ECE155C: Using Children's Literature to Support Young Children's Language and Literacy Development

High-quality children’s books are used as a vehicle for supporting and applying current research on the acquisition of language and reading. This course provides an overview of exemplary authors and illustrators of children’s literature from birth to age 8. Students become familiar with Caldecott Award-winning books and the artistic techniques used to create these books. Poetry, multicultural books, and bibliotherapy as applied to early childhood education are studied. Students learn how to use children’s literature to highlight the literacy elements of characterization, plot, setting, and theme. They learn how to teach domains of language (phonology, semantics, syntax, morphology, and pragmatics) through shared storybook reading. Additionally, students explore the teacher’s role in promoting family literacy. An NHTI ECE Lab fee is assessed for all students taking this course. Students are expected to carry out 2 hours per week of observation and practice in a childcare setting.