Current research increasingly highlights the role of early literacy in young children's development--and facilitates the growth of practices and policies that promote success among diverse learners. The Handbook of Early Literacy Research presents cutting-edge knowledge on all aspects of literacy learning in the preschool years. Volume 1 covers such essential topics as major theories of early literacy; writing development; understanding learning disabilities, including early intervention approaches; cultural and socioeconomic contexts of literacy development; and tutoring programs and other special intervention efforts.

About the Author

Susan B. Neuman, EdD, a professor in educational studies specializing in early literacy development, returned to the University of Michigan in 2004 after a 2-year hiatus, during which she served as the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. Her research and teaching interests include early childhood policy, curriculum, and early reading instruction. In her role as Assistant Secretary, she established the Reading First program and the Early Reading First program, and was responsible for all activities in Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Dr. Neuman recently received an honorary doctorate from the California State University/n-/Hayward, where she also conducted her master's work in reading and curriculum. Widely published, she received her doctorate from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

David K. Dickinson, EdD, is a professor at the Peabody School of Education, Vanderbilt University. He received his doctoral training at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education after teaching elementary school in the Philadelphia area for 5 years. Since the early 1980s he has studied language and early literacy development among low-income populations, with a focus on the role of oral language in literacy development. Dr. Dickinson has examined the interrelationships among language, print skills, and phonemic awareness and has conducted detailed studies of language use patterns in early childhood classrooms. He helped create tools for describing literacy support in preschool classrooms, and developed and studied approaches to providing professional development for preschool teachers. Widely published, Dr. Dickinson has served on numerous advisory boards and recently was on a commission assisting the National Association for the Education of Young Children with revising its accreditation standards.

Reviews

Neuman and Dickinson have created nothing short of a tour de force. This new Handbook will be essential reading for anyone interested in the topic--and, these days, who is not? Early literacy development is among the most complex current issues facing children, families, early care and education providers, school personnel, researchers, and policy makers. Containing chapters by the leading developmentalists and literacy experts in the nation, the Handbook provides the reader with diverse perspectives, salient analyses, intellectual energy, and simply outstanding scholarship. It is a joy to read and will well earn its place in the annals of scholarship. --Sharon L. Kagan, EdD, Professor of Early Childhood and Family Policy, Teachers College, Columbia University; Immediate Past President, National Association for the Education of Young Children

This volume both celebrates and reports on the vast amount of knowledge gained in emerging and early literacy over the last two to three decades. It encompasses the wide array of perspectives that characterize the current information explosion. Importantly, it also offers guidance for continuing to develop a more sophisticated understanding of such issues as the culturally situated, multiple literacies that are both local and global realities. All of us--educators, researchers, and other students of literacy--need this book. --Anne van Kleeck, PhD, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Georgia

With the recent federal focus on early prevention of reading impairments, this handbook provides practitioners and educators with the information needed to provide scientifically based, theory-guided assessment and instructional services to children who are typically developing or at risk for literacy difficulties. Neuman and Dickinson have gathered together an impressive cadre of scientists and educators who inform readers about early literacy research and its application for the home and the classroom. All professionals who work with young children, including general and special educators and speech-language pathologists, should consider this volume a 'must-have' for their professional library.--Kenn Apel, PhD, CCC-SLP, Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, Wichita State University
- This publication helps to establish the importance of the study of early literacy, so essential to later reading achievement. Neuman and Dickinson have assembled a very useful collection...with contributions by some of the most prestigious people in the field. --Childhood Education, 4/9/2003ff The Handbook of Early Literacy Research is timely and should be a 'hot' professional reference....The Handbook interrupts 'one size fits all' notions of education and is an important contribution to stimulating local, national, and international dialogues on the literacy needs of all children. --Teachers College Record, 4/9/2003ff Well organized and well edited....Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above. --Choice, 4/9/2003ff An excellent tool for reading specialists, teacher educators, staff developers, and administrators interested in joining the discourse about improving the lives of our nation's children....[This book] will continue to keep literacy on the national agenda as we struggle to give every child a literate future. --Education Review, 4/9/2003

Book Information
ISBN 9781572308954
Author Susan B. Neuman
Format Paperback
Page Count 494
Imprint Guilford Publications
Publisher Guilford Publications
Weight(grams) 850g