Designing Early Literacy Programs

"This acclaimed teacher resource and course text describes proven ways to accelerate the language and literacy development of young children, including those at risk for reading difficulties. The authors draw on extensive research and classroom experience to present a complete framework for differentiated instruction and early intervention. Strategies for creating literacy-rich classrooms, conducting effective assessments, and implementing targeted learning activities are illustrated with vivid examples and vignettes. Helpful reproducible assessment tools are provided. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Subject Areas/Keywords: assessments, at-risk students, beginning readers, CCSS, classroom environments, classrooms, Common Core State Standards, differentiated instruction, early childhood reading, early literacy, ELA, emergent, English language arts, foundational skills, interventions, kindergarten, language, literacy development, preschool, prevention, programs, reading difficulties, response to intervention, RTI, struggling, teaching, writing Audience: Preschool and kindergarten teachers; reading specialists; school and child care administrators; instructors and students in early childhood education and early literacy"--

Taking professionals and students step by step through conceptualizing, planning, and implementing an effective early literacy program, this book focuses on preventing reading difficulties and promoting success in at-risk 3- to 5-year-olds. The authors draw on extensive research and many years of influential work in real classrooms. A comprehensive framework is delineated for helping young children construct meaning from different kinds of texts, develop key oral language skills, and learn concepts about print and the alphabet. Ideas for tailoring instruction to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners are accompanied by clear assessment guidelines. The book also offers practical, how-to-do-it suggestions for setting up literacy activities and arranging the classroom environment. Concluding chapters bring the authors' approach to life with vivid depictions of a preschool and a kindergarten classroom in action. Two invaluable appendices provide additional useful resources: reproducible sheets for conducting literacy assessments and a primer on phonics for teachers.

"This acclaimed teacher resource and course text describes proven ways to accelerate the language and literacy development of young children, including those at risk for reading difficulties. The authors draw on extensive research and classroom experience to present a complete framework for differentiated instruction and early intervention. Strategies for creating literacy-rich classrooms, conducting effective assessments, and implementing targeted learning activities are illustrated with vivid examples and vignettes. Helpful reproducible assessment tools are provided. Purchasers also get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Subject Areas/Keywords: assessments, at-risk students, beginning readers, CCSS, classroom environments, classrooms, Common Core State Standards, differentiated instruction, early childhood reading, early literacy, ELA, emergent, English language arts, foundational skills, interventions, kindergarten, language, literacy development, preschool, prevention, programs, reading difficulties, response to intervention, RTI, struggling, teaching, writing Audience: Preschool and kindergarten teachers; reading specialists; school and child care administrators; instructors and students in early childhood education and early literacy"--

Guide to Early Childhood Education: Development – Design – Diversity is a textbook of articles and essays exclusively written to provide a resource for educationalists working in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE), and programmes from around the world. The text has been formally prepared in three significant parts to offer encouraging insights, early learning ideas, classroom environmental changes and pertinent information and internet resources to assist in guiding successful learning. This textbook is primarily suited for ECE administrators, directors, students, teachers, instructors, professors, and additional personnel that will be teaching or working with children in age levels ranging from infant and toddler through to school-age grade three.

Kindergarten is a time for playful and enriching learning activities that support children's literacy emergence while enhancing their social and cognitive development. The routines of a busy, engaged, productive kindergarten classroom are vividly brought to life in this information-packed book. Demonstrated are whole-class and small-group strategies for helping children acquire concepts about print and the alphabet, build phonological and phonemic awareness, learn to read sight words, develop their listening comprehension and writing abilities, and much more.

Most educators will agree that a kindergarten program must provide not only a print-rich environment, but also carefully organized learning experiences. This book maps out how to develop and maintain an exemplary literacy program in a kindergarten classroom. The first section of the book explores the necessary elements of an outstanding kindergarten literacy program and how to organize these elements effectively. It examines developmentally appropriate practices and the research that supports them. The second section of the book provides teachers with strategies for a balanced literacy program: interactive readalouds; shared reading; independent reading and writing; modeled writing; and language play. The book concludes with reflections on the increasing diversity of students in classrooms and how to accommodate that diversity. Interspersed throughout the book are classroom vignettes, sample activities, and points to consider when designing instruction for the kindergarten classroom. (Contains an extensive reference list and 28 children's book references.) (NKA)

Your all-in-one guide to selecting the very best early literacy materials Learning to read and write is too important to be left to chance, so its absolutely critical that the early literacy curriculum and literature you use in PreK and kindergarten environments reflect the very best research and instructional practices. But, with the proliferation of new products, whats the best way to start? What criteria should the curriculum meet? Which research-based best practices should be represented? Early Literacy Materials Selector (ELMS)-the first dedicated evaluation tool for early childhood literacy materials-provides all the answers. Step by step, this one-of-a-kind toolkit will help you: Recognize the characteristics of high-quality literacy materials Work in teams or individually to evaluate your resources Understand the importance of the research base Establish a baseline against which new literacy materials can be compared All in all, theres no better resource to ensure we put our youngest students on the right path to school readiness and success.