Teaching Children’s Literature in an Era of Standards

Teaching Children’s Literature in an Era of Standards presents a realistic, positive, and proactive approach to using the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and 21st Century Learning Standards as the basis for teaching children’s literature in kindergarten through eighth grade, addressing the caveats and issues involved in implementing the standards. This new text encourages teachers to value children’s books for both enjoyment and learning, suggests teaching strategies matched to the specific grade levels and skills defined by the CCSS, and provides examples of excellent children’s books as resources. Suggestions and advice for integrating new technologies into children’s literature instruction are emphasized in conjunction with traditional teaching methods. Topics include responses to literature, teaching strategies for the focused use of children’s books, supporting literacy development, fostering a love of reading, and chapters devoted to the major forms and genres of children’s literature: picture books, poetry, traditional literature, fantasy and science fiction, contemporary realistic fiction, historical fiction, and nonfiction.