Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
5EGK069Reading Culture and Book Review2+0+02308.10.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction Turkish
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Pre-School Teaching
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The aim of this course is to examine the relationship between reading culture and language from theoretical and practical perspectives. The course aims to provide students with a critical perspective on how reading habits can be developed, the role of language in reading culture, and the cognitive, emotional and cultural effects of reading. Students will become familiar with the dynamics that shape reading culture and explore the functions of reading at individual and societal levels.
Course Content The relationship between reading culture and language; developing and supporting reading habits; cognitive, emotional and cultural effects of reading; historical and cultural dynamics of reading culture; basic reading skills (speed reading and comprehension, making inferences, understanding text structure, guessing word meaning); critical and analytical reading strategies; the literature circles method and roles; analysing literary and cultural texts from linguistic, cognitive and pedagogical perspectives; effects of media and information and communication technologies on reading culture; supporting reading habits in early childhood.
Course Methods and Techniques Lecture, question-answer, demonstration, practice and exercise, literature circles, group discussion and presentation. Each class begins with an introduction to the weekly content; therefore, students are required to prepare for each topic before class.
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator Asist Prof.Dr. Zeliha Damla KALYENCİ zdamla.kalyenci@hku.edu.tr
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Zeliha Damla KALYENCİ zdamla.kalyenci@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Bloom, J. M. (2003). Paper Before Print: The History and Impact of Paper in the Islamic World (Turkish edition: Kağıda İşlenen Uygarlık). Kitap Yayınevi.
Gutas, D. (2011). Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early Abbasid Society (Turkish edition). Kitap Yayınevi.
Manguel, A. (2001). A History of Reading (Turkish edition: Okumanın Tarihi). Yapı Kredi Yayınları.
Proust, M. (2009). On Reading (Turkish edition: Okuma Üzerine). Notos.
Şirin, M. R. Children ` s Literature in 99 Questions (99 Soruda Çocuk Edebiyatı).
Reading series – Book I: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize, trans. B. Sirman). Pegasus. / Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı, trans. M. Urgan). İş Bankası Kültür Yayınları.
Reading series – Book II: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi, trans. K. Güney). Domingo Yayınevi. / Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler. Doğan Kitap.
Course Notes Course textbooks and the two books to be read during the semester will be used. Each student is expected to keep a method notebook and to bring their books to class. Presentations and resources may be shared via a Google Classroom group through course representatives; the instructor is not obliged to share course presentations. Each week, students come to class having prepared the worksheet for the role they take on in the literature circle.
Documents Ders kaynak kitapları, okuma serisindeki kitaplar ve okuma çemberi rol çalışma sayfaları (Ek 1).
Assignments Ayrı bir ödev yoktur; her hafta okuma çemberi rol çalışma sayfası hazırlanır ve vize/final kapsamında değerlendirilir.
Exams Ara sınav ve final, okuma çemberi performansı ile yapılır.

Course Category
Mathematics and Basic Sciences %0
Engineering %0
Engineering Design %0
Social Sciences %100
Education %0
Science %0
Health %0
Field %0

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Final examination 1 % 60
Total
2
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 2 28
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 10 4 40
Mid-terms 1 8 8
Final examination 1 14 14
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 3 90

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Bilgi 
1 Analyses the relationship between reading culture and language from theoretical and applied perspectives.
3 Describes the historical and cultural dynamics of reading culture and evaluates their contributions to early childhood education.
Beceri 
2 Explains and applies ways of developing and supporting reading habits in line with the characteristics of early childhood.
4 Relates the role of language in reading processes to theoretical knowledge and transfers this knowledge to classroom activities.
5 Reads critically and analytically using reading strategies; develops discussion and inquiry skills through literature circles.
Yetkinlik 
6 Analyses different types of literary and cultural texts from linguistic, cognitive and pedagogical perspectives and presents these analyses effectively in group work.
7 Evaluates the effects of media and information and communication technologies on reading culture and develops pedagogical approaches to address these effects.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Course Introduction: Reviewing the course aims, learning outcomes, expectations from students, teaching materials, attendance, teaching methods and techniques and assessment criteria; writing personal learning goals in the method notebook Reviewing the course syllabus Course syllabus
2 Literature Circles and Their Use in Education: Introducing the literature circle method and roles (questioner, connector, summariser, researcher, etc.); application examples and classroom discussions Reviewing literature circle roles (Appendix 1) Literature circle role worksheets (Appendix 1)
3 Reading Activities – Book I: Literature circle practice with the first book; students lead discussions according to their assigned roles Reading the weekly section of Book I and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book I options: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize); Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı)
4 Reading Activities – Book I: Reading and discussing selected sections of the text; critical thinking and connection-making activities Reading the weekly section of Book I and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book I options: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize); Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı)
5 Reading Activities – Book I: Students take active part in different roles; text analyses and group presentations Reading the weekly section of Book I and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book I options: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize); Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı)
6 Reading Activities – Book I: Discussing language and cultural contexts; sharing students ` individual observations within the group Reading the weekly section of Book I and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book I options: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize); Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı)
7 Reading Activities – Book I: Completing the book; main themes, characters, plot and overall evaluation Reading the weekly section of Book I and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book I options: Palacio, R. J. (2013). Wonder (Mucize); Golding, W. (2002). Lord of the Flies (Sineklerin Tanrısı)
8 Midterm Exam: Assessment of literature circle performance and role worksheets for Book I Assessment week Literature Circles Assessment Rubric (Appendix 2, Appendix 3)
9 Library Week: No class session this week; during class time students examine resources on the second book and reading culture in the library Library search (during class time) Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
10 Reading Activities – Book II: Analysing sections of the text; conducting discussions according to students ` roles Reading the weekly section of Book II and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
11 Reading Activities – Book II: Group discussions on the author ` s language, style and the cultural context of the text Reading the weekly section of Book II and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
12 Reading Activities – Book II: Text analyses and class discussions using critical reading strategies Reading the weekly section of Book II and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
13 Reading Activities – Book II: Discussing the themes of the book; individual and group presentations Reading the weekly section of Book II and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
14 Reading Activities – Book II: Completing the second book and overall evaluation Reading the weekly section of Book II and preparing the literature circle role worksheet Book II options: Haig, M. (2021). The Midnight Library (Gece Yarısı Kütüphanesi); Yaşar, Ş. (2019). Söyleme Bilmesinler
15 General Evaluation: Holistic discussion of the two books; overall evaluation of literature circle practices; sharing students ` individual and group contributions None The two books read
16 Final Exam: Assessment of literature circle performance and role worksheets for Book II Assessment week Literature Circles Assessment Rubric (Appendix 2, Appendix 3)

 
Sustainable Development Goals
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 P11 P12 P13 P14
All 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 4 4 4 4
In1 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 3 3
In3 3 3 5 3 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 3 3
Sk2 5 5 4 4 5 4 3 4 4 3 5 5 4 4
Sk4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 4 4 3 3
Sk5 4 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4
Co6 3 4 5 4 5 5 4 4 4 3 5 5 4 4
Co7 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 3 3 2 4 4 4 4

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant