Intended for primary teachers, this resource guide provides explanations of the theory underlying successful writing workshops, plus practical help for putting the ideas to work. With the guide, teachers can see how to implement writing workshop; how to recognize and teach target skills such as organization and revision; and how to enhance writing…

Two series of case studies were carried out following a multiple baseline design across individuals. The first series of eight studies included 4- to 5-year-old Dutch kindergarten children, and the second series examined 5- to 6-year-old kindergarten children. Each child wrote approximately 16 stories in the natural classroom environment over a…

Journal writing provides daily opportunities for students to express themselves, practice using the features of print they controlled, and extend their knowledge of print. By publishing the journals, two additional benefits are gained: the creation of more readable text for emergent readers; and the motivation to write more. "Life…

Children in the emergent writing stage write in pre-conventional or emergent forms (scribbling, drawing, non-phonetic letterings, and phonetic spelling) before they write conventionally. A special education teacher in a kindergarten inclusion setting in the Bronx, New York, noticing that her students did not particularly like to write, decided and…

Literacy development begins in the very early stages of childhood, even though the activities of young children may not seem related to reading and writing. In 1966, New Zealand researcher Marie Clay introduced the term "emergent literacy" to describe the behaviors seen in young children when they use books and writing materials to…

When writer's workshop is introduced to the kindergarten classroom, students often do not have the basic skills they need to participate in the process. Teachers should not let that prevent them from introducing writing instruction to their young students. This book shows teachers that all the skills they need to teach their young writers can be…

The issues of how and when to teach young children to read and write are sufficiently important and controversial that two professional organizations International Reading Association (IRA) and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), collaborated on a position statement, based on what is currently known from empirical…

This book shows how to use popular children's literature to build reading, writing, and cognitive skills in an inquiry-based environment. This third edition has been expanded to include first and second grades. New features include: (1) new emphasis on culturally diverse storybooks; (2) a description of the experiential learning inquiry process;…

Investigates young children's literacy activity within play settings designed to reflect authentic literacy contexts in children's real-world environment. Finds that, in the course of play activities, children demonstrated declarative knowledge about literacy (e.g. names of literacy objects), procedural knowledge, and strategic knowledge. Suggests…

Asserts that the language experience approach and invented spelling can be used to teach writing and reading in kindergarten. Notes that this approach takes advantage of children's enthusiasm for sharing stories, and individualizes literacy development. (MM)

Discusses the concept of emergent literacy, summarizing several theories and studies on children's early experiences with reading and writing. Examines the implications of this research for beginning reading and writing instruction. (MM)

Suggests several strategies for producing fluent, legible penmanship for both left and right handed students. Observes that reading readiness skills can be reinforced through handwriting instruction. Describes several physical considerations for successful writing, and notes the modifications needed for left handed writers. (MM)

Argues that literacy teachers should take letter play seriously in conjunction with invented spelling to help their students learn how letters and sounds relate. (RS)

Describes HyperTales, a computer-based writing application for emergent writers. Discusses principles of developmental literacy approaches which offer guidance for the design of computer-based emergent writing applications. (MM)

Proposes that the use of pattern books (literature with patterned or structured language that enables children to predict the next word, line, or episode) aids children's early reading and writing attempts. Introduces a five-day plan for implementing pattern books into the reading/writing curriculum. Includes a bibliography of books with…