Essential Readings on Early Literacy

Young children's early experiences with literacy learning are critically important to their later success in school. How can preschool and primary teachers make sure that those experiences are as positive as they can be particularly in today's complex world, where expectations for children and teachers have increased and where technology is changing the nature of what we think of as literacy?

This collection includes 14 articles, published originally in IRA's influential journal The Reading Teacher, that highlight what outstanding early literacy instruction looks like in preschool and early elementary classrooms. Covering instructional strategies, assessment, and home school connections, the evidence-based approaches described here will inspire improved teaching practice that can lead to increased learning among young children of all backgrounds.

Distinguished educator Dorothy Strickland introduces the collection with a discussion of the challenges facing teachers today, a summary of trends and research in early literacy, and suggestions for how these articles can be used in professional development settings. Included with each article are reflection questions to spark discussion in school-based professional learning communities or teacher education classrooms.

The International Reading Association is the world's premier organization of literacy professionals. Our titles promote reading by providing professional development to continuously advance the quality of literacy instruction and research.

Research-based, classroom-tested, and peer-reviewed, IRA titles are among the highest quality tools that help literacy professionals do their jobs better.

Some of the many areas we publish in include:

-Comprehension
-Response To Intervention/Struggling Readers
-Early Literacy
-Adolescent Literacy
-Assessment
-Literacy Coaching
-Research And Policy