Directed to teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and others interested in giving a young child an early start on the 3 Rs, this book provides easy-to-follow instructions for promoting emergent literacy and for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic from preschool into the primary grades. The progression of content extends from early…

Understanding the geography of the state is the key to understanding the history of California. From the beginnings of the first early settlements of indigenous peoples, the terrain and resources of California have always influenced how people arrived and where they settled in the state. Having a knowledge of the physical setting of California is…

Reflecting the ideas of many diverse individuals and organizations involved in reading education, this booklet presents Reading Framework for the 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which provides the guidelines and theoretical basis for the 1992-2003 reading assessments. The first chapter, What Is the NAEP Reading…

Case studies of three nontraditional female college graduates from an Appalachian community in eastern Kentucky examined whether and how education changed these women's literacy habits. Also addressed were the literate practices they used in job, home, and community settings; the effects of their education on their children; and whether…

This report examines the teacher-reported early literacy behaviors of 2,759 preschool children who participated in a state-supported, early intervention preschool program. Preschool teachers (N = 240) completed the Literacy Competence Checklist for all children in their classes. Teachers reported growth in childrens literacy behaviors from Fall to…

This project extending over three years was based on the premise that a digital divide exists between the technology skill levels of teacher education faculty and K-12 classroom teachers compared to those of undergraduate students. The Technology Mentor Fellowship Program (TMFP) matched technologically-proficient undergraduate students with K-12…

The Build Initiative is a multi-state partnership created to help states develop a coordinated system of programs, policies, and services that is responsive to the needs of families, careful in the use of private and public resources and effective in preparing the youngest children for a successful future. New Jersey is one of nine states selected…

This article explores the spaces for possibilities of a pedagogy of authorship in teacher education. A critical, transformative framework is considered within the current practices and contexts of pre-service teachers. It examines ways to address students' fears in their own writing, and suggests ways to enhance confidence through authorship, so…

The information in this booklet is intended to respond to common questions and concerns heard from parents of about-to-be kindergartners. It is based on research about the growth, development, and learning of young children and about the kinds of learning experiences that are most likely to promote their success in school and beyond. Topics…

265 kindergarten children from a high-risk community participated in an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Waterford Early Reading Program, a software program designed to facilitate early literacy development. 151 students in eight experimental classrooms used the program for approximately 15 minutes per day. 114 students in seven…

In recent years, the debate about the utilization of research studies that have been used to inform educational practice has been steadily growing. This debate is primarily the result of frustration; despite the investment of billions of dollars, learner outcomes have not significantly improved. One possible explanation is that most education…

This book gives the reader ideas for providing primary-grade students with literacy learning opportunities that integrate conventional literacies, such as phonics and comprehension, with new literacies, such as multimedia composition and hyperlink navigation. The reader will find a variety of linked activities, including reading children's books,…

With increased attention to teacher quality and student achievement, it's important to have an understanding of literacy policy and to envision how teachers might teach literacy differently in the future. In this book, Jacqueline Edmondson addresses key questions of critical policy study to provide understanding about how and why literacy is…

Aspects of the school environment and interactions in the larger school-community context that affect children's literacy were examined in a school located in a predominantly lower income urban community in the northeast where 97 percent of the students are African American, Jamaican, or Hispanic. Four dimensions of the literacy program were…

Based on the experiences of the Harvard Emerging Literacy Project (HELP), this booklet helps interested college students to start early childhood literacy programs. After a foreword by Education Secretary Richard W. Riley and a preface, the booklet discusses HELP and provides guidelines for starting such a project, including basic principles,…