Developing Literacy in Preschool »

Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD, is Professor of Literacy at Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education, where she is Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching. She began her career as a classroom teacher, became a reading specialist, and received her PhD from Fordham University. She has done extensive research in the areas of early literacy development and the organization and management of language arts programs, which involves working with children and families from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Morrow has authored or edited more than 250 publications. She received the Excellence in Research, Teaching, and Service Award from Rutgers University, the International Reading Association’s Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award, and Fordham University’s Alumni Award for Outstanding Achievement. In addition, Dr. Morrow has received numerous grants for research from the federal government and has served as a principal research investigator for the Center for English Language Arts, the National Reading Research Center, the Center for Early Reading Achievement, and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Lab. She was an elected member of the Board of Directors of the International Reading Association, and served as President of that organization from 2003 to 2004. Dr. Morrow was elected to the Reading Hall of Fame in 2006.

Preschoolers are passionate about learning, and a high-quality preschool program offers rich learning experiences in the areas of language and literacy. This engaging book gives teachers and other professionals fresh ideas, inspiration, and practical tools for integrating age-appropriate literacy instruction into the preschool curriculum. Including helpful vignettes, sample lesson plans, and reproducibles, the book shows how to create a motivating classroom environment, balance child-initiated exploration with structured activities, and support students' developing skills in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension. Essential topics include preschool assessment and working with English language learners.

Educational Review

"A recent and excellent addition to the Guilford Press Tools for Teaching Literacy series....Authors for the series have been carefully selected and Morrow is no exception....Her insights and experience are deep; she carries a strong understanding of the kinds of specific information that teachers need and of the research and theory that supports those approaches; and she writes in an extremely readable style. These characteristics are part of what make this book so valuable....Throughout the book, children are constructed as unique individuals, persons with differing interests and at different stages of development....Deserves rave reviews. Three different groups of people will find the book to be immensely helpful: pre-service teachers; newly qualified teachers; and experienced classroom teachers who are re-assigned for their first early years teaching. If the quality of this text reflects that of the whole series, head teachers and principals would be well advised to purchase the series for their in-school professional libraries."--Educational Review

A Literacy-Rich Preschool Classroom     1
Research about Preschool That Informs Good Practice     17
Organizing and Managing a Literacy-Rich Preschool Environment     36
Organizing and Managing Instruction in Preschool     58
Oral Language Development in Preschool     75
Knowledge about Print     108
Comprehending and Enjoying Children's Literature     139
Writing in the Preschool Classroom     170
Afterword     197
Glossary   Lisa Fassi   Paula Batsiyan     201
Integrated Language Arts Thematic Unit: Good Nutrition?   Harriet Worobey     205
Children's Literature   Lisa Fassi   Paula Aguruso     212
Magazines for Preschoolers   Paula Batsiyan     217
Professional Associations, Related Publications, and Websites Dealing with Early Literacy   Kelli Dunston     218
Index     223