BROOKLYN COLLEGE

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Education 37, RZ9  Education and Literacy: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Language Arts Spring, 2006

Paired with Classics 13, Themes Ancient and Modern

Thursdays,  9:25-12:05, Room 2302 James

 

Prof. Karel Rose
Office: 2403James: 718 951-5218, Mondays and Wednesdays,
12:30-1:30 and by appointment.


Education 37- Education and Literacy: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Language Arts
3 hours, 2 hours of supervised field experience;3credits

Framework for integrating the humanities with related teaching arts. Identification of the learning processes, motivation, communication and classroom organization skills necessary for language acquisition and literacy development. Study of multiple literacies and narrative structures. Curriculum development and planning, individualized instruction and assessment strategies for teaching the language arts to all children, including English language learners students with special needs. Psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic factors in literacy. Emphasis on multi-ethnic children’s literature and arts experiences.

 

Dear Students,

Education 37 is the first course offering in the Humanities Strand for majors in Education. The concept of multiple literacies and the contributions of the expressive arts and the humanities to literacy (re: the paired Classics course) form the foundations of this course. The two courses are joined by common themes which will be reflected in several assignments, most particularly in the Create a Culture Project and the visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. You will be expected to demonstrate competence with the new standards for teaching the English Language Arts in elementary school which include advanced  abilities in reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing as well as the translation of these skills into work with children. In the process, you will also demonstrate a basic understanding of the conventions of grammar and usage in the English language. Literature as well as the other arts will provide the lens through which some of these abilities  will be developed.  The inclusion of perspectives on  bilingual/ESL learners and special populations is another important aspect of our work.

 At the beginning of the course, we will discuss what you should be able to do when you have finished your studies in Education 37: for example: use a children’s book to teach the skills of inference, story form, use of contextual clues etc. We will focus on ways of communicating beyond language by including  the multiple symbol systems offered by the visual arts, dance, music, drama and film. To this end, a range of participatory experiences in the arts will be an integral aspect of our work. We will visit at least one museum and view selected arts programs. I anticipate that you will come to recognize that many significant learnings occur in other than school settings. We will also explore how the arts can serve as assessment tools for children’s understanding in the content areas and be a powerful assist in meeting the standards and frameworks identified by New York City and New York State. You will be asked to provide evidence throughout the semester that you have incorporated the following NCATE Standards into your studies in Education 37:

 

1. Integrates course and field work

2. Utilizes multiple instruction strategies for teaching and learning

3. Awareness and concern for issues of diversity, collaboration and social justice

4. Proficiency in the organization, mechanics of expression and clarity of presentation

 

The conceptual frameworks identified by the Brooklyn College School of Education will guide our work. The sampling of course objectives noted below reflect these conceptual frameworks:

 

1.      Candidates understand and use a variety of teaching strategies that encourage all students to develop critical, thinking and problem solving skills. (Diversity)

2.      Candidates foster relationships and know the importance of establishing and maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with families,school colleagues and the community to support students’ learning and well-being. (Collaboration)

3.      Candidates can demonstrate their understanding of how elementary students differ in their development and approaches to learning, and create instructional opportunities for all students. (Social Justice)

4.      Candidates continually give evidence that they evaluate and reflect upon the effects of their professional decisions and action on students, parents and other professionals in the learning community and actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally. (Critical Self-Reflection)

 

FIELD EXPERIENCE

During the semester each student will complete 25 hours of field work in an setting approved by the School of Education.( See packet at FAR Better CopyThe purpose of this fieldwork experience is to help you reflect  and juxtapose the theory, content and pedagogy of Education 37 against the realities of literacy teaching practices in the New York City public schools. Please submit a one-page proposal on March 21st.

 

Five themes will guide our work :

1. Theory into elementary school practice 

2.Autobiography

3.Reflection

4. Improvisation

5.Literacy through the arts: music, dance, poetry, drama, the visual arts and literature. 6. Teaching as theater

 

REQUIRED READINGS

Merryl Goldberg, Arts and Learning: An Integrated Approach to Teaching and Learning in Multicultural and Multilingual Settings (2nd edition), New York, Allyn &Bacon/Longman,2001.

Carol Nordgaarden, Create a Culture, Huntington Beach, Creative Teaching Press, 1995

Marilyn Sewell, ed., Cries of the Spirit,Boston,Beacon,l991.

 

Children’s Books

Christopher Curtis, Bud, not Buddy

Lois Lowry, Number the Stars

Louise Sachar, Holes

Marjory Sharp,The Velveteen Rabbit

Jerry Spinelli, Loser

William Steig, Dominic

Gloria Whelan, Homeless Bird

E.B.White, Charlotte’s Web

 

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 

1.      ALWAYS BRING THE ASSIGNED READINGS TO CLASS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT YOU WILL HAVE READ THE ASSSIGNED READINGS AND WILL BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS OR WRITE ABOUT THEM. YOUR RESPONSE TO THE READINGS AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS AND ACTIVITIES ARE THE ESSENTIAL CORE OF OUR COURSE SESSIONS..

2.      ATTENDANCE IS EXPECTED AT EACH SESSION. COMING LATE TO CLASS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.IF YOU HAVE MORE THAN TWO UNEXCUSED ABSENSES OR LATENESSES, THIS WILL BE REFLECTED IN YOUR FINAL GRADE.

3.      WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPUTER GENERATED AND PROOFREAD BEFORE SUBMITTING. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PUT YOUR WORK FOR THIS COURSE ON A SEPARATE DISK.

4.      LATE PAPERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

 

**Start thinking about developing a story for your original book project.

 

COURSE SYLLABUS

                                    (Minor changes in syllabus may be necessary.)

(Education 37 meets once a week on Thursdays from 9:25-12:05. Each class meeting is a double session.)

 

JAN.26                       Course overview; Literacy and the Arts; Interdisciplinary perspectives; Personal writing; Visual dialogues; New York City and New York State Standards, Understanding literacy through the arts and children’s literature, Field Experiences

FEB.2                         Submit autobiographical letter, ”Who Am I?”

                                    Bring (3) objects: past, present, future

                                    Bring (2) Caldecott books: Judging picture books

                                    Arts and Learning, Chapter 1, Questions to Ponder,#2-

                                    p. 43,(Bring a list and an example)

FEB.9                         Dominic(in class response)

Poetry:  Select and practice one poem or section of a poem from  “The Imperative of Intimacy” in Cries of the Spirit. Be prepared to read it to the class.

Dominic Presentation

FEB.16                      Number the Stars  (in class response)
Number the Stars  PresentationPresentation

FEB. 23                     The Velveteen Rabbit

                                    The Velveteen Rabbit Presentation

“Literacy and the Arts” Chapter 4 Presentation

MAR.2                Submit field proposals

            Concept and language development—(Bring an object)

            Create a Culture(Preparation)

            Poetry: Select and practice a poem from “Mothering”

            in Cries of the Spirit

          Poetry and Music (Bring post-its)

MAR.9                        Holes(Submit reaction paper)

                                    Holes:  Presentation

                                    “Social Studies and the Arts” chapter 5 Presentation

MAR.16                      Charlotte’s Web  (in class response)

                                    Group 5 Charlotte’s Web  Presentation

                                    “Science and the Arts” chapter 6 Presentation

            Select a poem from “Generations,” in Cries of the Spirit

            Submit your original “generations” poem

MAR.23                    Bud not Buddy  (in class response)

                                    Group 6  Bud not Buddy  Presentation

                                    “Arts and Learning,” Chapter 2-Explorations,question 1

                                     Page 43, Bring a metaphor and your representation

MAR.30                      Homeless Bird  ( in class response)

                                    Homeless Bird Presentation

                                    “Mathematics and the Arts” Chapter 7 Presentation

APR.6                        Create a Culture(Preparation)

APR.27                      Submit midterm

Loser(in class response)   

                                    Loser Presentation

                                    Murals and the Arts” Chapter 11 Presentation

                                    Arts and Learning,”Chapter 3, Explorations

                                                Question 3, p.58

MAY4                         Create a Culture Presentations

MAY 11                      Presentation of original story books

 

Final: Monday, May 26th-8-10A.M.,Room 2302 James

 

Evaluation criteria: Class attendance and punctuality(DO NOT COME LATE TO CLASS) at all sessions is expected. Students are required to bring and have completed the assigned readings for each class and be prepared to provide evidence of having read the material.

 

*** Please note that class participation is a critical determinant of your grade.

1.      Class participation (20%)

2.      Written work in class and submissions.(20%)

3.      Class presentations(20%)

4.      Midterm, Final and Field Reports (30%)

5.      Original storybooks (10%)

 

Extra credit opportunities will be suggested in the field and at the college.

 

Collaborative groups will provide the structure for much of our work. Time will be given in class for this collaborative work.

 

            Please discuss all presentations with the instructor.

 

Group I-Presentations on Children’s Books

 

            Each group will be given approximately ½ hour to present their book. The presentation should reflect your awareness of good pedagogy. Do not read your material. Consider ways to engage the class asking well thought out questions and use visuals and/or handouts to clarify your discussion. Whenever possible, use quotations and refer to the text. Your presentation should reflect your group’s collaboration with each other and with the class. The guidelines follow:

A.     Provide background about the author, the era and the place where it all happens. Consider how events in the author’s life and the world at large may have propelled him/her to write this book.

B.     What themes, big ideas or underlying truths unify the story? What was the author’s “probable intention” in writing this book.

C.    Read a section of the book aloud that demonstrates one of the following: 1) a social issue 2) memorable language  3) an interesting character with whom you can identify.

1. Dominic                            Sept. 15

2. Number the Stars           Sept. 22

3. The Velveteen Rabbit   Sept. 29

4. Holes                                 Oct. 20

5. Charlotte’s Web              Oct. 27

6. Bud not Buddy                Nov. 3

7. Homeless Bird                Nov. 10

8.  Loser                              Dec. 1

 

Group II. Chapter Conversations  from Arts and Learning text.

 

            You will lead a discussion and teach the class about the essential elements in the chapter taking note of questions to ponder, explorations to try and provide hands-on activities.

 

A.    Literacy and the Arts  (Chapter 4)                Sept. 29

B.     Social Studies and the Arts (Chapter 5)    Oct. 6

C.  Science and the Arts (Chapter 6)                 Oct.27

D. Mathematics and the Arts       (Chapter 7) Nov. 10

E. Murals and the Arts (Chapter 11)                  Dec. 1

 

III.  Create a Culture Project (Groups) (See handout)

 (You will use your knowledge from Classics 13 to develop this culture)

 

THE LIVES YOU TOUCH FAR OUTWEIGH THOSE WHO ONLY SEE THEIR OWN VISION