This very important book reaffirms the beauty and uniqueness of children's developing minds and the power that is unleashed when their imaginations are nurtured. -Susan Zimmermann Kindergarten has changed, and not necessarily for the better. Once a joyful time when children grow into school gradually, today it often resembles a watered-down first grade, where academic pressures squelch creativity and play. The Literate Kindergarten shows how carefully balancing academics with song, movement, talk, and play creates an environment where every child can grow and learn. Sue Kempton is a master teacher, and in The Literate Kindergarten, she shares the thinking, the structures, even the precise language she uses to help young children become motivated, engaged, and joyful learners. Kempton guides you through the three domains of learning on which she bases her lessons and actions: the cognitive, creative, and emotional. With this framework in mind, Kempton offers clues to interpreting children's talk and body language so that you know which domain they are engaged in, as well as specific questions and phrases that draw out their thinking and make learning visible. From there, The Literate Kindergarten offers effective suggestions for: establishing routines and creating cooperation developing oral language modeling the language of thinking teaching across content areas supporting students as they become socialized to school recognizing the vital importance of integrating music, movement, and play familiarizing children with concepts of print, comprehension strategies, and other important literacy habits. Discover thoughtful ways to create a safe, nurturing, predictable learning space for children, where their thoughts and feelings are encouraged. Read The Literate Kindergarten and discover a comprehensive resource that can bring joy and serious learning to your classroom.

This resource presents assessment and instructional activities that are evidence based, practical, and easy to implement. This comprehensive text demonstrates how to link assessment and instruction practices for every component of literacy learning and helps teachers become informed decision makers about purposeful literacy instruction. Addressing the Early Reading First areas of phonological awareness, print knowledge, and language development, the book also covers parent involvement, integrated curriculum, and suggestions for working with children with special needs and English language learners. Using vignettes of four children representing diverse backgrounds, the authors weave together theory and practice and describe how instructional strategies are implemented in classroom settings. Each chapter contains figures and graphic organizers and includes sections on instructional strategies, assessment, and diversity

"Young readers are on a journey toward efficient processing of any texts they might like to attempt, and it is important every step of the way that they have successful experiences in reading independently those texts that are available at each point in time. In a literacy-rich classroom with a multitext approach, readers have the opportunity to hear written texts read aloud through interactive read-aloud, and so they build a rich treasure chest of known stories and nonfiction books that they can share as a classroom community" --

How do early childhood educators foster young children’s understanding of reading and writing during this emergent literacy period? Moreover, how can they nurture a love of reading and writing? With these two questions at its core, the revised edition of this bestselling resource provides: A comprehensive and updated overview of what literacy development looks like for children from birth through age 5; Instructional approaches that support robust early language, literacy, and content knowledge learning; Considerations for choosing and sharing materials and for designing the physical environment in ways that support language and literacy learning; Recommendations for developmentally appropriate books that engage children’s minds and imaginations; Authentic writing samples that showcase young children’s thinking around and explorations with mark making. Grounded in new research and drawn from the authors’ extensive experience, this book gives educators the tools they need to create and build on learning opportunities that will lead to thriving, motivated readers and writers.

Using simple, easy-to-follow instructions, supported throughout with clear diagrams and examples of children's work, Paul Johnson demonstrates how scores of different book forms can be made from a single sheet of paper.

"Engages students in inquiry that leads to the discovery and understanding of a general principle they can apply to their own independent reading" --

Beginning literacy with language : young children learning at home & school.