Program Overview

Program Overview

The CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: NEWBERY 2025, GR. 4-8 program is designed for K-12 professionals and runs from January 12, 2026, to February 22, 2026.

Program Details

• Instructor: Duane Arnold
• Grading Method: Letter (Letter)
• Credits: 2
• Department: EDUC (2000)
• Academic Level: K-12 Professionals
• Start/End Dates: 01/12/2026 - 02/22/2026
• Register By: 01/23/2026
• Term: Spring 2026
• Location: Online/Google Classroom
• Instruction Mode: Internet Asynchronous (online class)
• Cost: $200

Description

This program covers both fiction and nonfiction material targeted for high-level students from 4th-8th grade. Participants will be required to complete comprehension assessments as well as engage with weekly online discussions. The assignments will provide a chance to draw from previous experiences, critical thinking, current events, and the critiquing of literature.

Objectives

Throughout the course, participants will:

• Read and critique books to gain a greater knowledge of literature, draw from personal experience, and critique and compare picture books in terms of quality and content.
• Complete online assessments.
• Engage in discussions regarding the books.
• Complete six Newbery books from 2025.

Texts

The following texts will be used in the program:

• "The State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
• "Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All" by Chanel Miller
• "One Big Open Sky" by Lesa Cline-Ransome
• "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O'shaughnessy
• "Across so Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
• "The Eyes of the Impossible" by Dave Eggers

Testimonials

Participants have praised the program, noting its value in providing new books to read and recommend to students, the enjoyment of the course, and the organization and clarity of the syllabus and assignments. The discussion board components and the opportunity to connect with peers have also been highlighted as particularly valuable aspects of the program.