Contemporary Perspectives On Literacy In Early Childhood Education

This book considers and interrogates a range of new and critical issues in contemporary early childhood education. It discusses both fundamental and emerging topics in the field, and presents them in the context of reflective and contemporary frameworks. Bringing together leading experts whose work is at the cutting edge of contemporary early childhood education theory and research across the world, this book considers the care and education of young children from a global perspective and deals with issues and groups of children or families that are often marginalized. The contributing authors challenge traditional views and maintain that new ways of thinking and doing are required in these new times. The chapters in this book highlight some of the most important issues as catalysts for discussion and critique. Central to the discussions is the notion that these are complex issues that warrant debate and that there are often no simple solutions to them. These theoretical perspectives are situated in practice with the use of engaging case studies. This edited collection is essential reading for anyone studying or working in early childhood education. Contributors: Marina Umaschi Bers, Erica Burman, Judith Duncan, Anne Haas Dyson, Karen Gallas, Rachael Holmes, Elizabeth Jones, Michelle Leiminer, Hillevi Lenz Taguchi, Maggie MacLure, Christina MacRae, Joanna McPake, Veronica Pacini Ketchabaw, Alan Pence, Helen Penn, Lydia Plowman, Valerie Polakow, Christine Stephen, Gail Yuen.

This volume identifies and critically analyzes research studies related to the critical skills, environments, and adult interactions that contribute to young children’s literacy development. The volume reminisces on the reformation that has emerged in the language and literacy education of young children. Prior to the 1960's, few studies were available on pre?first?grade literacy. Then studies began to emerge in the 1960's focusing on the reading readiness paradigm and on the conventional assumption that literacy development was only introduce and when children experienced formal reading instruction in school (Sulzby & Teale, 1986). Fortunately, Durkin (1966) found that there were children reading before first grade and determined that the reading readiness paradigm was theoretically and pragmatically incongruous. Others followed Durkin’s footsteps. Sulzby and Teale (1986) identify the following concepts about young children’s acquisition of literacy learning: 1. Literacy development originates well before children are introduced to formal instruction. 2. The notion that reading precedes writing or that writing precedes reading is a fallacy. 3. Literacy blooms in "real?life" settings and by performing real?life activities that are used to "get things done." 4. The purposes of literacy for young children are as important in learning about writing and reading as are the dimensions of literacy. 5. Children’s cognitive development is important to their acquisition of literacy during the years from birth to six. 6. Children learn written language when they actively engage in their world. Competent teachers throughout the United States suggest that prior to attending school, children have acquired a distinctive culture, collection of experiences, and group of abilities (Vacca & Vacca, 2000). Many prekindergarten children have been in a group setting for three and four years such as a child care setting where teachers and caregivers teach them reading and writing.

For decades, politicians, businessmen and other leaders have been concerned with the quality of education, including early childhood education, in the United States. While more than 50% of the children between the ages of three and five are enrolled in preschool and kindergarten programs in the United States, no state, federal, or national standards exist for science or technology education in preschool or kindergarten programs. Knowledge about science and technology is an important requirement for all in contemporary society. An increasing number of professions require the use of scientific concepts and technological skills and society as a whole depends on scientific knowledge. Scientific and technological knowledge should be a part of every individual’s education. There are many ways to enhance young children’s scientific thinking and problem-solving skills as well as their technological abilities. The purpose of this volume is to present a critical analysis of reviews of research on science and technology education in early childhood education. The first part of the volume includes contributions by leading scholars in science, while the second part includes contributions by leading scholars in technology.

CONTENTS Language Policy and Literacy Instruction, Olivia N. Saracho and Bernard Spodek. Historical Perspectives in Language Policy and Literacy Reform, Olivia N. Saracho and Bernard Spodek. Second Language Issues in Early Literacy and Instruction, Elizabeth S. Pang and Michael L. Kamil. The Acquisition of Literacy: Reframing Definitions, Paradigms, Ideologies, and Practices, Mary Renck Jalongo, Beatrice S. Fennimore, and Laurie Nicholson Stamp. The Teacher of Beginning Reading, Robert C. Calfee and Linda Scott Hendrick.Effective Early Reading Programs for English Language Learners, Robert E. Slavin and Alan Cheung. Language Learners, Early Literacy and Reading Policy Reform, Paula Wolfe and Betsy J. Cahill. Children’s Literature and Children’s Literacy: Preparing Early Literacy Teachers to Understand the Aesthetic Values of Children’s Literature, Barbara Z. Kiefer. A Critical Examination of India’s National Language Policy in Primary Education, Jyotsna Pattnaik. Issues in Early Childhood Education for English Learners: Assessment, Professional Training, Preschool Interventions and Performance in Elementary School,David Yaden, Robert Rueda, Tina Tsai, and Alberto Esquinca. Bilingualism is not the Arithmetic Sum of Two Languages, Eugene E. García. Educating the Next Generation: Culture Centered Teaching for School-Aged Children, Esther Elena López and Michael William Mulnix. Language Policy in the United States: An Historical and Contemporary Perspective, Olivia N. Saracho and Bernard Spodek.

Contemporary Perspectives and Research on Early Childhood Education is a welcome addition to the field of early childhood education. This book enhances the understanding of different approaches to curriculum and instruction; appropriate assessment strategies; the role of math and science in children’s development; the importance of seeing the whole child and ensuring children develop holistically through play and arts; training effective teachers; and the importance of helping parents to be better supporters of their children. Along with this comprehensive content, the book also contains diverse methodologies including qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches, which will further enrich the reader’s perspective and understanding of a wide range of topics in the field. Thus, this book creates a platform for researchers and practitioners to share and discuss research findings, expertise, and experiences about early childhood education.

Recently, a new understanding of creative thought and creative performance has surfaced. It has also attracted the attention of early childhood professional organizations and researchers. Professional organizations have included it in their publications and conferences. While current creativity researchers have initiated a far more sophisticated understanding of young children’s creative thinking, ways to assess creativity, strategies to promote creativity, and research methodologies. The purpose of this volume is to present a wide range of different theories and areas in the study of creativity to help researchers and theorists work toward the development of different perspectives on creativity with young children. It focuses on critical analyses and reviews of the literature on topics related to creativity research, development, theories, and practices. It will serve as a reference for early childhood education researchers, scholars, academics, general educators, teacher educators, teachers, graduate students, and scientists to stimulate further “dialogue” on ways to enhance creativity. The chapters are of high quality and provide scholarly analyses of research studies that capture the full range of approaches to the study of creativity --- behavioral, clinical, cognitive, cross-cultural, developmental, educational, genetic, organizational, psychoanalytic, psychometric, and social. Interdisciplinary research is also included, as is research within specific domains such as art and science, as well as on critical issues (e.g., aesthetics, genius, imagery, imagination, insight, intuition, metaphor, play, problem finding and solving). Thus, it offers critical analyses on reviews of research in a form that are useful to early childhood researchers, scholars, educators, and graduate students. It also places the current research in its historical context. The volume is also of interest to the general readers who are interested in the young children’s creativity. The chapters are authored by established scholars in the field of young children’s creativity.

This text is concerned with contemporary attitudes and approaches to the teaching of literacy, children's literature and other non-book texts and media. Based on research from the UK, the USA and Europe it makes a contribution to theory and practice.

This volume provides a comprehensive critical analysis of the research in mathematics education for young children. The researchers who conducted the critical analysis focused on the relationship between (1) mathematics learning in the early years and domain specific approaches to cognitive development, (2) the children’s social learning and their developing understanding of math, and (3) the children’s learning in a natural context and their understanding of mathematics concepts. The work of these scholars can help guide those researchers who are interested in pursuing studies in early childhood mathematics in a specific area of study. This volume will facilitate the research conducted by both novice and expert researchers. The volume has accomplished its major goals, which consists of critically analyzing important research in a specific area that would be most useful in advancing the field and provide recommendations for both researchers and educators.