Literacy in Early Childhood and Primary Education
Issues, Challenges, Solutions

Literacy in Early Childhood and Primary Education provides a comprehensive introduction to literacy teaching and learning. The book explores the continuum of literacy learning and children's transitions from early childhood settings to junior primary classrooms and then to senior primary and beyond. Reader-friendly and accessible, this book equips pre-service teachers with the theoretical underpinnings and practical strategies to teach literacy. It places the 'reading wars' firmly in the past as it examines contemporary research and practices. The book covers important topics such as assessment, multiliteracies, reading difficulties and diverse classrooms. Each chapter includes learning objectives, reflective questions and definitions of key terms to engage and assist readers. Written by an expert author team and featuring real-world examples from literacy teachers and learners, the book will help pre-service teachers feel confident teaching literacy to diverse age groups and abilities.

1. Introduction; Part I. Literacy Acquisition: The Child, the Family and Diversity in the Modern World: 2. Literacy acquisition in the early years: past, present and future; 3. When should children start literacy learning?; 4. Family literacies and relationships with centres and schools; 5. Multiliteracies: growing the next generation of readers; 6. Diverse classrooms and learning in bilingual and multicultural/multilingual settings; Part II. Learning about Literacy in Early Childhood Settings: 7. Effective practice and the role of teachers in supporting literacy; 8. 'Sound' foundations for learning literacy; 9. Uses of assessment before, during and after transition to school; Part III. Literacy Learning in the Primary School: 10. The first year of primary schooling: building on foundations; 11. Establishing a community of readers; 12. Uses of assessment in the primary school years; 13. Reading and writing in the primary school: focus on narrative writing; Part IV. Literacy Learning in the Senior Primary School: 14. Extending reading and writing in the senior primary school: focus on factual writing; 15. Struggling readers: issues and solutions; 16. Conclusion.