Synopses & Reviews
EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS: EARLY LITERACY, Tenth Edition helps readers become knowledgeable companions to young children as they explore and share literature and language experiences through interesting, developmentally appropriate activities. To achieve this goal, this contemporary reference encourages reflective thinking, allows for practice of skills, and inspires the collection of ideas for future use. It thoroughly explores the primary interrelated areas of language arts--listening, speaking, reading, and writing--as well as the closely tied area of visual literacy, which is increasingly important given children's frequent interactions with visual technology. While painting a comprehensive picture of the most important aspects of teaching early literacy, the book also incorporates valuable information that teachers can take directly into practice. Readers learn classroom activities involving stories, poems, finger plays, and puppetry. They also learn curriculum for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, with discussions of theory illuminated by practical how-to suggestions. Cultural diversity is addressed, as are program-planning ideas for English language learners and special-needs children.
About the Author
Jeanne M. Machado's experience in the early childhood education field has included full-time assignment as a 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 Master's Degree from San Jose State University and her community college life credential with coursework from the University of California at Berkeley. Her experience includes working as an elementary school teacher, preschool owner/director, work experience instructor/advisor, early childhood and family studies community college and university instructor, and an education consultant in public, private, and parent cooperative programs. Ms. Machado is an active participant in several professional organizations concerned with 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. In addition to EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES IN LANGUAGE ARTS, she co-authored (with Dr. Helen Meyer-Botnarescue) STUDENT TEACHING: EARLY CHILDHOOD PRACTICUM GUIDE, 7th Edition (©2011); and (with Romana Reynolds) EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION: HOW TO SECURE YOUR CAREER (©2006).
Table of Contents
Section 1: EARLY EXPERIENCES: LANGUAGE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT. 1. Beginnings of Communication. 2. The Tasks of the Toddler. 3. Preschool Years. 4. Growth Systems Affecting Early Language Ability. Section 2: LANGUAGE AND LITERACY PROGRAMS: RECOGNIZING DIVERSE NEEDS AND GOALS. 5. Understanding Differences. 6. Achieving Language and Literacy Goals through Program Planning. 7. Promoting Language and Literacy. 8. Developing Listening Skills. Section 3: LITERATURE AND OTHER LANGUAGE ARTS AREAS. 9. Children and Books. 10. Storytelling. 11. Poetry. 12. Flannel (Felt) Boards and Activity Sets. Section 4: THE GROWTH OF SPEECH AND EXPRESSION. 13. Realizing Speaking Goals. 14. Group Times. 15. Puppetry and Beginning Drama Experiences. Section 5: WRITING AND READING: NATURAL COMPANIONS. 16. Print--Early Knowledge and Emerging Interest. 17. Reading and Preschoolers. Section 6: SCHOOL AND HOME: ENVIRONMENTS, FAMILY, AND PARTNERSHIPS. 18. Developing a Literacy Environment. 19. The Family-Center Partnership.