This course is designed for teachers and parents who like children's books and would like to know more about them. Through readings from a textbook and from a wide range of children's books, the students will

• Explore the origins of books for children;
• Review theories of child development as they relate to choosing books for children, and
• Analyze the characteristics of different genres of children's book.

Students will work in groups throughout the course and may choose to focus their project work on literature for children in pre-kindergarten, primary, middle school, or high school.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• Describe the origins and development of literature for children.
• Locate, evaluate and appreciate literature for children of different ages.

Required Texts

The required textbook for this course is:

• Considering Children's Literature: A Reader, edited by Andrea Schwenke Wyile and Teya Rosenberg. Broadview Press, 2008.

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/

Using eBooks

Your course allows open-book exams. You will only be allowed to use a hard copy of the textbook at the Testing Centers.

If the publisher offers an electronic version of the textbook (called an “eBook”), you will not be able to access it at the Testing Centers. Also, you will not be able to use the printouts of the electronic text or copies of the pages of the hard copy textbook at the Testing Centers. If you have purchased an eBook and wish to use a textbook during your open-book exam, we suggest that you check the NOVA libraries, and/or contact your instructor, to try to locate a hard copy you could borrow for the exam.

Your course grade will be determined by the grades you earn on essays, exams, and projects.

There are totally 3 proctored exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NOVA campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

BY EMAIL: nmctaggart@nvcc.edu
BY CAMPUS PHONE: (703) 878-5799
BY ELI PHONE: (703) 323-3347

1. Use your web browser to connect to www. nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Log on to your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to your Blackboard account.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk.