Jeni Riley

This practical guide considers the research evidence that is needed to inform enlightened practice, and offers concrete suggestions and teaching approaches for early years settings and classrooms. This comprehensive book shows the 'what' the 'how' and the 'why' of innovative, creative practice for teaching language and literacy. The author clearly examines how young children learn to use both spoken and written language, and shows how to assess, plan and teach for the effective learning of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Each chapter includes case studies, learning and teaching suggestions and further reading, and topics covered include: o Learning to communicate o Developing spoken language in early years settings and classrooms o The links between oracy and literacy o The inter-relatedness of the literacy process o Teaching literacy holistically o The assessment of language and literacy o Supporting literacy in Keystage 1, teaching reading and teaching writing for different purposes o Children and books o Teaching children for whom English is an additional language o Language, literacy, learning and ICT.

This practical guide considers the research evidence that is needed to inform enlightened practice, and offers concrete suggestions and teaching approaches for early years settings and classrooms. This comprehensive book shows the 'what' the 'how' and the 'why' of innovative, creative practice for teaching language and literacy. The author clearly examines how young children learn to use both spoken and written language, and shows how to assess, plan and teach for the effective learning of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Each chapter includes case studies, learning and teaching suggestions and further reading, and topics covered include: o Learning to communicate o Developing spoken language in early years settings and classrooms o The links between oracy and literacy o The inter-relatedness of the literacy process o Teaching literacy holistically o The assessment of language and literacy o Supporting literacy in Keystage 1, teaching reading and teaching writing for different purposes o Children and books o Teaching children for whom English is an additional language o Language, literacy, learning and ICT.

`Jeni Riley and David Reedy share excellent examples of how primary school children worked on a non-fiction text format.... A well-informed book with a welcome dose of humour' - Nursery World `The theoretical underpinning to this volume is rigorous and the case studies are both endearing and informative' - Early Years `One of the insights of social theories of language which is now taken for granted is that language varies as the social context varies' (Kress, 1997) This is a book that operationalizes this insight: it charts young children's early attempts to write as they struggle to communicate meaning for a variety of purposes. Each section deals with the appropriate research evidence on the development of children's competence in literacy, and their growing awareness of genre, and uniquely, with a clear approach to teaching children from three to seven years. The text combines the necessary theoretical underpinning plus the day-to-day practical experience of working with young children in order to develop their understanding of the different forms and language of texts.

`Jeni Riley and David Reedy share excellent examples of how primary school children worked on a non-fiction text format.... A well-informed book with a welcome dose of humour' - Nursery World `The theoretical underpinning to this volume is rigorous and the case studies are both endearing and informative' - Early Years `One of the insights of social theories of language which is now taken for granted is that language varies as the social context varies' (Kress, 1997) This is a book that operationalizes this insight: it charts young children's early attempts to write as they struggle to communicate meaning for a variety of purposes. Each section deals with the appropriate research evidence on the development of children's competence in literacy, and their growing awareness of genre, and uniquely, with a clear approach to teaching children from three to seven years. The text combines the necessary theoretical underpinning plus the day-to-day practical experience of working with young children in order to develop their understanding of the different forms and language of texts.

`The aim of this book is admirable. Despite the preponderance of texts on the development and teaching of literacy, a book which is driven by psychological theory but succeeds in combining this theory with suggestions for classroom practice is long awaited' - Child Language Teaching and Therapy The Teaching of Reading combines theoretical and practical aspects of literacy, and is intended to be informative and practical in its classroom application. The author shows that informed practice can only develop from a genuine understanding of the literacy process, and the book charts the way in which the young child progresses from the first glimmerings of the purpose and recognition of print, through to a state of fully developed fluent reading.