Welcome, EDLL 5351.001 Summer 1 Crew!

Hello, folks! This is going to be our class blog for the summer. The plan is simple: we're going to use this virtual space to upload some of our assignments (video, image, and text) (1) to explore how educators can put to use even the most basic of technologies in order to help our students develop their various literacy skills, (2) to be more environmentally resourceful by not having to rely on print so much, and (3) to build a community amongst ourselves in the present in the hopes that we'll carry forward into the near and far future that sense of kinship.

Following are some examples of what will be happening on our blog: I will post an essential question or topic in advance of a reading, during a reading, and or after a reading and each of you will respond; whenever one of your classmate's responses moves you to respond, do so; each of you will be asked to begin a discussion to which the rest of us will respond; we'll upload bibliographies; we'll post video booktalks, and more. Much of the success of this blog and part of your grade will depend on keeping the in-class discussion going outside of class. So it'll be expected that you participate. Do take care to write well and correctly (that is to say, your ideas should be well-developed, though consice, and your grammar/punctuation/usage/spelling should be above par because I'll be looking at those carefully for grading purposes). Also remember to be respectful of one another and one another's opinions. We don't want to white-wash our responses, but at the same time, we don't have to be rude.

Following is a list of the books we'll be using this summer (many of these are in the Sitton-Burkhart library on the second floor of the COE building so if you'd rather save some money, make time before a reading is due to go there and read in some really comfy chairs):

Brown, Monica: Side By Side/Lado a lado.
DiCamillo & McGhee: Bink and Gollie.
Hill, Laban: Dave the Potter.
Krosoczka, Jarrett: Punk Farm.
Stein, David Ezra: Interrupting Chicken.
Wong, Janet S.: Me and Rolly Maloo.
Tunnel, et al.: Children's Literature, Briefly (5th ed.).

Another resource that we'll be using throughout our time together is http://www.teachingbooks.net/. I'll give you all the necessary information to gain full access on our first class period but I wanted to give you the link here.

There'll be other information, but we can discuss other matters face-to-face.

Let's have a great class!