Participants will be exposed to the range of children's literature available and discoverways to involve children with this literature. Extensive and intensive reading of children's literature will be required. This course joins CI 314 Elementary School Methods and CI 337 Reading in the Elementary School as the first of three courses in a three-semester series of teacher preparation in which course content and clinical experience are integrated. It is followed by a semester in which students enroll in five methods courses in mathematics, science, social studies, language arts and reading.
Student teaching encompasses the third semester.
CI 413 provides a comprehensive study of theory, research and practice in children's literature. The course also offers opportunities for developing an awareness of the diversity and depth of materials in the field of children's literature and focuses on evaluation and assessment procedures for an analysis of this literature. In addition, CI 413 emphasizes integration strategies in applying literature across the curriculum through reflection, collaboration, and enrichment procedures. The goal of this course is not only to prepare teachers who are knowledgeable in current theory, research and best practice in teaching literature to children, but who can apply their knowledge by designing integrated enrichment programs that emphasize cultural diversity, reflection, and individualized learning styles. D. utilize the multiple intelligences and the integration process in developing strategies that demonstrate an understanding of theme-based programs.