The issues of how and when to teach young children to read and write are sufficiently important and controversial that two professional organizations International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), collaborated on a position statement, based on what is currently known from empirical…

This book shows how to use popular children's literature to build reading, writing, and cognitive skills in an inquiry-based environment. This third edition has been expanded to include first and second grades. New features include: (1) new emphasis on culturally diverse storybooks; (2) a description of the experiential learning inquiry process;…

Investigates young children's literacy activity within play settings designed to reflect authentic literacy contexts in children's real-world environment. Finds that, in the course of play activities, children demonstrated declarative knowledge about literacy (e.g. names of literacy objects), procedural knowledge, and strategic knowledge. Suggests…

Asserts that the language experience approach and invented spelling can be used to teach writing and reading in kindergarten. Notes that this approach takes advantage of children's enthusiasm for sharing stories, and individualizes literacy development. (MM)

Discusses the concept of emergent literacy, summarizing several theories and studies on children's early experiences with reading and writing. Examines the implications of this research for beginning reading and writing instruction. (MM)

Suggests several strategies for producing fluent, legible penmanship for both left and right handed students. Observes that reading readiness skills can be reinforced through handwriting instruction. Describes several physical considerations for successful writing, and notes the modifications needed for left handed writers. (MM)

Argues that literacy teachers should take letter play seriously in conjunction with invented spelling to help their students learn how letters and sounds relate. (RS)

Describes HyperTales, a computer-based writing application for emergent writers. Discusses principles of developmental literacy approaches which offer guidance for the design of computer-based emergent writing applications. (MM)

The drawings of 17 four- to five-year-old children from two points in time, age four and age five were analyzed. At both ages four and five, the most commonly used scribbles were single vertical lines, single horizontal lines, and single curved lines, whereas the two least used scribbles were spiral and circular lines spread out. The subjects in…

This article explores some of the challenges that young children face when they begin formalised literacy learning in the classroom, in particular learning to write. The challenges are discussed in terms of the transitions children are faced with when moving from family and community literacy practices to more explicit and formal school learning…

Proposes that the use of pattern books (literature with patterned or structured language that enables children to predict the next word, line, or episode) aids children's early reading and writing attempts. Introduces a five-day plan for implementing pattern books into the reading/writing curriculum. Includes a bibliography of books with…

With the passage of the Reading Excellence Act, states and their schools have increasingly emphasized the implementation of research-based literacy interventions, and both parties are eager to know the effectiveness of their efforts. However, the evaluation of the impact of any reform is complicated by the presence of other types of interventions…

Evidence suggests that preschool children are more likely to use and explore print when their environment actively supports the use of print through real-life contexts. Children who have knowledge about print have been shown to have greater success with literacy development on entering school. This paper describes the Preschool Literacy Project…

Describes the development of a beginning writing assessment and defines the criteria used for evaluation. Provides a checklist of evaluation criteria, divided according to three developmental stages: beginning writing or readiness, transition, and composition. (AEA)

Contrasts social constructionist and social interactionist approaches to the problem of discourse. Examines recent social interactionist studies concerning the effects of readers on writers' development, including investigations of word-segmentation skills, peer conferencing, and instructional discourse. (MG)