Review
“This comprehensive book is well organized and easy to read, and contains many practical examples for preschool classrooms. It would be excellent as the focus text in a professional development program for practicing early childhood educators. Morrow has provided a strong resource for anyone wanting to build a supportive literacy environment for young children.”–Terri Lowery, Literacy Coordinator and first-grade teacher, Union Elementary School, Warsaw, Ohio “An excellent source for developmentally appropriate activities that can be used to create a supportive, literacy-rich preschool environment. Morrow clearly blends up-to-date research with classroom-tested techniques. In this book, you will find strategies, organizational tips, management techniques, and realistic examples that can easily be adapted to individual classrooms. I will definitely take many of these ideas and use them with my current pre-K class!”–Angela Yeaman, prekindergarten teacher, Connaught School, North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada “Morrow’s ability to help readers really see classroom practice is outstanding. The book is comprehensive, covering all topics essential to a literacy- and language-rich preschool classroom. Most importantly, the text is filled with realistic and interesting teaching activities that will help classroom teachers succeed in enhancing their practice with young children.”–Billie Enz, PhD, College of Education, Arizona State University “Preschoolers are intentional learners, so their teachers have to be intentional too. This authoritative and engaging guide helps new teachers gain the knowledge and skills needed to foster language and literacy development in the prekindergarten years. The book provides current and useful information on all relevant areas of language and literacy instruction, including the crucial topics of inclusion and English language learners. Thoughtful and balanced, it emphasizes the importance of play as a context for the blossoming of young children’s skills in speaking, listening, writing, and reading. This text has much to offer students who are preparing to become effective and responsible teachers of our youngest school citizens.”–Jim Johnson, PhD, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, The Pennsylvania State University “This book will strengthen your existing early literacy practices by providing ways to expand on classroom activities. You will find valuable teaching strategies to help children with early reading skills such as letter recognition. The suggestions for exposing children to early literacy–using rhymes, play, conversations, participation, interaction, and sight vocabulary–could easily become part of your daily routine. Morrow also provides helpful examples of quality early childhood literature and a variety of enjoyable ways to introduce these books into your classroom.”–Jeanine Graham, teacher, Weinstein JCC Preschool, Richmond, Virginia
About the Author
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.
Mrs. ivr –
Teachers, this Doctor is ready, willing and able to help you!
This is another one of the professional books that I have been reading this summer that I recommend for teaching literacy. I attended a workshop on Intentional Teaching where the facilitator mentioned this book. It was written in 2007. The one thing I found invaluable is her ability to put you in the classroom. She also puts information on ELL and includes parent tips in each chapter. This is not Early Childhood 101 rehashed but a well researched book to up date your teaching tools. She includes assessments we can use in the classroom to check progress, pictures and strategies. I am learning something from each chapter thanks to the field research and her experience/training. The author, Dr. Lesley Mandel Morrow is a former reading specialist as well as classroom teacher. She is Chair of the Department of Learning and Teaching at Rutgers U Grad School of Education BUT her teachings are available to me and I live in the mid-west.
BISHOP –
A great book for parents and teachers of little ones
A great book for parents and teachers of little ones. Parents are the first and best teachers of their children, this book enables them to teach their little ones to read.
Yolanda Hernandez-Madsen –
Informative
I teach special needs early child hood. I found this book to be very informative. It makes for a good reference to have handy.