Designing Early Literacy Programs, First Edition Strategies for At-Risk Preschool and Kindergarten Children

by McGee, Lea M.; Richgels, Donald J.

• ISBN13: 9781572308909
• ISBN10: 1572308907
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-30
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

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.

Author Biography

Donald J. Richgels is Professor of Literacy Education at Northern Illinois University.

Table of Contents

Who Is at Risk for Reading Difficulties?: Implications for Early Literacy Programs	1	(13)
Literacy for All: Reading on Grade Level by Third Grade	1	(4)
Risk Factors: The Child	5	(3)
Risk Factors: Family and Community	8	(3)
Implications for Early Literacy Programs	11	(2)
Chapter Summary	13	(1)
Understanding Literacy Development	14	(18)
Developmental Continuum of Literacy Acquisition	14	(1)
Awareness and Exploration	15	(6)
Experimenting Reading and Writing	21	(5)
Early Reading and Writing	26	(2)
The Literacy Continuum Revisited	28	(1)
Chapter Summary	29	(3)
Using Assessment to Make Instructional Decisions	32	(17)
Effective and Appropriate Early Literacy Assessment	32	(2)
Effective Assessment Practices	34	(4)
Using Assessment Tasks	38	(8)
Observing Children's Use of Literacy in Classroom Activities	46	(2)
Chapter Summary	48	(1)
Language- and Literacy-Rich Classrooms	49	(18)
How Children Learn about Literacy	49	(5)
Space, Materials, and Classroom Arrangement	54	(12)
Chapter Summary	66	(1)
Language Development: Gateway to Literacy	67	(17)
Establishing a High-Quality Language Environment	67	(3)
Classroom Conversations	70	(8)
Bridging the Gap between Spoken and Written Language	78	(5)
Chapter Summary	83	(1)
Classroom Activities That Expand Children's Vocabulary and Comprehension	84	(20)
Reading Books Aloud	84	(9)
Retelling and Drama	93	(4)
Projects, Experiments, and Other Real Experiences: The Role of Knowledge Acquisition in Literacy Development	97	(2)
Shared Writing	99	(3)
Chapter Summary	102	(2)
Classroom Activities to Develop Children's Concepts about Print and Alphabet Letter Recognition	104	(15)
What Teachers Need to Know	104	(3)
Concepts about Print	107	(6)
Alphabet Letter Learning	113	(5)
Chapter Summary	118	(1)
Classroom Activities to Develop Phonological Awareness and the Alphabetic Principle	119	(15)
Phonological Awareness	119	(6)
Developing the Alphabetic Principle	125	(8)
A Final Word of Caution	133	(1)
Chapter Summary	133	(1)
Prekindergarten in Action	134	(13)
Introduction	134	(1)
The Preschool Curriculum	135	(6)
Involving Parents and the Community	141	(1)
Teaching the Automobile Theme	142	(4)
Chapter Summary	146	(1)
Kindergarten in Action	147	(28)
Routines	147	(1)
Thematic Units	148	(1)
A Bear Unit	149	(11)
Putting It All Together: An Art Project, Writing by Dictation, and Using Kindergarten Research Findings	160	(13)
Literacy Teaching and Learning Outside of the Thematic Unit	173	(1)
Chapter Summary	173	(2)
Appendix A. A Primer on Phonics for Teachers: Some Background	175	(4)
Appendix B. Literacy Assessments	179	(20)
References	199	(9)
Index	208