Early Childhood Experiences in the Language Arts: Early Literacy, 8e is a tried and true reference with a goal to produce teachers who matter, teachers who are prepared, and teachers who are knowledgeable companions, exploring and sharing literature and language experiences with young children. In order to achieve this, the book encourages reflective thinking, allows practice of skills, and inspires the collection of ideas for future use. Now in it's eighth edition, there are many new features and benefits that will arm the reader with valuable information they can take directly into practice. The book includes the most current national legislative efforts, as well as addressing public concern and interest in young children's language and foundational literacy skills. It also thoroughly addresses the interrelation of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and viewing language art's areas. While taking a high level view that paints a comprehensive picture of the most important aspects of teaching early literacy, the book also takes a practical approach. The reader will learn very specific activities that include stories, poems, finger plays, and puppetry that they can utilize in a classroom setting. They will also learn curriculum for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with the theory followed up by deliberate "how-to" suggestions. Rounding out this comprehensive book, cultural diversity is addressed, as well as program planning ideas for English language learners and special needs children.

Provides guidance on developing a language arts program for a preschool. The textbook discusses language acquisition and young children's emerging communicative capacities, and suggests activities for promoting speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The seventh edition adds sections on phonological and phonemic awareness. Color photographs.
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This is a text that I would feel comfortable using.

Three strengths: inclusion of pertinent information, so very little will need to be added by instructor; student activities at the end of chapters include words to stories, poems, rhymes and ideas for listening activities, puppetry and other resources for beginning teachers; students often like the bulleted format used in much of the text.

Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts: Emerging Literacy is a must-have resource on language arts instruction for young children. Combining current research and appropriate early childhood practices, it fosters an understanding of how techniques and planned programs affect children's language development. Rich in examples and activities, no teacher, child care provider, or parent should be without this invaluable resource.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 623-643) and index.

Jeanne M. Machado's experience in the early childhood education field has included full-time assignment as community college instructor and department chairperson. Her duties included supervision of early childhood education students at two on-campus laboratory child development centers at San Jose City College and Evergreen Valley College, as well as child centers in the local community. Her teaching responsibilities encompassed early childhood education, child development, and parenting courses. She received her MA from San Jose State University and her vocational community college life credential with coursework from the University of California at Berkeley. Her experience includes working as a teacher, director, and an early childhood education consultant in public early childhood programs, parent cooperative programs, and private early childhood centers. Ms. Machado is an active participant in several professional organizations that relate to the education and well-being of young children and their families. She is a past president of California Community College Early Childhood Educators and the Peninsula Chapter of the California Association for the Education of Young Children. Her authoring efforts with Dr. Helen Meyer-Botnarescue produced a 2007 text in sixth edition for student teachers entitled STUDENT TEACHING: EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTICUM GUIDE. An additional text, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION, was co-authored with Romana Reynolds in 2006. Both are published by Thomson Delmar Learning. Ms. Machado consults with teachers and administrators and interacts with young children in classrooms in Cascade, Idaho and San Jose, California.

Preface. To The Student. Chapter 1 Beginnings of Communication. Chapter 2 The Tasks of the Toddler. Chapter 3 Preschool Years. Chapter 4 Growth Systems Affecting Early Language Ability. Section Two: Developing Language Arts Programs. Chapter 5 Understanding Differences. Chapter 6 Achieving Language and Literacy Goals Through Programming. Chapter 7 Promoting Language and Literacy. Section 3: Listening & Literate Beginnings. Chapter 8 Developing Listening Skills. Section Four: Introducing Literature. Chapter 9 Children and Books. Chapter 10 Storytelling. Chapter 11 Poetry. Chapter 12 Flannel (Felt) Boards and Activity Sets. Section Five: Speech Growth & Conversation, Expression, and Dramatization. Chapter 13 Realizing Speaking Goals. Chapter 14 Group Times. Chapter 15 Puppetry and Beginning Drama Experiences. Section Six: Writing & Print Awareness and Use. Chapter 16 Print & Early Knowledge and Emerging Interest. Section Seven: Reading & A Language Art. Chapter 17 Reading and Preschoolers. Section Eight: Settings Promoting Literacy & At School and Home. Chapter 18 Developing a Literacy Environment. Chapter 19 The Parent-Center Partnership. Appendix. Glossary. References. Index.