Early Literacy in Preschool and Kindergarten: A Multicultural Perspective

Early Literacy in Preschool and Kindergarten: A Multicultural Perspective is an applied book focusing on how literacy develops in young children and the ways in which teachers can encourage the natural emergence of early reading and writing. It has a special emphasis on multicultural children's literature, including detailed descriptions of over 200 multicultural children's books. Packed with practical supports and strategies for teachers, such as how to set up a literacy-friendly environment; using music and art as natural languages; strengthening finger muscles for writing through 3-D art; developing visual representational skills in drawing, leading to writing; and using early literacy checklists to help understand children's capabilities, it provides many suggestions for using classroom materials and centers to support literacy. This book joins the expertise of a well-known early childhood author with a literacy expert to offer an effective approach for teaching early literacy in preschool, and is a valuable resource for early childhood professionals.

New to this Edition

• NEW! More boxes in every chapter to call attention to concepts presented and so students can see at a glance the priority of information on a page.
• NEW! National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) curriculum standards in every chapter show how content is aligned with new standards programs.
• NEW! Developmental checklists and rubrics for assessing students’ accomplishments, includingKindergarten child assessment rubrics and ten new rubrics, give teachers the necessary information on assessing program effectiveness.
• NEW! Help for dual language learners (DLL) appears in every chapter, helping teachers serve the needs of all students.
• NEW! Expanded discussion of numerous bilingual multicultural books, including activities for their use.
• NEW! Discussion on how multicultural literacy fits into every classroom, helping teachers integrate multicultural literature and activities into every learning center.
• NEW! Discussion of Language Experience Approach (LEA) to address the interest in this hot new trend.

Early Literacy in Preschool and Kindergarten: A Multicultural Perspective is an applied book focusing on how literacy develops in young children and the ways in which teachers can encourage the natural emergence of early reading and writing. It has a special emphasis on multicultural children's literature, including detailed descriptions of over 200 multicultural children's books. Packed with practical supports and strategies for teachers, such as how to set up a literacy-friendly environment; using music and art as natural languages; strengthening finger muscles for writing through 3-D art; developing visual representational skills in drawing, leading to writing; and using early literacy checklists to help understand children's capabilities, it provides many suggestions for using classroom materials and centers to support literacy.

While most early literacy texts treat preschool learning in a chapter or two, this entire text focuses on early literacy in the preschool, leading up to children’s accomplishments in kindergarten. Early Literacy in Preschool and Kindergarten: A Multicultural Perspective, Third Edition, presents an updated approach to exploring literacy with preschool and kindergarten children. The current recognition that learning to read and write can emerge naturally in young children has led the authors to develop a fresh approach by using classroom learning centers and multicultural children’s literature to involve children in their own learning.

Janice J. Beaty, Professor Emerita, Elmira College, Elmira, New York, is a full-time writer of early childhood college textbooks and a consultant and trainer in early childhood education from her home in Cape Coral, Florida. Some of her textbooks include Skills for Preschool Teachers, Eighth Edition; Observing Development of the Young Child, Seventh Edition; 50 Early Childhood Literacy Strategies; and 50 Early Childhood Guidance Strategies. At present Dr. Beaty is involved in an early literacy mentoring program with Foster Grandparents in schools and Head Start programs in Central Missouri.

Linda Pratt is the Executive Director of Teacher Education and a Professor of Education at Elmira College. For more than 20 years she has taught both graduate and undergraduate courses in literacy education and has directed the graduate program in teaching literacy. Her primary scholarly interests are literacy acquisition and international education. Dr. Pratt has given presentations on literacy in the United States as well as in Asia, the Bahamas and Caribbean, Canada, Europe, and South America. She and Dr. Beaty have also given presentations together, as well as coauthored the textbook Transcultural Children’s Literature, published by Merrill/Prentice Hall.