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Syllabus & Book Selections

Syllabus & Book Selections

ENGL 341: Reading Literature for Future Teachers
Fall 2019 
Dr. Kim Jaxon
Section 01: MW 2:00-2:50 + online (ARTS 105)

Office Hours (ARTS 262): MW 4:30-5:30, W 1:00-200, and by appointment
Email: kjaxon@csuchico.edu
Email for sharing Google Docs: kjaxon@mail.csuchico.edu
Twitter: @drjaxon

Course Description

This course is required of all Liberal Studies majors. As the title of the course, “Reading Literature,” suggests, students will read an array of literary genres, including short stories, novels, poetry, and drama. Students will also read books and articles by teacher-researchers about reading pedagogy. By the conclusion of the term, students will be able to read a wide array of literary texts, both those written for adult readers and those written for younger readers; students will be able to identify literary devices and consider their effects; students will be able to select literature for children to read and develop teaching plans to help students read literary texts with understanding and pleasure. Students will demonstrate their learning through written and visual assignments. This course addresses the literary study areas specified by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing as requirements for multiple-subject teachers: literary concepts and conventions; literary genres; interpretation of literary texts.

But beyond the official goals for the course, ultimately, my hope is that we create a community of readers who enjoy reading and discover lots of resources for finding texts to read for kids and ourselves. 

Required Texts:

There are 6 books total you’ll need for the semester. The good news: the selections of books are mostly ones that you could keep for your future classrooms. I am hoping you’ll start to build your class library. Total cost is around $60, but feel free to check out from library, etc.  But, you must have the books so you can participate (ebook is fine if you prefer). You’ll also notice a lot of choices in book selection: my mission is to support you as you find books you like to read. *Note: I do not use the Chico State bookstore for book orders. You can find some of these texts at your local library, used bookstores, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and the Chico State library, etc. The links below will take you to Amazon or Goodreads site (Goodreads is a great platform for finding books, not buying books. But they do have links to Amazon and other sellers under the descriptions of books).

Six books:

  1. Reading in the Wild: The Book Whisperer’s Keys to Cultivating Lifelong Reading Habits by Donalyn Miller
  2. One Series Study book choice (see options below)
  3. One Chapter Book choice (see options below)
  4. One Novel in Poetry or Verse (see options below)
  5. One Graphic Novel (see options below)
  6. One YA Novel book choice (see options below)

Series Study: choose ONE book from the series choices below

Chapter Book: choose ONE from the list below

Novels in Poetry & Verse: choose ONE from the list below

Graphic Novel: choose ONE from the list below

YA Novel: choose ONE from list below

In the first week of class, you’ll let me know your text choices by filling out our book form. HERE is the link to your choices. Thanks everyone for filling out the form!

VERY IMPORTANT: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE order all your books asap. I know it’s tempting to order as you go, but often students order them used and then it takes a month to get them. Please have them ordered, so they can be ready to go for the semester, by the end of the first week of our class. And ebook is totally fine if you prefer. 

 Your Grade (see Assignment tab for full descriptions)

Picture Book Gallery Walk (20 points)

Discussion Posts (7@10 points each; 70 points)

Peer Response (7@5 points each; 35 points)

Makes (6@20 points: 120 points): we will create artifacts based on the books you are reading.

Book in a Box project (15 points)

Goodreads reviews (5@3 points; 15 points)

Reflection and Manifesto (25 points): we will end the semester with a teaching reading manifesto and a reflection on what we’ve learned about the teaching of reading in our course.

Total: 300 points

Attendance: Seriously, I am not a fan of attendance policies. They are uninviting and too much like school for me. Over 20 years of teaching, I have tried out every possible configuration, including no policy at all. This is the one I’ve landed on that makes me, and hopefully you, the most comfortable: you may miss class 3 times for any reason. You may miss 4 times and drop a letter grade. After 4, you’ve missed more than two weeks of class and you’ll need to retake the course. Our job as a class: create an environment where you want to be here and missing is simply due to some life going on…

I look forward to reading together this semester!

Any student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry. Furthermore, please notify the professor if you are comfortable in doing so. This will enable her to provide any resources that she may possess. You can find many, many campus resources HERE too.

Americans with Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability or chronic illness, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Please also contact Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) as they are the designated department responsible for approving and coordinating reasonable accommodations and services for students with disabilities. ARC will help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide you further assistance with requesting and arranging accommodations.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

As a Chico State professor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment for Chico State students.  It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible.  However, I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct with the University.

Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the Counseling and Wellness Center (898-6345) or Safe Place (898-3030).  Information about campus reporting obligations and other Title IX related resources are available here: www.csuchico.edu/title-ix

Mechoopda Acknowledgement

We acknowledge and are mindful that CSU, Chico stands on lands that were originally occupied by the first people of this area, and we recognize the Mechoopda and their distinctive spiritual relationship with this land and the waters that run through campus. We are humbled that our campus resides upon sacred lands that once sustained the Mechoopda people for centuries.

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Dr. Kim Jaxon

California State University, Chico
Office: ARTS 262

Website: kimjaxon.com/me

Office Hours Fall 2019:
Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm, Wednesdays 1:00-2:00,
and by appointment

Email: kjaxon@csuchico.edu

Email for sharing Google Docs:
kjaxon@mail.csuchico.edu