Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Course

CDEC-1356-001 Emergent Literacy for Early Childhood

Prerequisites

Course Description

An exploration of principles, methods and materials for teaching young children language and literacy through a play-based, integrated curriculum.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts Early Literacy

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\ Edition:  Ninth

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\ Author:  Jeanne Machado

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\ Copyright:  2007

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\ Student Copy ISBN:  978-1-4354-0012-2

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\ Publisher:  Wadsworth Cengage Learning

Supplies

\ Additional materials to complete extra credit projects may be necessary.  These may include:  posterboard, markers, glue, construction paper, etc.  No additional materials will be required for

Student Performance

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1. \ Students will define literacy and emergent literacy.
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2. \ Students will analyze various theories of language development.
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3. \ Students will describe the teacher's role in promoting emergent literacy.
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4. \ Students will create literacy environments for children; and select and share appropriate literature with children.
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Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

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1. \ Students are expected to fully participate in all online opportunities.  There will be regular online discussions and/or live chats.
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2. \ Students are expected to log-in to the course regularly and check email, announcements, news, calendar, etc.
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3. \ Students are expected to read the assigned chapters in the textbook and use the online resources provided such as chapter outlines, written lectures, study guides, etc.
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4. \ Students are expected to complete all assignments and make sure they are turned in by the due date.
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5. \ Students are expected to satisfactorily complete exams during the defined time frame.  Exceptions must be arranged with permission from the instructor prior to the exam.  Make up exams will be given at the discretion of the instructor.
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6. \ Students are expected to utilize resourcefulness, creativity, and be reliable when completing assignments and projects.
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7. \ Students that demonstrate academic dishonesty as defined in the "Student Rights and Responsibilities" information will receive a grade of "F" in this course.  A link to the "Students Rights and Responsibilities" information is accessible in this syllabus.
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Grading Criteria

\ This course is graded according to a point system.  Students have the opportunity to earn up to 1850 points by completing  required assignments.   Assignments and the number of points for each are listed below:

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• \ Thematic Literacy Project = 1000 points
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• \ Read-Aloud Project = 200 points
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• \ Topic Essays = 150 points (15 points each)
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• \ Live Chats = 100 points (20 points each)
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• \ Exam #1 = 100 points
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• \ Exam #2 = 100 points
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• \ Exam #3 = 100 points
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• \ Final Exam = 100 points
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\ The corresponding letter grades for points are listed below:

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• \ 1650 - 1850 points = A
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• \ 1649 - 1449 points = B
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• \ 1448 - 1248 points = C
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• \ 1247 - 1047 points = D
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• \ Below 1047 = F
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Attendance

\ This is an online class and therefore students do not attend class.  Students are expected to complete all assignments and projects in order to be successful.

Calendar

Additional Information

\ Thematic Literacy Project:

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\ This is an individual project. This is a semester-long project and counts for more than ½ of your final grade. You will choose an appropriate pre-school theme from the list below and create a developmentally appropriate, theme-based activity for each of the following seven learning centers: art, blocks, ABC, writing, dramatic play, math/science, and library/listening. Each activity must each be theme-related and literacy based. You will also write two transition activities that are theme-based as well. Specific instructions on how to complete this project will be given as well as templates for you to use when writing your activities. The project must be typed.

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\ Appropriate Preschool Themes to Select from for Literacy Projects:

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\ 1. All About Me

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\ 2. Weather

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\ 3. Pets

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\ 4. Community Helpers

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\ 5. Transportation

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\ 6. Food/Nutrition

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\ 7. Celebrations

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\ 8. My Family

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\ 9. My Friends

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\ 10. Growing Things

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\ 11. Ocean Life

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\ 12. Winter

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\ 13. Spring

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\ 14. Autumn

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\ 15. Summer Fun

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\ 16. Cowboys/Cowgirls

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\ 17. Music

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\ 18. School Days

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\ 19. Farm Animals

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\ 20. Zoo Animals

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\ 21. Nutrition

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\ 22. Space

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\ 23. Bugs/Insects

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\ 24. My Five Senses

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\ 25. Colors and Shapes

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\ 26. Construction/Building Things

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\ Read-Aloud Project:

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\ This is an individual project. In this project, you will create a preschool book list and complete a Read-Aloud Self-assessment using one of the books from your list. You will plan a read-aloud and execute your plan with a group of children. While you are reading to the children, a coworker will complete a read-aloud checklist for you. The book list is worth 50 points and the remainder of the project is worth 150 points for a total of 200 points. The book list must be typed and submitted in the following exact format:

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\ Author, Title of Book, Publisher, Date of Publication, ISBN #

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\ Exams:

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\ There will be four exams over the course of the semester. These will be administered online and may contain multiple choice, short answer, matching, T/F, and/or fill-in-the blank questions. These tests are not timed. Each exam is worth 100 points.

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\ Topic Essays:

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\ You will write ten, one-page essays during the course in response to the chapter(s) that you have covered  or additional information you have been given to read. You will be given a specific topic to write about for your essay. The purposes of these assignments are two-fold: 1) it is important to learn how to write at a college level using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation; 2) it helps you process the information you are learning and allows you to show me that you thoroughly understand the concepts we are covering. Each essay is worth 15 points for a total of 150 points. The essays will be due on Fridays.  Please use your spell check and have someone proof-read your essays before turning them in!

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\ Plagiarism will not be tolerated.  "According to Miriam Webster, plagiarism is defined as:

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• \ to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
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• \ to use (another's production) without crediting the source
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• \ to commit literary theft
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• \ to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
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\ In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.  All of the following are considered plagiarism:

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• \ turning in someone else's work as your own
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• \ copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit
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• \ failing to put a quotation in quotation marks
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• \ giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation
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• \ changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit
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• \ copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether you give credit or not (see our section on "fair use" rules)
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\ Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. Simply acknowledging that certain material has been borrowed, and providing your audience with the information necessary to find that source, is usually enough to prevent plagiarism."  - www.plagiarism.org

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\ Make sure when you write your essays that you do not plagiarize work from the internet, books, or others essays.  Doing so will result in a 'zero' for that grade.

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\ Live Chats:

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\ There will be five live chats during the semester. Each student will be in a small group for the live chats.  During these chats we will discuss information that you have covered and you will also have a chance to ask questions about anything you may not understand or need help with. All live chats may be conducted online through AC’s ANGEL Learning Website and or Google Chat or Skype. Please make sure you have access to these tools.  Live chats are worth 20 points each for a total of 100 points. GROUPS AND TIMES FOR LIVE CHATS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE.