Teaching with Children’s Literature

Presenter: Jenny Chen 陳怡君

Value of Literature to Children

Read for pure enjoyment

Cultivate imagination and inspiration

Vicarious experience (step into the shoes of the protagonist)

Cultivate understanding and empathy

Understand tradition and heritage

Develop moral reasoning

Cultivate literary and artistic preferences

Academic Benefits

Develop reading skills - decoding, vocabulary, grammar, language usage, develop reading strategies and skills, etc.

Develop writing skills - analysis of text, literary preference, foundation for personal writing, etc.

Exposure to content area subjects

Develop appreciation for various art forms

Reliable Book Titles

Newbery Medal (U.S.)Caldecott Medal (U.S.)Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (U.S.)Mildred L. Batchelder Award (U.S.)Canadian Children’s Book of the Year Award (Canada)Amelia Frances Howard-Gibson Medal (Canada)Carnegie Medal (Great Britain)Kate Greenaway Medal (Great Britain)Hans Christian Andersen Award (International)

Some Medals / Awards

Trade Books vs. Basal Readers

Trade books– Extensive reading– Pure enjoyment

Basal readers– Academic purpose– Building language proficiency and literacy skills– Correlates to educational standards– Leveled accordingly

Categories of Literature…

Poetry and plays: nursery rhymes, folk songs, specialized poetryPicture books: baby, interactive, wordless, alphabet, counting, concept, pattern, picture storybooks, easy-to-read books, transitional books, etc.Traditional literature: myths, epics, legends, tall tales, folktales, fables, religious stories, etc.Modern fantasy: animal fantasy, personified toys and objects, unusual characters and strange situations, worlds of little people, etc.

…Categories of Literature

Realistic fiction: based on true stories, includes romance, moral choices, cultural diversity, etc.

Historical fiction: stories with certain historical periods as background

Non-fiction -- biography and informational books: authentic biography, biological science, humanities, etc.

Multicultural and international literature: Asian-American, African-American, Latino-American, Jewish-American, Native American, etc.

No, David!By David Shannon

Yo! Yes?By Chris Raschka

Captain UnderpantsBy Dav Pilkey

http://www.pilkey.com/

Supplement Teaching Materials

Video Clips - Harold and the Purple Crayon DVDs - Guess How Much I Love YouMovies - Eragon, Spiderwick Chronicles, Charlotte’s Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mathilda, The Polar Express, Jumanji, Zathura, The Chronicles of Narnia, Bridge of Terabithia, etc..Book series - If You Give a Pig a Pancake Series, Captain UnderpantsAlternative versions: Little Red Riding Hood, Three Little Pigs, etc.

Hope you enjoyed this presentation!

Thank you!

No, David!By David Shannon

What did you like best about this book?

Why do you think it attracts children?

What kind of extension activity would you do with your students after reading this book?

Yo! Yes?By Chris Raschka

What kind of genre is this book?

What do you think children can learn from this book?

What extension activity would you do with your students after you read this book?