Serious Fun with Children's Literature

Alphabet Book Discussion Video

2011-06-16T12:31:00.000-07:00

This forty-minute video goes over a lot of the material our text covers in the sections about Alphabet Books, Chapbooks, and Primers.

The video includes a commentary on a series of images taken in the main from Alphabet Books with an emphasis in the end on a modern Alphabet Book, Gone Wild, a book about endangered species throughout the world.

I hope that this short discussion helps you, for I suggest ways in which modern alphabet books borrow from devices utilized in traditional alphabet books. But many contemporary books such as the one featured in the video move in different directions.

The video is also available as an iPod video you can download.

Final Examination Review

2011-05-02T16:27:00.001-07:00

Here I offer a brief (32 minutes) review for the final examination. Keep in mind that his video comes from early May of this past spring. The format for the examination remains identical, so do not worry about the discussion concerning when the final examination will take place and where.

Make sure to review the material about the final examination, which comes, again, in two parts: Part One, six prompts; Part Two, an essay.

Remember, too, that you have from Wednesday morning, July 27, until Friday at midnight, July 29, to complete this examination.

And you have until midnight Sunday, 31 July, to turn in all other work.

Do a good job, Bill

Week Eight Material

2010-07-24T09:17:00.000-07:00

This week, you will want to read carefully the assigned readings over the poetry.

And look equally carefully over the Study Guide for the Final Exam. Make sure to look over the preceding link to prepare for both parts of the exam.

I also created a video in May for the final examination for the face-to-face class; the summer examination covers the identical material, so make sure to give the half-hour video your attention.

As the examination description notes, you can take Part One and Part Two beginning Wednesday, July 27; you have until midnight Friday, July 29, to complete both parts of the examination.

The final examination will follow the identical format of the midterm. And you might want to look over some very good responses from both parts of the midterm.

This week, you will find here an introductory video and another slide-show video for American Born Chinese; both will help you prepare for the final examination. In addition, watch the two videos about the poetry readings assigned.

Take your quiz right away--you do not have to study for this week's quiz.

This week, you have two videos about the Poetry assigned for your enjoyment and edification; each of the two videos is approximately thirty minutes long an will help you on the exam and with any Book Analysis Report you might choose to write about Children's Poetry.

And I address in the video those poems, poets, and ideas about poetry for children that you might find of interest for both the discussion threads and the prompts that could appear on Part One of the Final Exam.

POETRY DISCUSSION PART ONE

POETRY DISCUSSION PART TWO

This slide-show video covers something Scott McCloud calls "closure," an important concept about the dynamics of "the invisible art" of sequential art. Read about closure on line and some of McCloud's other thoughts gathered in his excellent "comic," Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art.

In this short video, McCloud talks about Understanding Comics.

The video also covers the second half of American Born Chinese.

Welcome to Week Seven

2010-07-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

To read these three images, just click on each of the images--put the vocabulary to use in your discussion threads.

Experiment with the preceding vocabulary in your discussions and other writing.

And read Jessica Abel's wonderful description of the Graphic Noble and visit her web site.

The preceding images and Jessica Abel's link lay a foundation for reading our Graphic Novel, an example of Sequential Art. Just click on each of the images to see a full-screen version.

Final Exam and Preparation. Make sure to look over the preceding link to prepare for both parts of the exam.

You will complete both parts of the examination and other requirements for the class by midnight 29 July, a Friday.

You will complete both parts of the examination between early morning July 27 midnight July 27, between Wednesday and Friday.

The final examination will follow the identical format of the midterm

You will find the link to take PART TWO of the examination in the Assignment Folder for Week Eight. And the link to take PART ONE will reside just below the folder for the Week Eight assignment.

You will find four videos this week.

In addition to the following Greeting for Week Seven and a Quiz Review, I created a slide-show video about the assigned readings in American Born Chinese, and a slide-show video over Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are.

The following video slide show--available, too, as a podcast--covers material assigned for this week's reading in the graphic novel, American Born Chinese. Try to look at the pages mentioned as the presentation moves from slide to slide from page to page:

I created a slide-show video about Where The Wild Things Are for your enjoyment--a question about this book could find its way into your final exam, so give the video a look.

Know, too, that I spent a couple hours before making the video in a dentist's seat for some surgery. The numbness might show a bit in the speech, but I wanted to get this published and so fumbled through.

And to cap off this week of multiple video presentations and as usual, you have a video review for this week's quiz:

We Begin Week Six of Eight

2010-07-10T14:55:00.001-07:00

Purple Cone Flowers

This week's reading takes us formally into Science Fiction, which you have read over the past couple weeks, and Fantasy, which has, obviously, a lot in common with Tales of Wonder.

You will find here three videos: Week Six Introduction, The Giver, and Quiz Six.

As always, read carefully the this week's notes that cover Science Fiction, Fantasy, Peter Pan, and The Giver, and watch the introductory video.

This twenty-seven minute video introduces this week's reading:

I created a half-hour video for you over the final chapters of The Giver:

And finally for the week, give this video your attention before you take your quiz, thirty questions this time around:

Week Five Welcome

2010-07-03T17:34:00.001-07:00

In this video (around twenty-seven minutes), I talk briefly about revisions, Book Analysis Reports, the Midterm Exam, and this week's reading material, all about Legends, our new area of investigation.

Remember that on Monday and Tuesday you must take the midterm examination--the exam comes in two parts, so make sure to look over the review information.

For your enjoyment and/or edification, I made a thirty-minute video concerning Chapters 7-14 of The Giver.

As usual, you will want to review for the quiz by watching the following half-hour video that covers all the areas the quiz addresses.

Quiz Four Review

2010-07-01T10:51:00.001-07:00

Black-Eyed Susan Flowers in Field

This half-hour review covers quiz material for Fables, Myths, and Chapters 1-7 for The Giver.

My recording site encounters some problems; if you download this week's four videos, you will find only audio. I contacted the company and await word concerning what goes wrong--bugs, I suspect, in the Beta System.

Do a good job on the 30-question quiz.

Hello Week Four

2010-06-27T15:47:00.001-07:00

As the reading assignment indicates, we enter a new area of investigation: Fables and Myths. We also begin a SF novel, The Giver, a Newbery Award winning book by Lois Lowry. And you have notes for all the reading, including for The Giver.

Here you will find three videos.

The first, approximately 30 minutes in duration, provides an introduction to the week and briefly discusses the material in our anthology you will read this week.

In addition, the following video offers a fifteen minute discussion about the upcoming Midterm Examination you will take between early in the morning July 5 and midnight July 6, Monday through Tuesday.

I also made the following half-hour video to introduce you to the first six chapters of The Giver.

Week Three Quiz Review

2010-06-23T11:46:00.001-07:00

Hello One and All,

I made a short video to prepare you for this week's quiz--only twenty questions this time around.

Make sure to read the notes for the week, for they will help you do well on the quiz and on the discussion threads.

Enjoy the rest of the week and do a good job on the quiz.

Greetings For Week Three

2010-06-20T13:52:00.001-07:00

These past two weeks presented you with extensive reading in Fairy Tales or Wonder Tales.

Pace yourself and get often and early to this week's discussion threadsthat provide you with interesting areas of investigation, including a couple zany cartoon versions of "Little Red Riding Hood."

Here you will find two videos, one a general introduction to the work over the past couple weeks and another that will help you with the second half of Ella Enchanted.

Enjoy a good week.

Ella Enchanted Part TWO

Greetings for Week Three

Quiz Two Review

2010-06-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

Baby Coot at Horicon Marsh

Hello Everyone,

This half-hour video will help you with Quiz Two. The quiz covers three areas: the notes about Fairy Tales and their changing directions and receptions; the six stories you read; and the first ten chapters of Ella Enchanted.

If you work through the notes, pay attention on the Discussion Threads, read carefully the stories, and then listen to the video, you will have no trouble with the thirty questions.

As always, the quiz will remain open until around midnight this Sunday when your essays are due.

I do not advise waiting until near midnight to take the quiz.

I wish you all a beautiful weekend.

Baby Geese at Horicon Marsh

Week Two Introduction

2010-06-12T12:41:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I offer two 30-minute videos here.

The first video offers an introduction to Week Two and the assigned readings other than the novel.

This initial 30-minute video talks about a few class matters, including the first essay, and offers a brief introduction to this week's reading assignment. And make sure to read all four sections of the notes for this week (and next).

Remember that your essay is due this Sunday by midnight. Make sure to follow the instructions.

The second video addresses the first ten chapters of our Fairy Tale novel, Ella Enchanted.

Enjoy the reading, Bill

Ella Enchanted Part ONE

Quiz One Children's Literature

2010-06-10T09:27:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

The quiz is available until Sunday at midnight. This video offers a discussion of the material the quiz covers, from Newbery to Literacy Laws.

In effect and as always, the video goes over each of the questions asked. And you can download the video as a podcast.

Do a good job, Bill

Introduction to Children's Literature, Summer of 2011

2010-06-07T08:29:00.001-07:00

Florida Scrub Jay

Dr. Bill Clemente

Welcome to the class.

This video offers general information about the class, and another video will help you with the quiz.

I made these videos this past summer, so bear that fact in mind as you listen--do not worry, for example about dates, and this class does not have a proctored final examination.

Using the following address with iTunes (Click on "Advanced" and supply the address to "Subscribe"), you can download these videos as Pod Casts; you will find here videos for a couple other classes as well, so just download those for our class:

http://web.me.com/bclemente/podcast.xml

When you have questions, e-mail me right away, for I check the mail frequently.

So get to the reading and to the discussion threads and begin with term with vim.

Some Useful Links:

Welcome and General Introduction

Reading and Writing Assignments

Course Syllabus

Class Notes

Examples of Class Work

Book Analysis Report Information

Netiquette for all Classes

Creating a Hyperlink

Revisions of Alphabet Essay and Midterm Examination

2010-03-16T05:46:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Here you will find a brief discussion of both revisions you will want to complete over the next weeks and Exam One that you will take this week between Tuesday early morning and Friday at midnight.

You will find here two videos, a new one completed Sunday night this term (on March 13) and one from last year when I taught the class on Thursday--you can watch both, for they cover similar ground.

The new one has more to say, however, about the Alphabet Essay and the first part of the examination on which you will respond to six prompts, writing six to eight sentences for each of the prompts from the list of choices you got on the assignment sheet.

In addition, you will find links to the examination on Blackboard in the folder for Week Four.

Here is the new video; just scroll down to find the other video. Again, if you have time, watch both.

Lily's Crossing Part Two

2008-06-30T09:28:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone, Here I talk briefly about the final chapters of Lily's Crossing--with a few words about Domestic Fiction.

Again, class officially concludes on Saturday, July 5; however, I will accept material up to and including Sunday, July 6.

A quick word about grades, which you can see posted, of course. Remember, however, that total points do not mean much at all, so do not go by that percentage. See the Syllabus for the weighted percentages, for weight counts:

Discussion Threads: 16%

Quizzes: 16%

Book Reviews: 32%

Essay ONE : 12%, Alphabet Book

Essay TWO: 12%, Fairy Tale

Essay THREE: 12%, Fiction

Go well this final week of the term, Bill

Lily's Crossing Part One

2008-06-23T10:22:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

This week we begin a very popular novel for young readers, grades 5-7 or so.

And in this short (27 minutes) video, I talk about the first ten chapters--you need not listen to all the tape, as I assigned only the first seven chapters for this week.

(I did not sneeze!)

While classes officially close on July 5, a Saturday, I will accept work up to and including Sunday 6 July.

Enjoy the reading, Bill

Feed: Part Two

2008-06-09T15:48:00.001-07:00

Burr Oak

Hello Everyone,

Here I highlight issues, themes, characters, and other matters connected with pages 40-166, a tall order for around 30 minutes.

But I want to provide you with a strong foundation for reading this engaging and serious Young Adult novel that has earned high critical praise and continues to garner serious attention.

Read with a good eye for detail and with pleasure.

Enjoy, Bill

Thoughts on Essay Revisions

2008-06-09T15:26:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Here you will find a short video of approximately thirty minutes about revising and writing your essays for the class. Now begins the major writing phase of the term, and all your remaining work will mirror in many ways what you accomplished with your first efforts.

Learn from the process even if you do not have the time right now to revise the efforts; however, I hope that everyone will undertake at least a couple revisions.

Remember that for pretty much all the essays, you will find examples (here) of some excellent work done previously. And to look over some helpful information about grammar, punctuation, and style, check this link. This link, in addition, will take you to a list of the twenty most common errors in all writers (not students alone); study and improve your skills.

Do a good job, Bill

Feed Part One

2008-06-02T14:19:00.001-07:00

Greetings and Welcome to Feed.

You will begin reading Feed this week, and the assignment asks that you read the first forty pages.

This short video will introduce to this Science Fiction novel and suggest some areas on which you might focus.

Stick with the reading and enjoy the experience.

And watch out for lesions!

Bill

Skeleton Man, Part Two

2008-06-02T14:18:00.001-07:00

Joseph Bruchac

In this brief video, I talk with you a bit about the final chapters of Skeleton Man, pointing out some things on which you want to concentrate your attention.

Like many Fairy Tales, this one clearly threatens violence but also concludes with an uplifting resolution and reinforces some important ideas along the way.

To see a video interview with the author, click here or on this blog entry's title.

Enjoy the reading, Bill

Skeleton Man and Little Red Riding Hood

2008-05-26T17:28:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone,

To watch the video greetings for the week, just scroll down before listening to this short 28-minute presentation that introduces you to Skeleton Man, the novel we begin this week and that talks a bit about the versions of Little Red Riding Hood you will read.

As the notes indicate, you will discover on the internet a wealth of material about this enduring tale. In fact, here you can watch Sum Guize, a bluegrass band that includes Peru State Art Professor Ken Anderson and UNO Creative Writing Professor, Art Homer--to see some of his reading and singing from his April visit to Peru State, click here--perform a song about Little Red Riding Hood.

As usual, we have a lot of reading, but you will find all the material of interest. So read carefully the notes and take in the videos when you have a chance--before or after the reading.

Enjoy a productive week, Bill

Thoughts About The Alphabet Book Essay

2008-01-26T10:08:00.001-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Before you write your first essay, give this video your attention; I originally made the video for the spring term of Children's Literature.

The few minutes focus on consideration about this Alphabet essay, the form of which you will pursue in all remaining compositions you put together for the remainder of the term.

If you have questions, contact me right away.

Take a look at this excellent example of an Alphabet Essay, one that goes beyond what you must fulfill his assignment.

Do a good job, and contact me with your questions.

Give the short video of less than fifteen minutes your serious attention.