LibGuides at Priddy Library: EDUC 417 Children's Literature: Awards: For the Classroom

Articles on Children's Literature in the Classroom

Using Children's Literature to Support Positive Behaviours
more... less...

The article addresses the use of children's literature to promote positive student behaviors in primary education. Topics include the importance of the classroom environment for children's psychological well-being, the language experience approach (LEA) for discussing children's literature, and the use of literature circles for discussion. The children's book "Chrysanthemum," by Kevin Henkes, is used as an example for the implementation of these strategies.
Creating Space for Children's Literature s teachers struggle to balance the needs of their students with the requirements of commercial reading materials, educators need to consider how teachers will create space for children's literature in today's classrooms. In this article, 10 practical recommendations for incorporating children's literature in the reading instructional framework and across the curriculum are offered. Each recommendation is intended to help teachers reenvision the role of children's literature, create space for children's literature across the curriculum, and respect children's literature as a work of art and literature, as well as a pedagogical resource.
Promoting a Culture of Thinking in the Young Child Conscious of the interplay between nature and nurture in determining a child’s individuality and success in life, the author embarked a group of teachers in an action research project towards nurturing a culture of thinking in young children. Considering the positive effects of routines in early learning experiences, the research consisted in implementing thinking routines to engage young children’s minds in thinking activities. The study took place in two Reggio-inspired schools where participating teachers documented children’s work as part of their teaching. The documentation was a key element to make children’s thinking visible as they installed the culture and language of thinking in their classrooms. The study found that thinking routines build up positive attitudes about thinking and learning. By re-visiting their documented work children developed metacognitive and critical thinking skills which make them more alert to situations that call for thinking.
Taking Full Advantage of Children's Literature
more... less...

Teachers need a deeper understanding of the texts being discussed, in particular the various textual and visual aspects of picturebooks themselves, including the images, written text and design elements, to support how readers made sense of these texts. As teachers become familiar with aspects of literary criticism, art history, visual grammar, picturebook design, peritextual devices and narrative theories, they are better positioned to take full advantage of the discussions that occur in their classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Drama’s Potential for Deepening Young Children’s Understandings of Stories The benefits of drama have been reported extensively in educational research literature; however, few studies provide an in-depth analysis of how drama is used in early childhood classroom instruction for readers who struggle with comprehension. The focus of this study is: How do young children build literary understanding through drama? This seven-month qualitative study took place in a rural elementary school and shows how 10 first-graders who had been identified for the school's reading support program were capable of demonstrating rich understandings of children's literature on multiple levels through drama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Book Talk in Teacher Education Classes Research that centers on literature discussion is growing, particularly within the context of elementary classrooms. Recently, researchers have explored an array of features of engaging and productive discussions, including the importance of the learning community within which discussions occur; the kinds of responses children offer as they talk over stories; teachers' roles in supporting students' discussions; and the affordances and challenges of varying formats for discussion, including small, student-led discussions, as well as interactive read-alouds. From the innovative research focusing on children's talk in elementary classrooms, the authors contend there are implications for how teacher educators design and support discussion in their adult classrooms. In this article, the authors borrow from ideas promoting, supporting, and structuring productive and engaging literature discussions that have served children's discussions and which, they think, hold promise for discussions of literature with new and experienced teachers. The authors have organized the article around four considerations for the best book discussions in teacher education classes.
Using Read-Alouds with Criticai Literacy Literature in K-3 Ciassrooms Teacher read-alouds are planned oral readings of children's books. They are a vital part of literacy instruction in primary classrooms. Teachers can use read-alouds to develop children's background knowledge, stimulate their interest in high-quality literature, increase their comprehension skills, and foster critical thinking. While reading, teachers model strategies that children can use during their own independent reading. This article describes read-alouds that feature critical literacy literature. Critical literacy literature consists of high-quality children's books that prompt children to think and talk about social issues that impact their daily lives. The article includes a rationale for the importance of using children's literature and read-alouds in primary classrooms; a description of critical literacy and the kinds of children's books appropriate for critical literacy read-alouds; and an example of a critical literacy read-aloud in a first grade classroom by one of the authors.
Reading Your Way to a Culturally Responsive Classroom The article discusses about race in relation to children's literature. The race-related teaching practices (RRTPs) in classrooms develops positive racial identity to young children, it build relationships across races, and recognizes race-related injustices. Topics discussed tips for selecting diverse on children's learning including the choose of books to help children see themselves, sees titles that are related to diversity, and expose children on different perspectives. INSET: Examples of How to Use Children's Literature to Di.

Articles on using E-books/Online Resources in the Classroom

Impact of e-books on Young Children's Reading Habits This article reports on a pilot study which aimed to consider the e-book reading experiences of young children and their families, with currently available portable e-reader devices: Amazon Kindle, Nintendo DS-lite and Apple iPod Touch. Three families, each with two children in the 7-12 year age range, experienced an e-reader for a two-week period. They recorded their experiences in a diary and were interviewed at the beginning and end of the study. Key findings include the fact that, of the six children involved, four rate themselves as 'enthusiastic' readers, one 'average' and one 'reluctant'; whilst all six of the parents enjoy reading. At the end of the study, all of the participants chose the Kindle as their preferred device and found it the easiest to use. In addition, there were indications that the one reluctant young reader (a boy aged eight years) was inspired to read by the Kindle. His parents were pleased with this enthusiasm, noting that he was reading rather than watching television, excited by downloading and choosing books and it was the only time they had known him to ask to read voluntarily. When asked whether they prefer printed or electronic books, all of the adults chose printed books, whilst the children were more ambivalent, with half preferring electronic books.
Changing Art of Storytelling The article focuses on the influence of technology and the digital environment in countless ways to children's literature. It notes how stories have become innovative through experimental formats, inventive design, and narrative styles. It cites some books that have great impact to children's literature including the multigenre book "Nothing But the Truth," verse novel of Karen Hesse's "Out of the Dust," and an illustrated novel "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," by Brian Selznick.
Online Resources That Make Reading Fun The article presents websites which offer various books made available for children. It states that the websites help children to enhance their awareness concerning the use of the Internet as well as improve the learning skills of children. Among the websites include the International Children's Digital Library, Light Up Your Brain and Sound Stories, Starfall and TumbleBook Library.
more... less...

The article presents websites which offer various books made available for children. It states that the websites help children to enhance their awareness concerning the use of the Internet as well as improve the learning skills of children. Among the websites include the International Children's Digital Library, Light Up Your Brain and Sound Stories, Starfall and TumbleBook Library.
It Was a Challenge: But We Did It: Digital Worlds in a Primary Classroom In this article I explore one day in the life of a primary classroom in which teacher and children are playful social insiders in digital worlds. I argue that this snapshot offers glimmers of unimagined ways forward in teaching in digital worlds. The classroom culture is one of challenge, collective intelligence and reflection. The teacher's own history of participation is significant. She is a reflective teacher educator, children's literature is central to her teaching and her journey into digital worlds is playful social.
Looking Beyond the Screen: Evaluating the Quality of Digital Books The article focuses on the need of educators to evaluate the quality of digital books for children including the consideration of quality on the literary merits of the digital text. The variation of formats of digital books and the consideration of e-book as static and a digital book to have multimedia elements is examined. It notes that digital books can both be distracting and motivating. Also, it cites several digital books including "The Case of the Missing Banana" by Matthew Ryan.

EDUC 417 Children's Literature: Awards: For the Classroom

Articles on Children's Literature in the Classroom

Articles on using E-books/Online Resources in the Classroom

In the Classroom