Based on your readings and professional experience define and discuss the value of children’s literature to foster literacy and reading development. Include comments on the value of children’s literature in supporting content-based concepts appropriate for young children.

In your assignments,

•   Define children’s literature and support your comments with appropriate references. Share comments on your favorite children’s book and why it becomes memorable.
•   Provide specific comments on how children’s literature promotes the building blocks of reading (oral language, phonological awareness, alphabetic principle, concepts of print, fluency).
•   Describe how children’s literature addresses the needs of children with diverse characteristics and needs.
•   Explain how literature supports development of proficient readers. Give specific examples as to behaviors associated with proficient readers observed while engaged in using children’s literature.
•   Discuss how literature supports development of content-based concepts.
•   Describe how children’s literature meets the needs of English language learners (ELL). Provide at least 10 titles appropriate for young ELL children (indicate the age group).
•   Provide concluding comments about the use of children’s literature in the curriculum
•   Support your comments with at least three references. Scoring Rubric for Assignment #1:

Element	Criteria	Points
Definition	Provided a definition of children’s literature with supporting documentation	3
Favorite book	Shared comments on favorite children’s book and why it became memorable	2
Role of children’s literature and reading	Provide specific comments on how children’s literature promotes the building blocks of reading (oral language, phonological awareness, alphabetic principle, concepts of print, fluency).	4
ELL children	Describe how children’s literature addresses the needs of children with diverse characteristics and special needs.	4
Children’s books and proficient readers	Explain how literature supports development of proficient readers. Give specific examples as to behaviors associated with proficient readers observed while engaged in using children’s literature.	4
Content-based concepts	Discuss how literature supports development of content- based concepts.	3

Concluding comments	Provided concluding comments about the use of children’s literature in the curriculum	2
References and APA format	Used at least three references to support comments. Paper followed APA format	3
Total