Language & Literacy in the Early Years 0-7

This Fourth Edition of Language and Literacy in the Early Years has been fully revised and updated to reflect current professional interests and the latest developments in the field. The book provides comprehensive coverage of issues in language, literacy and learning, focusing on the age range from birth to seven years. New material covers theory of mind, key persons, and social and emotional dimensions of learning. The author added material on difficulties with language development, phonics and new literacies. Key terms, further reading and a revised layout make the book accessible to students. The author emphasizes the joy and creativity involved in supporting young children's development as speakers, writers and readers. While taking account of current initiatives and programmes, the author supports flexible teaching methods in what is a complex teaching and learning process. The book is fully illustrated with examples and photos from early childhood settings. This book is essential reading for primary and early years students and practitioners in the field of language and literacy including nursery nurses, classroom assistants and foundation stage teachers.

Table of Contents:
PART ONE: LANGUAGE AND LEARNING Linguistics: The Study of Language Sociolinguistics: Language and Cultures Psycholinguistics: Early Language Acquisition Psycholinguistics: Language and Thinking The Early Years Practitioner and Knowledge about Language PART TWO: LITERACY Narrative and Storying Books and the World of Literature Early Representation and Emerging Writing The Early Years Practitioner and Literacy

About the Author :
Marian R Whitehead was formerly a Senior Lecturer in Education at Goldsmiths College, University of London, with responsibility for organizing and teaching M.A. degrees in Language and Literature and Early Childhood Education. She has published extensively on literacy, literature and bilingualism and is a co-editor of the journal Early Years. She now combines writing with language and early years consultancy work. She is the co-editor of Early Years, An International Journal of Research and Development. She is a well known author, and her books include How to Develop Children's Early Literacy, with Makin, L (Paul Chapman Publishing 2003), Developing Language and Literacy with Young Children, Second Edition (Paul Chapman Publishing, 2002) Supporting Language and Literacy in the Early Years (1999) Open University Press.

Review :
′This book shoudl be read by all those involved in Early Years settings, in order to understand the moral imperative of creating environments which recognise the uniquely individual social and cultural experiences that young children bring to formalised learning. The greatest strength of this text is the ability of the writer to annexe complex research to the compelling need for the practitioner to understand how young children both make meaning and use language to make new meaning as they learn to communicate in a range of modes′ - English 4-11 Magazine ′This new edition of a highly regarded and very well-presented text on young children′s language and literacy development is thoroughly up-to-date and relevant to practitioners working with children from birth to five in the Early Years Foundation Stage and teachers of children in Years 1 and 2. It provides, in an extremely readable and accessible way, the key theories which practitioners need to be familiar with in order to support the language and literacy development of young children in their care...Students will find the connection between theory and practice illuminating and a great help in their studies′ - Early Years Update ′This book is key reading for primary and early years students, early years practitioners classroom assistants and Early Years Foundation Stage teachers′ - Early Years Educator Praise for the Third Edition : ′The text relates theory and practice in an easily readable form with particularly helpful sections on key terminology and summaries within each chapter. A most useful, practical text which no early years practitioner should be without′ - Jacqueline Barbera, Director of Undergraduate ITT, Liverpool Hope University College