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Teaching Environmental Literacy Through Picture-books: Reading, Writing, and Inquiry
with Erica Holyoke, PhD
Environmental themes naturally spark curiosity, observation, and rich conversation in elementary classrooms. This course empowers educators to harness that potential by using picture books to build environmental literacy while boosting students’ comprehension, vocabulary, and inquiry skills. Participants will leave with a thoughtfully curated collection of environmental picture books, along with ready-to-use routines that nurture reading, discussion, and authentic environmental exploration.
If you’re looking to bring fresh energy to your literacy teaching, this asynchronous graduate course offers an engaging, flexible way to do it. Together, we’ll explore a vibrant collection of picture books that open windows into water cycles, ecosystems, land stewardship, and the many ways communities interact with the natural world. Each text becomes an invitation to wonder, question, and notice.
Throughout the course, educators explore activities, creative modeling, and reflective prompts that show how environmental themes can fuel lively reading, thoughtful discussion, close observation, and writing. You’ll try out adaptable instructional routines that help students follow their curiosity and build knowledge in meaningful ways. Every module is designed to leave you inspired, with fresh ideas you can take straight back to your classroom and use right away.
Audience: Early childhood educators, elementary teachers, literacy specialists, ESL/ML teachers, instructional coaches, community-based educators, and administrators interested in integrating literacy and environmental learning.
| The Details | |
| Dates | Starts July 1 |
| Time | Asynchronous |
| Cost | $145 |
| Location | Online |
| Graduate Credits Available | 1 |
Purpose & Outcomes:
- Learn the process of selecting, ordering new books for school libraries, libraries, and classroom books.
- Identify their student population.
- Analyze their current book collection, observing strong and weak points.
- Create a list of books to order based on their school demographics and current collection.
- Compare different book vendors to see which one is most suited for purchasing the books.
- Submit a final project on this process.
Erica Holyoke, PhD
Facilitator
Erica Holyoke, PhD, joined the School of Education & Human Development in 2022 as an assistant professor in the Responsive Literacy Education program.
Prior to coming to CU Denver, Dr. Holyoke was an assistant professor in elementary and special education at Keene State College in New Hampshire, a literacy coordinator, literacy coach, and assistant principal in Texas, and an elementary classroom teacher and special education teacher in Massachusetts and Texas. Her research has focused on early literacies in classrooms and teacher preparation. She investigates justice and equity-centered literacy learning, instruction, and learning communities. Her work also examines agency and activism in children's literature, classrooms, and preparation programs. Dr. Holyoke's work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored books.
Dr. Holyoke enjoys playing soccer, and hiking with her family and dogs in the Colorado mountains. She is eager to be joining the University of Colorado Denver school and community.