It's been proven that by treating reading and writing as gradually emerging processes rather than skills to be taught and mastered in isolation, children not only become proficient, but also develop a lifetime love of reading and writing. But when parents and administrators hear only about literacy activities without details on how teachers "teach" children to read and write, they understandably become concerned. "What about phonics and spelling?" they ask. This book addresses the need, then, to help others understand the nature of learning and the processes of language and literacy development, as well as some of the specific things teachers do to nurture independent and competent readers and writers.
Part I contains eight sections, made up of materials that can be copied directly onto transparencies, on learning theory, language acquisition, the reading process, teaching and learning reading, phonics, reading strategies, writing, and assessment. Each set is accompanied by suggestions for using the transparencies, relevant anecdotes about the authors' experiences using them, background information from research, and sources and resources. The transparencies can be selected and organized in any order to fit your individual needs. Part II includes fliers, letters, brochures, and fact sheets on various topics relating to emergent literacy and teaching practice, all of which can also be copied and distributed as needed.
Though designed primarily for workshops and weekend courses, Creating Support for Effective Literacy Education is also appropriate for regular college courses focusing on professional development and inservice teacher training.