings will come from the International Childrens Digital Library: http://en.childrenslibrary.org/ 2. Students will blog in order to use multimodal writing as a means to reflect upon, communicate and share their critical discoveries with the class. 3. Students will devise an alternate ending to a childrens fairy tale in order to critique the subjective cultural mores inherent in moral stories. This exercise will require activating inquiry skills through library-based online research as well as activating creative problem-solving skills in the redesign of a prominent, fossilized narrative. 4. Students will create a critical literacy analysis of a topical or genre area within childrens or young adult literature in order to provide an in-depth linguistic and illustrative analysis, which shows how teaching this subject can effect social action or illuminate a social problem that needs attention and change. 5. Students will create a website and web-based Jing screencast to display the steps of the analysis (from learning objective #4) in order to disseminate their reflection, newly created/researched knowledge and multimodal communication skills. This screencast will provide other students in the class with new knowledge about the social and political messages to consider with their own future students.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Professionalism and Participation (10 Points)
Your participation and critical engagement are crucial for your success especially in a completely online course. You are required to participate meaningfully and critically in all asynchronous discussions as well as complete all assigned work. Students who miss a discussion may receive a one-half letter grade deduction (i.e. an A- becomes a B+) from the participation grade. Students who miss 3 or more discussions may not receive any participation points.

Blog Posts Book Reviews & Discussion Question Responses (15 Points)
Each student will blog about childrens or young adult literature. Participation in the blog forum is critical to attaining goals and objectives for the course.

Blogger via Google

Students are expected to join the class Blogger site through a personal Google account (see the instructor for a Google account if you dont have one separate from AU). The class will use the blog to share individually written book reviews of self-chosen childrens or young adult books. Books Reviews Book reviews will be posted on the blog twice during the course. Blog posts and responses will be graded on these dates: July 16 (grading work that was posted from July 9-15) August 6 (grading work that was posted July 30-August 5) Full points can be earned by providing a minimum of 3 substantial posts during each week: a) ONE post must be a book review blog post that provides a review or critical evaluation of a specific childrens or young adult title, b) TWO other posts must reflect on and contribute meaningfully (in 2-3 sentences) to other students posts. Discussion Questions Discussion questions will be posed to elicit responses about the reading during the course. Responses to discussion questions will be graded on these dates: July 16 (grading work that was posted from July 9-15) July 23 (grading work that was posted from July 16-22) August 13 (grading work that was posted from August 6-12)

Counter Narrative Project* (Individual - 35 points) Each student will create a counter narrative text for a traditional Cinderella story. There are many texts that we could choose for this assignment, but we will use the Cinderella story to help get the point across that texts are socially constructed, not neutral, and that given a set of different circumstances, every story could be told differently. Your individual counter narrative based on the original text and images is worth (15 points), and a researched 2-3pp. description (worth 20 points) of the differences will detail the sociopolitical impact of the recast text, images or characters. More information about this assignment will be explained during the semester.

Final Project (Individual or Group - 40 points) Students will create a critical literacy analysis of a topical or genre area within childrens or young adult literature. Individuals or groups will collectively choose one text to examine in depth; provide a linguistic (and imagery, too, if illustrated) analysis of this text; research similar and different texts within the genre; examine and observe through field research in library and bookstore collections for coverage of this subject; develop a potential social justice project based on the text and its general subject aiming to show how teaching in K-12 curricula about the subject can effect social action or illuminate a social problem that needs attention and change. Groups may be comprised of no more than 3 students. 1) Web site (worth 5 points) Students will design a simple Google Site that collects and organizes online content for the social action project. 2) Essay - 5pp minimum (worth 25 points) This essay is an evaluation of your chosen text and genre area. It will include an annotated bibliography or other sources/texts within your chosen genre/topic area. For those who chose to work in a group, it must be collaboratively written. More information about this assignment will be explained. 3) Online Presentation (worth 10 points) This project and your rationale for its creation will be presented to the class via your Jing online screencast. More information about this assignment will be explained.

COURSE POINTS / GRADING SCALE:

Assignment/Project Professionalism & Participation Blog Posts & Responses Counter Narrative Project Final Project Total Available Course Points: Course Grade A AB+ B BC+ C CD F Points Value 10 points 15 points 35 points 40 points 100 POINTS % Value 100-94 93.9-90 89.9-87 86.9-84 83.9-80 79.9-77 76.9-74 73.9-70 69.9-60 59.9-00

CLASS SCHEDULE SUMMER 2012 EDU 619.F01L/N91U

Note: These details are subject to change. Be aware of online announcements. Date Discussion Topics & Assignments Readings & Due Dates Week 1 July 2-8 Introduction to the Course Introduction to Childrens & YA Literature Review syllabus and course overview Setup blog access 1) Reading DUE: Tunnell & Jacobs, Ch. 1, 5-7 Post on Blog: Introductions & Childhood Favorites Reading Due: Vasquez, Ch. 1-2 Reading Due: Tunnell & Jacobs, Ch. 2-4 Post on Blog: Book review #1 & responses Reading Due: Elijah of Buxton Tunnell & Jacobs, Ch. 12-15 Reading Due: Tunnell & Jacobs, Ch. 9, 10 The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Scieszka & Smith Counter Narrative Project Due: Email by Sunday, July 29, 11:59pm Week 5 July 30Aug. 5 Focusing on Social Issues Final Project Assigned Book review #2 Reading Due: Vasquez, Ch. 3, 4 Post on Blog: Book review #2 & responses Week 6 Aug. 6-12 Week 7 Aug. 13-16 Banned and Controversial Books Discussion Questions: Weetzie Bat Reading Due: Tunnell & Jacobs, Ch. 11, 16 Weetzie Bat Final Project Due & Presented Email and post online by Thursday, Aug. 16, 11:59pm

Week 2 July 9-15

Critical Literacy & Evaluating Literature Discussion Questions: Critical Literacy Book review #1

Week 3 July 16-22 Week 4 July 23-29

Multicultural & International Books Discussion Questions: Elijah of Buxton

Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Fantasy Counter Narrative Work

Final Project Work Course evaluations

Academic Integrity Code Students are expected to conform to the regulations of the University in regard to academic integrity, especially in regard to plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, dishonesty in examinations, dishonesty in papers, work for one course and submitted to another, deliberate falsification of data, interference with other students' work, and copyright violation. The student academic integrity code is located here: http://www.american.edu/provost/registrar/regulations/reg80.cfm Research Assistance The University Library faculty provide assistance with developing search strategies for AUs online research tools. You can seek help by visiting the reference desk, by calling (202) 8853238, or by instant messaging askaulibrary via AIM/GTalk/Yahoo!/MSN. Using Appropriate Documentation Formats The School of Education, Teaching & Health endorses the use of APA or MLA style for research citations, footnotes, list of references, and layout, and all written work. All style guides can be found in print in the library next to the reference desk. American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. (At Reference Desk Call number: PN147 .A7 2010) Gibaldi, J. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2009. (At Reference Desk Call number: LB2369 .G53 2009) New Media Center at the University Library (Lower Level) The New Media Center offers students assistance with advanced multimedia and productivity support services. Discover their offerings here: http://www.american.edu/library/technology/nmc.cfm Emergency Preparedness In the event of a declared pandemic (influenza or other communicable disease), American University will implement a plan for meeting the needs of all members of the university community. Should the university be required to close for a period of time, we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of our educational programs will be delivered to our students. These may include altering and extending the duration of the traditional term schedule to complete essential instruction in the traditional format and/or use of online learning. In the event of a declared pandemic or other emergency, students should refer to the AU Web site (http://www.american.edu/emergency/) and the AU information line at (202) 885-1100 for general university-wide information, as well as contact their faculty and/or respective deans office for course and school/college-specific information.

Protection of Human Subjects Catalog Any research involving interviewing, surveying, or observing human beings is subject to review and approval by the University Institutional Review Board (IRB) and information about the universitys IRB process is outlined at http://american.edu/irb/index.cfm. The university IRB liaison is Matthew Zembrzuski and his email is zembrzus@american.edu. Academic and Disability Support Services Appropriate modifications to academic requirements may be necessary on a case-by-case basis to ensure educational opportunity for students with disabilities, and individual faculty members may need to modify specific course requirements to permit equal participation by students with disabilities. A wide range of services is available to help you meet course requirements: Academic Support Center -- http://www.american.edu/ocl/asc/index.cfm Disability Support Services -- http://www.american.edu/ocl/dss/index.cfm Counseling Center -- http://www.american.edu/ocl/counseling/index.cfm Incomplete Grades Faculty members must approve student requests for an incomplete grade, and must do so before the end of the semester. Students must complete and submit an Incomplete Contract Form to the faculty member. Incompletes are given only in cases of severe emergencies, or special, well-documented circumstances, etc. Additional Information for students -American University Academic Regulations http://www.american.edu/provost/registrar/regulations/academicreg.cfm The Student Handbook http://www.american.edu/ocl/upload/student_handbook.pdf Student Evaluation of Teaching Near the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to evaluate this online class and your learning experience by completing an online Student Evaluation of Teaching. The evaluation contains the same set of questions used in assessing classroom-based courses, with the addition of four questions specifically applicable to online learning. As with any other face-toface course, you are strongly encouraged to participate in this evaluation of your educational experience. A high participation rate is critical to AUs ability to continually improve and strengthen the quality of the Universitys learning opportunities.

Philosophy of the School of Education, Teaching & Health (SETH) The faculty of the School of Education, Teaching & Health is committed to excellence in advancing educational theory and practice through the initial and continuing development of reflective, dedicated and proficient teachers, administrators and researchers. Graduates are equipped to meet individual needs, to nurture the strengths and talents of those individuals, and to initiate and provide leadership in classrooms, educational institutions, and in the public policy arena. The mission of the SETH is derived from the faculty's shared conviction that the fundamental task of schooling in America is the advancement of the welfare of children. The SETH faculty wants our teacher education programs to be known for preparing effective teachers who understand and model a commitment to excellence, equity, community and diversity. The SETH faculty and staff are committed to celebrating diversity and building a community of learners. As we work in collaboration in and out of the classroom: We believe that respecting each other's differences and opinions leads to a positive and open environment, We believe that open discourse promotes reflective and thoughtful educators, We believe that equitable treatment of each other is necessary for a positive, sustained, and working community, and We believe that each and every member of the community can make a valuable contribution to the community. These beliefs in action provide for all students, staff, and faculty a safe, productive, and positive educational community.

*N.B.: Portions of this syllabus have been adapted from previous syllabi crafted by SETHs Vivian Vasquez (fall 2009), Brec Cooke (spring 2009), and Alex Hodges (spring 2010, summer 2011).