This innovative and practical kit, put together by two well-known specialists in the field of early literacy, contains everything storytime presenters for children from birth to age five and their parents or caregivers need to spread the word about school readiness skills to adult caregivers. The kit includes: (1) An accessible handbook with a…

Recognizing that children who experience continuity as they enter formal education are more likely to sustain their earlier gains than children who do not experience continuity, this document provides guidelines for preschool, Head Start, and elementary teachers and administrators on transition procedures. An executive summary begins the document.…

Many experts agree that high-quality television can be an excellent supplement to active learning in the classroom and at home. This guide contains activities for children ages 3 to 6, each activity incorporating a theme or topic related to an episode of "Arthur" presented during the program's third season on the Public Broadcasting…

This document collects technical resources for assessing literacy among young children and the literacy environments of early childhood programs. Contents include: (1) a checklist for assessing the literacy environments of kindergartens; (2) an article on assessment and early literacy; (3) a discussion of basic aspects of the formal and informal…

Recognition of the significance of early years has heightened interest and support for early childhood programs. Prevention steps designed to reduce the number of children who arrive at school with inadequate literacy-related knowledge would considerably reduce the number of children with reading difficulties. While there is great potential for…

Directed to teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, and others interested in giving a young child an early start on the 3 Rs, this book provides easy-to-follow instructions for promoting emergent literacy and for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic from preschool into the primary grades. The progression of content extends from early…

The information in this booklet is intended to respond to common questions and concerns heard from parents of about-to-be kindergartners. It is based on research about the growth, development, and learning of young children and about the kinds of learning experiences that are most likely to promote their success in school and beyond. Topics…

Asserting that children who are exposed to a rich variety of literary experiences at home are far more likely to enter school ready to learn than those not exposed, this booklet for parents and caregivers discusses 10 guidelines to help them promote literacy in young children. The guidelines are: (1) talk and sing with your child; (2) read to your…

Based on the view that the parent is a child's first and most important teacher, this book shows parents how to stimulate and encourage learning in reading and writing, language and communication, thinking and reasoning, plus promote good social and emotional behaviors and improve gross and fine motor skills. Part 1 of the book describes child…

Examined the literacy activities of 47 father/child pairs over a two-year period in New Mexico. Found a variety of reading and writing activities and concern among fathers relating to school preparedness and bonding opportunities. Devised five recommendations aimed specifically at fathers to develop early reading and writing skills in their…

Focusing on the relationship between learning oral language and learning about written language, this book discusses the emergent literacy (EL) of children growing up in a Western, print-oriented society, as well as findings of research conducted during the past 15 years on how children make sense of the way in which literacy works in their…

Suggesting that very young children spend every waking minute getting ready for kindergarten, this videotape for caregivers and early childhood teachers shows how to support early literacy skill development by sharing stories, relationships, and books with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in care and education settings. The 25-minute videotape…

Parents and teachers may often have wondered how preschoolers learn, or why certain things, events, or people are more interesting to them than others? This book provides information on how young children learn, and offers activities to encourage emerging literacy, promote creativity and imagination, and enhance knowledge and development in music,…