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Literacy for Young Children
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Literacy for Young Children
A Guide for Early Childhood Educators



March 2008 | 256 pages | Corwin

This book is a featured text in a Canter graduate course, Teaching Beginning Readers Pre-K-3 .


"This book merges the five big ideas in reading with developmentally appropriate practice to create a practical guide that will enhance literacy development in any type of preschool setting. The references, resources, and examples will help teachers bring these ideas to life in their classrooms."

—Addie Gaines, Principal
Kirbyville Elementary School, MO

Use research-based strategies to build early literacy skills!

Early childhood educators recognize that young children are more likely to succeed in later grades if they have a variety of engaging preschool experiences. Literacy for Young Children brings together reading research and learning standards to help teachers become informed decision makers about meeting the literacy needs of young students from diverse backgrounds.

Based on the authors' work in Early Reading First classrooms, this resource includes evidence-based, easy-to-implement activities to develop oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, emergent writing, and early comprehension skills. Chapters provide an overview of each skill, methods for assessment, and appropriate instructional strategies. The book showcases examples of PreK and kindergarten children from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds to demonstrate how teachers can support individual learners. Readers will be able to:

  • Adapt instruction appropriately for ELLs and children with special needs
  • Partner knowledgeably with families to provide rich literacy experiences at home
  • Integrate literacy across the curriculum, and more

As teachers and literacy coaches become more purposeful and confident instructors, they open the door to successful learning while continuing to close the achievement gap.


 
Acknowledgments
 
About the Authors
 
Introduction: Why Early Literacy?
Early Reading First

 
Developmentally Appropriate Practice

 
Overview of This Book

 
 
Chapter 1. Children's Development and Literacy Learning
How Children Develop and Learn

 
Child Development: The Foundation for Literacy

 
Introducing Rebecca, Juan, Michael, and Annie

 
Foundations for Learning to Read

 
Supportive Classroom Environments

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 2. Language Development and Diversity
Role of Oral Language in Literacy Development

 
What Does Research Say About How Children Acquire Language?

 
Benchmarks of Oral Language Development for Preschool Children

 
Assessing Oral Language Development

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies Supporting Oral Language Development

 
Language Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 3. Phonological Awareness Development in Preschool Children
What Is Phonological Awareness and What Is Its Role in Literacy Development?

 
What does Research Say About How Children Acquire Phonological Awareness?

 
Indicators of Children's Development of Phonological Awareness

 
Assessing Phonological Awareness

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies Supporting Phonological Awareness

 
Addressing Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 4. Alphabetic Principle
What Is the Alphabetic Principle and What is Its Role in Literacy Development?

 
What Does Research Tell Us About the Alphabetic Principle?

 
Assessing the Alphabetic Principle

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies Supporting Understanding of the Alphabetic Principle

 
Addressing Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 5. Writing
How Are Reading and Writing Connected in Early Literacy Development?

 
What Does Research Say About Emergent Writing Development?

 
Assessing Writing

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies to Support Emergent Writing

 
Addressing Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 6. Comprehension: Making Meaning
What Is Comprehension?

 
What Helps Children Comprehend?

 
Assessing Comprehension

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies

 
Addressing Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 7. Sharing Books With Children
The Importance of Book Sharing for Children's Early Literacy Development

 
What Does Research Say About Storybook Reading With Children?

 
Selecting High-Quality Children's Literature

 
Developing Classroom Libraries

 
Research-Based Instructional Strategies for Sharing Books With Children

 
Addressing Diversity

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 8. Integrating Literacy Across the Curriculum
Integrated Curriculum

 
Planning an Integrated Unit

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 9. Literacy in the Real World
Language and Literacy in Communities

 
Infusing Home and Community Literacy in the Classroom

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 10. Helping Parents Facilitate Children's Literacy at Home
Why Parents Become Involved

 
Parental Beliefs

 
Types of Parental Involvement

 
Why Parental Involvement?

 
Summary

 
 
Chapter 11. Bringing It All Together
Preschool Programs Make a Difference

 
The Physical Environment

 
The Interactional Environment

 
Assessing Your Literacy and Language Environment

 
Planning Whole and Half Day Programs

 
Summary

 
 
References
Children's Books Referenced

 
 
Additional Resources for Teachers
Helpful Websites

 
 
References
 
Index

"A comprehensive and comprehensible book that provides a framework for a productive, engaging, literacy-developing classroom. This text provides a complete schema to support and enable novice teachers and affirm the experienced teacher with an overview for developing literacy in early childhood."

Judy A. Leavell, Associate Professor
St. Edward’s University

"Griffith and her colleagues have written a valuable book for literacy instructors. The attention to detail and the inclusion of research-based instructional strategies will make this book an excellent resource for all teachers and coaches in grades preK and K."

Ruth Short, Associate Professor
University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee

"This book merges the five big ideas in reading with developmentally appropriate practice to create a practical guide that will enhance literacy development in any type of preschool setting. The references, resources, and examples will help teachers bring these ideas to life in their classrooms."

Addie Gaines, Principal
Kirbyville Elementary School, MO

"A great resource for any early childhood teacher! The book provides concrete examples of how to implement best practices in an early childhood classroom. By connecting all the big ideas in literacy, the authors have set a standard for best practice!"

Emma McGee Barnes, Literacy Facilitator
Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Charlotte, NC

"This clear, concise text allows the reader a look into the classroom and an opportunity to relate to students and teachers in specific and meaningful ways to address literacy and its many important parts."

Teresa P. Cunningham, Principal
Laurel Elementary School, Laurel Bloomery, TN

"A major strength of this book is the focus on addressing the needs of each child as an individual, supporting his or her literacy development through both the physical and the interactional environment. I look forward to using this book in my literacy methods courses."

Elizabeth Willner, Associate Professor
Oklahoma City University
Key features
  • One comprehensive, practical resource addressing core topics in early literacy instruction
  • Teachers will be confident working in today's diverse early childhood classrooms, as the book contains lots of real-world examples based on the authors' experiences in Early Reading First classrooms
  • Vignettes of 4 ethnically and geographically diverse children illustrate principles in practice
  • Excellent coverage of how to link assessment and instruction for every component of early literacy learning
  • Each chapter offers a list of timely books and websites for teachers' reference


Sample Materials & Chapters

Introduction

Chapter 1


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