Language Play and Children's Literacy celebrates the contribution of language play to children's understanding of how language can be used for play and impact. It reveals how language play is used for many different purposes, and includes an invaluable resource bank of activities for teachers and parents.

Dominant assumptions about place tend to be defined in relation to urban communities. To assume a singular construction of urban places misrepresents the experiences, perspectives, and identities of urban children, making their identities become invisible to researchers, educators, and curriculum developers. Sharing a wide range of perspectives, Role of Place and Play in Young Children’s Language and Literacy sheds light on language and literacy learning in play-based early childhood settings where place plays an important role in teaching and learning. Drawing on geographic contexts, including northern rural and Indigenous communities, and giving voice to educational leaders in Indigenous professional learning contexts, as well as speech-language pathologists, this book joins forces with literacy and early childhood education researchers to create an interdisciplinary collage of theory, research, and practice. Bringing play and place together, a concept Shelley Stagg Peterson and Nicola Friedrich call playce-based learning, this book provides new and compelling ways to think about equity and educational opportunity in the language and literacy development of young children, and offers spaces for them to construct their own identities in positive ways.

This volume brings together studies, research syntheses, and critical commentaries that examine play-literacy relationships from cognitive, ecological, and cultural perspectives. The cognitive view focuses on mental processes that appear to link play and literacy activities; the ecological stance examines opportunities to engage in literacy-related play in specific environments; and the social-cultural position stresses the interface between the literacy and play cultures of home, community, and the school. Examining play from these diverse perspectives provides a multidimensional view that deepens understanding and opens up new avenues for research and educational practice. Each set of chapters is followed by a critical review by a distinguished play scholar. These commentaries' focus is to hold research on play and literacy up to scrutiny in terms of scientific significance, methodology, and utility for practice. A Foreword by Margaret Meek situates these studies in the context of current trends in literacy learning and instruction. Earlier studies on the role of play in early literacy acquisition provided considerable information about the types of reading and writing activities that children engage in during play and how this literacy play is affected by variables such as props, peers, and adults. However, they did not deal extensively, as this book does, with the functional significance of play in the literacy development of individual children. This volume pushes the study of play and literacy into new areas. It is indispensable reading for researchers and graduate students in the fields of early childhood education and early literacy development.

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Language and communication skills are a key foundation of child development. This accessible and engaging resource enables early years educators to support the wellbeing and development of children whose first language is not English. Positioning language as a community entity, the book explores critical approaches to language development and, importantly, their practical application to planning, provision, professional development, and wellbeing. It provides context and evidence-based strategies to develop strong, child-centred practice in real-world settings, and offers an overview of how educators can work with families to ensure a consistent approach to early language development at home. The book: Supports the wellbeing of children for whom everyday communication in an English setting may be confusing and difficult Provides strategies and techniques that recognise the unique wellbeing needs of children with EAL and can be implemented immediately throughout the EYFS curriculum and beyond Focuses on engaging the whole community with a holistic approach to early language development and wellbeing Drawing from first-hand experience and with practical examples and ideas woven throughout, this is an essential resource for all early years educators working with young children with EAL.

Lecturers, why waste time waiting for the post to arrive? Request your e-inspection copy today! 'When I showed my inspection copy to the Foundation Degree Programme Director, she said it was the whole programme in a nutshell' - Denise Reardon, Senior Lecturer, Canterbury Christ Church University The Early Years Foundation Stage has been praised by academics and students for its theoretical underpinning and practical case studies. In the light of the revised EYFS, the new edition combines a comprehensive range of topics, up to date coverage of the EYFS curriculum, additional case studies, an increased focus on critical reflection, and access to free journal articles relating to key topics. It is an ideal resource for students undertaking any Early Years or Early Childhood Studies courses, or those working toward the Early Years Teacher qualification. This second edition introduces new chapters on: Historical developments in early years educational policy Implementation of EYFS Play-based learning Observational recordings and analysis in the EYFS Working in partnership with parents Safeguarding children Children's health Inclusion in the early years Leadership Literacy. Outstanding Learning Features: Up to date coverage of revised EYFS New two-colour layout makes the book user-friendly and easy to navigate Chapter aims identify what each chapter will cover at a glance Case studies in each chapter help you to link theory to practice Further reading directs you to external resources to deepen your understanding Reflection tesks help you reflect on how the chapter can be applied to your personal and professional development. Visit www.sagepub.co.uk/Palaiologou2e for free access to a selection of SAGE Journal Articles related to key topics in the book.