Reading and Writing in Preschool ─ Teaching the Essentials

This book describes effective, engaging ways to build young children's print concepts and alphabetic knowledge, which are crucial for both reading and writing development. Presenting shared reading, shared writing, and targeted instructional activities, each chapter features helpful classroom vignettes, a section debunking myths about preschool literacy, and Ideas for Discussion, Reflection, and Action. Strategies are provided for creating print-rich classroom and home environments and differentiating instruction for diverse students, including English language learners. The book also discusses how to assess preschoolers' reading and writing progress. Reproducible checklists and parent handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

Renee M. Casbergue, PhD, is the Vira Franklin and James R. Eagle Professor of Education at Louisiana State University, where she currently serves as director of the early childhood teacher preparation program and is a member of the literacy faculty. A former classroom teacher and reading specialist, she has served as president of the Literacy Development in Young Children Special Interest Group of the International Reading Association (IRA; now International Literacy Association). Dr. Casbergue received a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Early Reading First (ERF) program to create centers of excellence for early literacy in preschool classrooms in New Orleans public schools after serving as a consultant and external evaluator for ERF projects in four other states. She has published widely on effective learning and teaching in preschool and the primary grades.

Dorothy S. Strickland, PhD, is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Professor of Education (Emerita) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the National Institute for Early Education Research. A former classroom teacher, reading consultant, and learning disabilities specialist, she is a past president of both the IRA and the Reading Hall of Fame. Dr. Strickland is a recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Educator of Reading Award from IRA, the Outstanding Educator in the Language Arts Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Ferguson Award for Outstanding Contributions to Early Childhood Education from National Louis University. She has published numerous articles, book chapters, and books on early childhood education.