|
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 3-5 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.
Key Features:
- Practical, how-to information on meeting a high-priority educational challenge.
- Realistic, readily usable strategies provided for teachers and administrators.
- Prominent authors: coauthors of the leading early literacy text.
- Resources are lacking on Pre-K literacy programs: this book fills the gap.
CONTENTS
1. Who Is at Risk for Reading Difficulties?: Implications for Early Literacy Programs
2. Understanding Literacy Development
3. Using Assessment to Make Instructional Decisions
4. Language- and Literacy-Rich Classrooms
5. Language Development: Gateway to Literacy
6. Classroom Activities That Expand Children's Vocabulary and Comprehension
7. Classroom Activities to Develop Children's Concepts about Print and Alphabet Letter Recognition
8. Classroom Activities to Develop Phonological Awareness and the Alphabetic Principle
9. Prekindergarten in Action
10. Kindergarten in Action
Appendix A. A Primer on Phonics for Teachers
Appendix B. Literacy Assessments
|
