Research shows that literacy—the ability to listen, speak, read, and write - begins developing long before children enter elementary school. This book helps early childhood educators nurture that development. It begins with an argument for offering children literacy-rich activities and creating an environment for carrying out those activities. It then focuses on enjoyable and effective ways to build essential skills, such as oral language and phonemic awareness, and create dramatic play areas, book nooks, writing centers, and other literacy-rich spaces. Includes photographs, student work, and straight talk about kids and learning, Literacy and the Youngest Learner is destined to become a classic.
Teacher-tested ideas for putting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers on the road to literacy.
V. Susan Bennett-Armistead is currently a parent educator and early literacy specialist for Williamston Community Schools as well as an early childhood professional development consultant. Her doctorate from Michigan State University will be in teacher education with emphasis on early literacy development. Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Susan worked for fourteen years in the early childhood community as a teacher, director, and advocate for young children and their families. Currently the parents of three children, Susan and her husband await the completion of the adoption of a fourth.
Nell K. Duke is an associate professor of teacher education and educational psychology, an affiliate of the program in school psychology, and co-director of the Literacy Achievement Research Center (LARC) at Michigan State University. Duke received her Bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College and her Masters and Doctoral degrees from Harvard University. Duke's work focuses on early literacy development, particularly among children living in poverty. Her specific areas of expertise include development of informational literacies in young children, comprehension devlĂM
![Literacy and the Youngest Learner: Best Practices for Educators of Children from [Paperback]](/itemImage/2/0/3/3/2_5434631.jpg "Literacy and the Youngest Learner: Best Practices for Educators of Children from [Paperback]")