Adolescent and Children's Literature is an interactive, culturally responsive exploration of literature written for children and young adults, with an emphasis on supporting diverse learners and struggling readers in K–12 settings. Grounded in the belief that every child deserves to see themselves reflected in the texts they read, this course introduces future educators to a wide range of literature across cultures, genres, linguistic traditions, and identities.
Students will investigate how books can foster social-emotional learning (SEL), critical consciousness, and academic growth while strengthening reading fluency, comprehension, and engagement among learners who may experience reading challenges. Through culturally relevant pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and asset-based instructional strategies, students will learn to select, evaluate, and implement high-quality children's and adolescent literature that honors race, ethnicity, language, gender, ability, and lived experience.
Course texts include picture books, early readers, middle-grade novels, graphic novels, YA fiction, poetry, oral storytelling, and multimodal narratives that reflect the diverse worlds students inhabit. Teacher candidates will examine how literature can open conversations about identity, justice, belonging, and community, while also developing practical skills to support decoding, vocabulary development, comprehension scaffolding, and literacy motivation.
Through collaborative discussions, literature circles, reflective writing, and practice-based activities, students will learn to curate a culturally responsive classroom library, design SEL-infused reading experiences, and create inclusive, trauma-informed learning environments that nurture joy, resilience, and curiosity in all readers.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
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Academic Details
Early Childhood, Elementary Education, middle, and high school