UNM Course Description:
This is a survey course of the field of chidlren's literature-reading, storying, and listening-focusing on knowledge and practice of literature, literary response, creative drama and classroom practice. Our practicum component will involve a collaboration with Tibbetts Middle School.
Rationale:
Stories consume us, serve as a template for making sense of ourselves, others and the world around us. Children's literature is a valuable resource and teaching and learning tool for children. Master educators know the power of story; read children's literature; and engage children in relevant dialogue which encourages connections and questions that help us stretch beyond ourselves. As Marshall McLuhan explains: "A [person's] reach must exceed his grasp or what's a metaphor."
"When a day passes it is no longer there.
What remains of it? Nothing more than a story.
If stories weren't told or books weren't written, one [man] would live like beasts - only for a day.
Today, we live, but tomorrow today will be a story.
The whole world, all human life, is one long story."
[I.B. Singer in Cooper & Collins (1992)
Look What Happened to Frog, p. 8] 