The NZ Early Childhood Literacy Handbook by Judy Hamer & Paul Adams.
Hamer and Adams have skilfully weaved the latest research and theory with the current political and social context to present proposals for best literacy practices and a huge range of practical literacy based ideas.
The NZ Early Childhood Literacy Handbook is recommended reading for teacher educators and professional development providers. Designed to inform and to challenge this handbook is sure to be well read.
Chapters focus on:
- The philosophical debate
- The curriculum debate
- The pedagogical debate
- The learning debate and finalising the Literacy Policy for your centre
- Weaving literacy resources throughout the early childhood centre
- Planning for literacy routines and experiences
- Capitalising on informal literacy opportunities
- Approaches to book reading
- Phonemic awareness and letter-sound relationships
- Children’s writing
If the handbook achieves its aim of challenging attitudes regarding literacy a revised edition minus all the space given to justifying a focus on literacy will be needed. Future editions could include a closer look at research on literacy practices in homes and culturally different family environments, to highlight how early childhood practitioners can use this knowledge to maximise outcomes for children.
Examination of practices and teaching materials that successfully promote the development of children’s literacy specific to programmes such as Montessori could be explored. Hamer and Adams show a strong ability to write for the early childhood sector and hopefully we’ll see further publications from them in the future.
Published by Thomson Learning, 2003.
