Reviews
"This volume provides a compass for research-based early literacy education. It offers panoramic views of classrooms and home literacy environments, with helpful examples of children's work that give special attention to individual differences in learning. The ideas in this book will lift teachers and students to wakeful and meaningful engagement with many literacies. Useful reading for anyone seeking a way through the labyrinth of educational reform, it is an essential text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses."--Pamela J. Rossi, PhD, Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies, University of New Mexico "A stellar and highly readable contribution to the field of early literacy. Each chapter takes up important questions of current practice that we need to resolve to meet the promise of literacy for all children. Leaving old rhetoric behind, the authors lead the way to reading research and instruction that will make a difference in our present and future classrooms. The volume goes way beyond phonics, laying out research, pedagogy, and technology that support fluency and comprehension, engage the very youngest learners and those whose first language is not English, and promote concept and vocabulary development through nonfiction. This book fills a void for both teachers and teacher educators. It builds and extends teachers' professional knowledge in early literacy, and as such, can be used in teachers' book clubs, study groups, and professional development activities, as well as undergraduate- and graduate-level teacher education courses."--Anne McGill-Franzen, PhD, School of Teaching and Learning, University of Florida "Early childhood educators will find this book to be an indispensable resource. It contains clear, concise summaries of a wide range of topics connected with early literacy: home literacy learning, cultural diversity, 'best practice' teaching strategies, informational books for young children, new technologies, and staff development. Each chapter contains a summary of the most recent research and theory on a topic, followed by concrete suggestions on how to apply this information in real classrooms. The combination of current, state-of-the-art research and practical advice for teachers is what sets this book apart."--James Christie, PhD, Department of Early Childhood Education, Arizona State University, "The book, carefully documented with numerous references, should be required reading in all graduate literacy courses."--Childhood Education "Given the current focus on early literacy, this well-balanced series of articles on developing literacy in young children deserves a place on teachers' bookshelves....This book is a fine companion toHandbook of Early Literacy Research, ed. by Susan B. Neuman and David K. Dickinson (2001). Summing Up: Strongly recommended. Graduate collections and above."--Choice "Highly recommended reading for educators, tutors, and homeschoolers of young children Literacy and Young Children is an invaluable and seminal contribution to the field of Literacy Education."--The Midwest Book Review - Reviewer's Bookwatch
Table of Content
Introduction Part I. Foundations for Early Literacy Learning and Instruction 1. Staff Development for Early Literacy Teachers: A Plan to Facilitate Change Lesley Mandel Morrow, Heather Casey, and Courtney Haworth 2. Questions About Early Literacy Learning and Teaching That Need Asking--And Some That Don't William H. Teale 3. A Multidimensional Approach to Beginning Literacy Irene W. Gaskins 4. The Learner, the Teacher, the Text, and the Context: Sociocultural Approaches to Early Literacy Instruction for English Language Learners Shelley Hong Xu Part II. Home Literacy Experiences of Children 5. What Hannah Taught Emma and Why It Matters Lisa Lenhart and Kathleen Roskos 6. Learning About the Literate Lives of Latino Families Jeanne R. Paratore, Gigliana Melzi, and Barbara Krol-Sinclair Part III. Phonemic Awareness, Code Learning, and Book Acting 7. Engaging Preschoolers in Code Learning: Some Thoughts About Preschool Teachers' Concerns Judith A. Schickedanz 8. Concepts, Sounds, and the ABCs: A Diet for a Very Young Reader Marcia Invernizzi 9. Book Acting: Storytelling and Drama in the Early Childhood Classroom Lea M. McGee Part IV. Recent Trends in Literacy Research: Technology, Fluency, and Informational Text 10. Early Literacy in a Digital Age: Moving from a Singular Book Literacy to the Multiple Literacies of Networked Information and Communication Technologies Rachel A. Karchmer, Marla H. Mallette, and Donald J. Leu, Jr. 11. No More "Madfaces": Motivation and Fluency Development with Struggling Readers Steven A. Stahl 12. How Can I Help Them Pull It All Together? A Guide to Fluent Reading Instruction Melanie Kuhn 13. Bridging the Gap between Learning to Read and Reading to Learn Nell K. Duke, V. Susan Bennett-Armistead, and Ebony H. Roberts 14. Immersing Children in Nonfiction: Fostering Emergent Research and Writing Renée M. Casbergue and Mary Beth Plauché 15. Organizing Expository Texts: A Look at the Possibilities Carol Vukelich, Christine Evans, and Bonnie Albertson 16. Caution Apply with Care: Recommendations for Early Literacy Instruction Diane M. Barone
