Customer Reviews (1)

All-around Good Workbook
Excellent workbook for preparation for kidergarten/preschool. It covers a little of everything lesson needed. ... Read more

Product Description
For courses in Literacy and Early Childhood and Emergent Literacy, PreK-3 Replete with authentic, first-person classroom descriptions, this introduction to emergent and early childhood literacy is built upon a five-part literacy instruction framework that is both comprehensive and practical. Each of the five components of the framework--teacher read-alouds, word study instruction, independent reading practice, guided reading instruction and writing workshop--is thoroughly developed in separate chapter discussions to prepare pre-service teachers for effective literacy instruction. Different from many other texts on the market, Smith and Read provide rudimentary and specific aspects of early literacy assessment and develop meaningful strategies for catching struggling young readers before they fall through the cracks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great seller!
The book was in great condition and got here when it said it would.. Thank you!

Great for Teachers
This book not only has a lot of information about different learning techniques, but it also gives ideas for lessons and templates to use.

Excellent resource for beginning teachers
I'm currently in a teaching program, but not yet a teacher.This book is required for class, but I plan on keeping it for my resource library because it has so much great information for new teachers.I really enjoy the book lists inside and helpful worksheet/diagrams and examples of assessment forms. ... Read more

Product Description
Writing skills that develop in early childhood, especially during the preschool years, are a clear and strong predictor of children's later writing achievement and literacy skills. During these crucial two to three years, a young child's writing evolves from scribble to script, making it essential for teachers to support preschoolers as they learn to communicate and express meaning through their writing.

In the second edition of Writing in Preschool, part of the Preschool Literacy Collection, authors Judith A. Schickedanz and Renee M. Casbergue provide a detailed picture of preschoolers writing development and demonstrate how teachers can support students on their journey from scribble to script. The fully revised and updated chapters will show you how to identify and build the various strands of knowledge and skills that must come together for preschoolers to understand how print works.

A new chapter on assessing preschoolers writing includes a continuum of early writing development that uses actual student writing samples to represent the various phases. You will learn how to document changes in children's writing, capture multiple dimensions of writing, and form a comprehensive assessment of students writing progress. Another new chapter on helping children use words to convey meaning focuses on children s first steps in representing meaning and explores the connections between oral language, drawing, and writing.

This book is an essential resource that preschool teachers and administrators can use to ensure that preschoolers are eager to record their ideas and confident in their ability to express themselves through writing.

The International Reading Association is the world's premier organization of literacy professionals. Our titles promote reading by providing professional development to continuously advance the quality of literacy instruction and research.

Research-based, classroom-tested, and peer-reviewed, IRA titles are among the highest quality tools that help literacy professionals do their jobs better.

Some of the many areas we publish in include:

-Comprehension
-Response To Intervention/Struggling Readers
-Early Literacy
-Adolescent Literacy
-Assessment
-Literacy Coaching
-Research And Policy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Literacy Book
Whether you are a teacher or a parent looking for specific information, ideas, and methods about the continuum of writing marks in preschool, this is a wonderful resource!

A Valuable Resource For Any Early Childhood Professional
From the pointed chapter topics to the easily readable text, Schickedanz and Cabergue offer a resource that will lead early childhood professionals through the often muddy and argumentative waters of early literacy instruction.This book represents one in a series of five books (called the Preschool Literacy Collection) published by the International Reading Association (IRA).The other books are BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR PRESCHOOL LITERACY, ORAL LANGUAGE AND EARLY LITERACY IN PRESCHOOL, LEARNING ABOUT PRINT IN PRESCHOOL, and USING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IN PRESCHOOL.If you obtain all of these books (each written by a different set of authors), you possess a comprehensive set of instructional tools at a phenomenal price. ... Read more

Product Description
Filled with creative and effective ideas for teaching kindergaten. Includes: start-the-year community builders, stratagies for classroom routines, mini-lessons on shared reading and writing, activities that build phonemic awareness and phonics skills, samples of student work, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fabulous resource for a new teacher
This is a great resource for new teachers on the grade.I was previously a middle school teacher and chose to go down to lower grades but there were no 2nd, 3rd or 4th grades available, only kindergarten.I freaked out!!! I needed some help!! This book provided the help that I needed.It gives you information on starting the year, teaching with morning meeting,centers,themes--- An excellent resource for a teacher who knows nothing about kindergarten.

preschool/kindergarten
This is a 'must have' book for any teacher at any number of years teaching experience. What I really like about this book is 'at a glance' one can pick up ideas/tips that are ready to try 'NOW'.

The New Kindergarten
This product full of ideas on setting up and teaching Kindergarten. With the continious changes in education I was a little unsure about where to start.The author offers great ideas and input using the NCTM Standards. This is a great resource for new teachers, and teachers who are new to teaching Kindergarten.

So Much In One Book
Constance Leuenberger's book is an excellent combination of educational philosophy coupled with ideas, ideas, and more ideas!
An easy read that would be a GREAT resource for ALL new Kindergarten teachers and a wonderful resource to help experienced teachers remember how important developementally appropriate strategies are.
This book is full of great ideas, strategies, and tips that are simple and ready to implement.Another strength is how the author shares thoughts for teachers of half dayand/or full day programs.
Constance understands how young children learn.She knows that we must teach the "whole" child....from their academic to their social well being.
This book is an excellent addition to your professional library.

A "Must Read" for the Kindergarten Teacher
I have had the honor of seeing Ms. Leuenberger adapt the very principals that she writes about in her book in her own classroom on "The Vineyard".Believe me, these strategies and lessons work.I suggest that each school have this book available for their Kindergarten teachers.The suggestions and ideas in this book make "Meeting the Standards" easy and fun. ... Read more

Product Description
This book for elementary and middle school teachers and literacy methods courses articulates a powerful theory of critical literacy instruction. Critical literacy practices encourage students to use language to question the everyday world, interrogate the relationship between language and power, analyze popular culture and media, understand how  power relationships are socially constructed, and consider actions that can be taken to promote social justice. By providing both a model for critical literacy instruction and many examples of how critical practices can be enacted in daily school life in elementary and middle school classrooms, Creating Critical Classrooms meets a huge need for a practical, theoretically based text on this topic.
 
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Stimulating Student Thinking and Teacher Action
In a recent course in children's literature, I used a variety of books on critical literacy, letting students choose from among several on the market, and letting them conduct "Discovery Circles" (Kristo & Bamford) using them in this Master's level class. The group that read Creating Critical Classrooms had a deeper and more substantive understanding of this topic by the time they were presenting and sharing what their further study had invovled, which they made into a class presentation. I will build on the work of Lewison, Leland, & Harste in my future classes and also in the second edition of Living Literature (Kasten, McCLure, & Krissto, 2012 expected, Pearson Education), including not only an introduction to critical literacy, but addressing it with each literary genre for K-8 teaching.

Wendy C. Kasten, Ph.D., Professor
Curriculum and Instruction - Literacy
Kent State University
Kent, OhioLiving Literature: Using Children's Literature to Support Reading and Language Arts

Critical necessary read
Reading this for my thesis involving critical literacy.This is a necessary read for those who want to put critical literacy into their curriculum.Very easy read with a vignette for each chapter and words of wisdom in a thought piece by Jerome Harste at the end of each small chapter.In the end the books has several invitations of what we can do in our classrooms to get started.A wonderful book for all because we all teach in diverse communities. ... Read more

Product Description
Its my bible for teaching young children and It reads like a novel, said veteran and preservice teachers alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An Interesting Approach to Teaching Writing
Carol Avery offers her view to writers workshop for teachers who teach writing.The strategies used in the book can be adapted to fit other grade levels.Teachers will find this book to be a useful resource in the classroom.

gentle advice
The book gently guides you through literature experiences with children-specifics that are logical- pleasant reading that ignites the desire to go into the classroom day after day-

This book is a treasure!
Bravo to Carol Avery for writing such a wonderful book!"And With a Light Touch" contains chapter after chapter of helpful ideas that can be implemented in the classroom, but the author also has such an honest and insightful voice, I actually put aside the novel I was reading and looked forward to reading about Avery's adventures in the classroom! Avery books gives a gold standard of value to the often overlooked teacher's anecdote, I wish more folks would share the way she does. As a mother of a first grader, I was very curious as to what the experience of teaching and learning in the classroom was like, and this book gave me a real inside view. I balked at the textbook price for a paperback, but this book was worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone interested in teaching, children, or a good story.

This book helped me the most!
When I entered my first year of teaching, I did not know where to begin.This book helped me implement and find success with my students' literacy development.This book has been a very valuable tool. We are lucky to havesuch a fine teacher's footsteps to follow.

Carol Avery makes teaching look enjoyable and easy!
This text was an extremely easy text to read and one can relate so well with the real life classroom situations.I have taught for five years in the primary grades and by re-reading this book, it brought back the senseof fun that I have long since forgotten about with my classroom children. ... Read more

Product Description
Easy Lessons and Fresh Ideas for Creating Interactive Word Walls That Build Literacy Skills
Easily integrate word walls into your daily literacy activities! Sample lessons including photos of real classrooms, show you how to add to the walls each week, drawing words from poems, nursery rhymes, morning message and more to keep them fresh, invaluable reference tools for kids all year long. Develop kids' phonemic awareness with basic letter-sound correspondences with the ABC wall; spelling patterns with the Chunking Wall and many more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Teaching Reading and Writing with Word Walls
I was very pleased with the condition of the book and the quick delivery rate!

Lots of Great Ideas
I wish I'd had this book when I started teaching - it has a ton of examples and ways to use word walls to teach reading.

Great, Practical Resource
If you are a novice at using a word wall or have had one in your classroom for some time, you will find this book to be a great, practical resource.It includes descriptions of many different kinds of word walls, not just the traditional wall with an alphabetical list of sight words. Also included are activities and lessons that you can use in conjunction with your word wall.

This Book Will Work!
I ordered this book unseen because her other book, Phonics That Work!, put a terrific glow on my teaching.

This one is just a good.Whether you are new to word walls, or if you've been using them for years you'llappreciate the fresh lessons and the sound theories Ms. Wagstaff provides. This is a book that will work in your classroom! ... Read more

Product Description
Reading & Writing Informational Text in the Primary GradesThe authors explain why its important to weave informational text into the primary curriculum. From there, they provide a framework for organizing your time and space, and classroom-test strategies ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

On the better side...
This is one of the text books on the better side!I have taken many classes and I would say this book is actually worth reading!

Research-based ideas that just make sense
There are a lot of resources out there on reading and writing informational texts, but this is by far the best. The authors combine research, theory, and really practical strategies that can be used in the classroom tomorrow. It's all here. I got my copy in January and it's already dog-earred! If you buy one resource this year, make it this one. ... Read more

Product Description
In this book you will find the McLaughlin Model of teaching emergent literacy to young children set down in a clear format that makes it easy for you to glean the information you need to establish the program in your classroom. As it spreads through pilot programs in Palm Beach County School District, Florida, this model of teaching is proving to be highly successful for children from many different backgrounds and to produce outstanding results in "Title 1" kindergarten classes.

Chapter by chapter, you will discover how to lead your students into reading books and flowing with writing. You will find how to do this by teaching skills through meaningful reading and writing and by training your students in the habits they need to be successful. You will be guided into quickly evaluating your students and dividing them into small groups where they can learn at their own level and pace, moving on and up when they are ready. You will learn how to build your students' self-esteem and self-confidence and how to train them to work cooperatively as part of a positive, risk-free classroom community where everyone is a teacher and learner. You will also learn how to keep the excitement and momentum flowing in your classroom all through the year.

As you use this model with your students, you will find that your expectations rise. Your enjoyment of teaching will increase as you get caught up in your students' energy for learning and their excitement at what they achieve. Like the teachers in the McLaughlin Model Pilot Programs, you will most likely be amazed at the results. ... Read more

Product Description
60 High-Interest Reproducible Activities—Perfect For Learning Centers—That Build Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Writing Skills
Learn how to structure collaborative, literacy-focused activities for "the rest of the class" while you provide direct instruction to small groups. Includes 60+ innovative reproducible activities that build skills and foster independence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for Teachers Experienced with Using Centers
I purchased this book because I thought it would give me some fresh ideas on how to set up and manage centers while I worked with small groups.Well, the author only spends about 4 pages on center set-up and management, and it's a pretty broad overview with fuzzy details.I would not recommend this book for a teacher who has never done centers before, because it is not very helpful in the "how-to" department. On the other hand, it is packed full of great ideas for activities related to literacy that can be used in your centers.Most of them are of the worksheet variety, and many are made for specific book titles, but all of the ideas can be adapted for your own curriculum.The menu idea itself is great and very flexible, and I like the author's use of long-term projects to solve the "I'm done, what can I do now?" problem. This is a great book for teachers who already use centers and need some new activity ideas.

Helpful book
This was a helpful book for the ever present problem of keeping the rest of the class busy (but not with "busy work") while you work with a small group. Even if you are not reading some of the titles listed by theauthor, the framework for creating your own activities is very helpful. ... Read more

Product Description
101 Activities to Help Preschoolers Excel in Reading, Writing, and Speaking gives preschoolers valuable practice in reading, writing, and speaking skills by engaging them in a series of enjoyable activities. All of the activities address values important to children's growth and development: cooperation, friendship, respect for others' opinions, intergenerational closeness, generosity, and gratitude. ... Read more

Product Description

Reproducible rebus activities to help students build their reading andwriting skills!

Customer Reviews (1)

Great Help for Kindergardener.
This product has helped me improve my daughter's reading and writing skills. That's exactly what I needed and it is a very easy to use and children love it as it is very fun as well as educational.

... Read more

Product Description
Shows K-6 teachers how to teach math using writing and reading lessons and activities in accordance with NCTM standard #2, math-as-communication. Includes classroom examples, lessons, activities, and stories for teachers to show how everyday language skills can transfer to math learning. Illustrates how to make writing a meaningful part of cognitive as well as affective development, how to use reading and writing in assessment of math sills, and how to make reading-math assignments more meaningful. ... Read more

Product Description
Using an imaginary school--Merritt Elementary School--the authors follow a class of children from kindergarten through fifth grade to show how different teachers use a variety of approaches to make literacy a reality for all students. This text comprises the second half of Reading and Writing in Elementary Classrooms, 4/e. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Informing and entertaining
What a great idea:to write the story of one imaginary class as it moves from grades K through 5 encountering different (but always reflective and hard working) teachers.It's a practical look at powerful literacyinstruction in action.The teachers' "monthly logs" give thereader a peek inside their heads as they plan and evaluate their programs. This is a good read for brand new teachers (they will surely identify with"Miss Nouveau" in second grade!) and all those who strive toimprove their instructional practice.

Teachers in Action-Fantastic
This is a great book and goes right along with the Four Blocks Literacy Program. It really explains how to implement the program in a sequential manner. After teaching Four Blocks this year I am excited to read thisbook. It really makes sense and I know will be a big help next year. ... Read more

Product Description

Parallel Learning of Reading and Writing in Early Childhood explores why it’s important to provide a balanced language learning environment for young children and offers approaches for children to practice and explore language. Writing — a different but parallel process — can open the door to reading, and an effective writing approach in the home and early childhood classrooms leads to the development of phonemic awareness, understanding of phonetic principles, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. Effective early childhood teachers are those that extend the knowledge children have amassed at home and use the knowledge of how children learn naturally in the world to inform their practice.

This book offers the purpose, context, and outcomes of including writing right from the start in young children’s literacy learning. Through analysis of writing samples, research, and principles of best practices, Shea outlines the essential ingredients for early language learning and provides a developmentally appropriate approach to language learning. Throughout the chapters, Shea integrates discussion of assessment, classroom environment, instructional/teacher scaffolding, and differentiating instruction across developmental levels along with the supporting theory.

Special Features:

• Vignettes and descriptions of Pre-K, K, and Grade 1 classrooms that incorporate writing across the day
• Artifacts of children’s writing that demonstrate an evolution of knowledge related to both message and word construction
• Concept labeling words and topic specific terms are defined throughout the book to support the reader’s understanding of professional terminology
• Discussion of seminal and current research as well as best practices
• Companion website with lesson ideas and abundant writing samples from a wide range of demographic, cultural, and language contexts for readers to view, analyze, and discuss

This text offers pre- and in-service early childhood education teachers the content and resources to develop a deeper understanding of language learning, to prompt an examination of current practice, and to stimulate curricular re-designs that foster meaningful, joyful, and motivated learning.

Product Description
Informational kinds of reading and writing are crucial in every lesson. This book looks at how we can encourage children from the very beginning to think of themselves as young researchers using skills and strategies for clear purposes. ... Read more

Product Description
This practical, reader-friendly textbook for preservice and in-service early childhood education and early literacy courses provides "how-to-do-it" instructions for promoting emergent literacy in reading, writing, and arithmetic from preschool into the primary grades. Early 3 Rs answers the question: "What can I SAY and DO to give each child the best possible start on the 3 Rs?"

With the strategies and materials in this book, a teacher can give personalized direct instruction in the 3 Rs to a beginner, in just a few minutes a day. The early chapters tell how to prepare a young child for reading, writing, and arithmetic. Subsequent chapters show how to give a beginner an early start on learning the 3 Rs. All strategies begin with the oral approach (from phonemic awareness to "arithme-talk") and then progress to print that is personally meaningful to a young child. Early 3 Rs:
* Includes arithmetic as a component of early literacy.
* Gives developmentally appropriate methods for direct teaching of the 3 Rs.
* Provides scripts of what the teacher can say to promote early learning.
* Helps education students in field-based classes offer personalized instruction.

Early 3 Rs is written to be very reader friendly: the approach is intentionally eclectic; the writing deliberately avoids heavy theory; the goal is to provide an easy-to-use, highly practical and accessible guide for those who work in early childhood education settings.
... Read more