Constructing Strong Foundations Of Early Literacy

This text provides a comprehensive understanding of the foundational literacy knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes necessary to guide emerging readers and writers in early childhood. Centered on the critical question of why some children learn to read easily, while others do not, this text walks readers through developmentally appropriate goal setting based on the foundational literacy skills that are critical for preschool and kindergarten children to develop. Written in an authoritative yet accessible style, chapters offer instructional strategies, insights, and scenarios from educators, self-reflection, and a variety of methods for implementation. Each chapter also includes differentiation for children with language and learning challenges as well as dual language learners, exploring methods for valuing the home language while building critical literacy skills in the classroom. Providing critical skills for guiding all emerging readers to an independent reading level, this is an essential resource for both students in early childhood, literacy, and special education courses and educators in early childhood public education, non-profit preschool settings such as Head Start, home and daycare settings, and private and corporate care and education centers.

Strong Foundations addresses policy requirements from the Early Years Learning Framework, the National Quality Standard and Quality Improvement Plans, highlighting links between research and practice, and making connections to the five EYLF Learning Outcomes. The book showcases evidence from Australian and international research.

Reviewers Rave About This Book! "I would purchase this book for all of my intervention team and it would serve as a professional text for team meetings and discussions throughout the school year. It has the potential to support what is going on at the upper grade levels in the area of literacy instruction." -Felicia Hobbs, Gibbs Magnet School, Arkansas "The uniquely positive features of this text are its relevancy to preschool and kindergarten classrooms across the country and the ease and style in which it is written." -Patricia H. Kostell, Educational Consultant, South Carolina Filled with research-based ideas for creating a supportive climate for young children while engaging them in meaningful and useful instruction, this well illustrated and user-friendly book is just what teachers need to build strong foundations in early literacy. Take a Peek into the Book: Presents specific ideas to support English Language Learners. Features a full discussion on learning climates and environments Provides information on creating an atmosphere of trust and support and an organized environment so often missing from other literacy books that focus exclusively on language and literacy. (Chapter 2) Highlights actual teaching strategies and activities that can be implemented in terms of oral language and early reading and writing development. (Chapter 3) Focuses on how to involve families as partners in the literacy development of children. (Chapter 4) Includes useful and authentic assessment strategies paired with easy-to-use and camera-ready tools to evaluate growth and development. (Chapter 5)

This reader-friendly resource examines the key elements of Early Reading First to help teachers foster the language, cognitive, and early reading skills critical to young children's success in kindergarten.

Know any kids who don’t like veggies? Here is a book that’s sure to change their hungry minds! With a raucous, rhyming text, Rah, Rah, Radishes! celebrates fresh vegetables, nature’s bright colors, and the joy of healthy eating. The book’s interactive spirit encourages kids to join in on the read-aloud fun, and little ones won’t be able to resist the book’s vibrant photographs—they’re a feast for the eyes!

Early Literacy Fundamentals offers powerful activities to develop the skills, concepts, and knowledge underpinning early literacy. It builds on the personal, social, emotional, creative, and physical development skills that are a traditional part of early childhood programs. Based on the latest research, the book recognizes that oral language is the bedrock upon which formal learning is based and that literacy: begins at birth and is part of an ongoing developmental process; develops concurrently with oral language development; is enhanced by adult models who expose children to print and how it works; is based on a systematic relationship between letters and sounds; is rooted in and connected to the child's culture and communication patterns. Each of the activities, organized around a seven-strand framework that reflects successful early childhood practices, is presented along with background research and practical advice on helping children initiate their own constructive play. The types of activities teachers will find include: learning activities appropriate to a young child's age and stage of development; quality pre-school activities that boost all children's language and literacy skills, and build a strong foundation for reading and literacy success in school; opportunities for children to use oral language in a variety of ways as they play and experiment with words; adult-initiated whole-group activities that can be extended into child-initiated play. Early Literacy Fundamentals provides a comprehensive overview of the language and literacy experiences children need, and helps teachers give them a strong base on which future reading and learning success can grow.

How can we build a strong literacy foundation for children? This book appreciates that learning and language development start with the play episodes, oral language practices, wordplay activities, print encounters, reading events, and writing experiences that children engage in during the early years of life. Filled with rich language activities, The Cornerstones to Early Literacy shows teachers how to create active learning experiences that are essential to building early literacy. This comprehensive handbook is organized around the following topics: Play Experiences - Understanding the early stages of learning and all aspects of the play-literacy connection ; Oral Language - Supporting opportunities for child talk with suggested conversation starters and events that involve personal timelines and storytelling ; Language Awareness and Word Play - Creating a balanced approach to language learning using games and activities that involve literature, music, choral speaking, sound games, and more ; Print Encounters - Discovering, reproducing, and creating all forms of environmental print ; Reading Events - Integrating read-aloud and shared book experiences with proven strategies for supporting and observing young readers ; Writing Experiences - Identifying early writing characteristics and techniques for moving children along in their writing.