EDU 210 Children’s Literature – Spring 2014
Assignment Title: Goodreads Class Book Club
Due Date: Refer to Course Calendar
Description & Purpose of the Assignment:
EDU 210 uses a cooperative learning approach & your participation is essential as we will be
discussing, sharing, and evaluating children’s literature, scholarly articles, media, materials, resources
and ideas. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage your critical reading and evaluation of
materials related to children's literature. During the semester you will be reading many self-selected
children’s books on various topics, themes and in different genres & will contribute information about
the books you read each week to the course Goodreads discussion group.
BOT Standards Addressed:
1.E use multiple representations and explanations of subject matter concepts to capture key
ideas and link them to students' prior understandings;
1.I develop and use curricula that encourage students to understand, analyze, interpret, and
apply ideas from varied perspectives.
Guidelines:
Weekly contributions to Goodreads are intended to support your learning in EDU 210 and are comprised
of the following:

Weekly discussion post: during the second week of class you will sign-up with a partner to create a
discussion post question/prompt for one of the following designated weeks. A sign-up sheet will be
provided in class.

Reading of children’s & adolescent literature: each week you will be asked to read 1 or more selfselected children’s books and then add these to the class Goodreads bookshelf.
Why?
 In order to familiarize yourself with the depth and breadth children’s literature currently
available, you need to read lots of picture books, chapter books & novels. Rather than
requiring you to purchase an extensive list of children’s books or limiting your reading
selection, you are asked to select, read and evaluate children’s books each week based on
personal preference, resources provided in class and on moodle to assist you in selecting
literature, and peer recommendations.
What?
 By the end of the semester you must complete the following:
o read at least 20 picture books & add to the group bookshelf;
o write & post at least 10 short reviews of picture books you have read;
o contribute at least 12 posts (1 each week) to the weekly discussion thread
o create the discussion post question/prompt for 1 week (a sign-up sheet will be
provided in class)
How?
 You are asked to read at least 2 children’s books each week so that by the end of the semester
you will have read at least 20 books. After reading each book you should add it to the class
Good Reads bookshelf & provide a rating. You are encouraged to visit the GAC library and
the St. Peter Public Library (located at the Community Center) to check out books. Other
options include:
o Visiting Barnes & Nobles to read children’s books
o I would encourage you to visit The Red Balloon bookstore and Wild Rumpus in
Minneapolis/St. Paul
o You may also borrow books from your instructor (Katrina)
When?
 Visit the Good Reads site each week!
 Read lots of children’s books (there is no final exam for this course so it is your
responsibility to read, read, read!)
 Make weekly contributions!
 Read and respond to other class members’ contributions
Evaluation: Your regular participation and contributions to the class Good Reads site will be
evaluated using the attached rubric & an end-of-semester self-evaluation rubric.
Good Reads Class Website
EDU 210 Children’s Literature – Spring 2014
Name:
Criteria
Weekly
reading of
children’s
literature
Book
reviews
Discussion
posts
Creation of
discussion
post prompt
Responding
to
discussion
posts
Date:
5
4
3
2
1
Exceeds basic
expectations; at least 25
children’s books read &
added to class bookshelf
during the semester.
Meets basic expectations;
at least 20 children’s
books read & added to
class bookshelf during the
semester.
Basic expectations mostly
met, at least 15 children’s
books read & added to class
bookshelf during the
semester.
Fails to meet basic
expectations; less than 15
children’s books read &
added to class bookshelf
during the semester.
No books read & added
to class bookshelf
during the semester.
Exceeds basic
expectations; at least 12
short book reviews
contributed.
Meets basic expectations;
at least 10 short book
reviews contributed.
Basic expectations mostly
met; 6-10 short book
reviews contributed.
Fails to meet basic
expectations; less than 6
short book reviews
contributed.
No book reviews
contributed.
Exceeds basic
expectations; 13 or more
posts contributed (1 each
week)
Meets basic expectations;
12 posts contributed (1
each week)
Basic expectations mostly
met; at least 8 posts
contributed (1 each week).
Fails to meet basic
expectations; less than 8
posts contributed.
No posts contributed.
Exceeds basic
expectations; prompt
posted by scheduled
date/time; prompt
generated meaningful
discussion &
demonstrated critical
thinking.
Meets basic expectations:
prompt posted by
scheduled date/time;
prompt generated some
discussion &
demonstrated some
attempt to encourage
critical thinking.
Basic expectations mostly
met; prompt posted within
24 hours of scheduled
date/time; prompt
generated some discussion
& demonstrated some
attempt to encourage
critical thinking.
Fails to meet basic
expectations; prompt
posted late (at least 1 day
later than scheduled
date/time); prompt
demonstrated little
attempt to encourage
critical thinking.
No discussion prompt
posted.
Exceeds basic
expectations; more than 1
response contributed each
week; responses extend,
develop, or advance the
discussion; comments are
insightful and thoughtprovoking.
Meets basic expectations:
responses contributed
each week; responses
extend, develop, or
advance the discussion.
Basic expectations mostly
met; some responses
contributed and/or some
attempt to extend the
discussion.
Fails to meet basic
expectations; responses are
unconnected to discussion.
No responses to other
posts.