This volume begins with an overview of theories supporting natural language development-Piagetian, Vygotskian, and cognitive or information processing. Following the theoretical basis for natural language processes in reading and writing, chapters explore the following: how young children acquire rapid growth in oral language without direct instruction; the universality of play in language learning; and portfolio assessment. The contributors develop specific approaches for developing literacy, as chapters focus on the development of preschool early writing, in-school techniques for developing effective collaborative writing experiences, recommendations for creating and facilitating literacy classrooms, children's literature, metacognition in the reading process, and the notion of the theme unit through literature.

In this book, authors mesh two philosophies about language: the whole language approach that is sweeping across reading/learning and current theory of language acquisition pervading the bilingual community. The thrust of most bilingual research is that the learner should learn in his own language using natural approaches and then learn English as a second language. Typically, much of the instruction in languages other than English have used rote methods. This book shows how one would learn using an integrated and literacy-based approach to language acquisition and development.

In this book, authors mesh two philosophies about language: the whole language approach that is sweeping across reading/learning and current theory of language acquisition pervading the bilingual community. The thrust of most bilingual research is that the learner should learn in his own language using natural approaches and then learn English as a second language. Typically, much of the instruction in languages other than English have used rote methods. This book shows how one would learn using an integrated and literacy-based approach to language acquisition and development.

We are truly in a new technical era where we must understand other cultures and languages and where our workforce will increasingly be limited in proficiency with English. At the time of entering the workforce this population will need a whole new set of abilities with which to function. Based on their many years of experience in the Parents Reading Conference at Fordham University, their labors at the Westchester Reading Council, and the Reading Institute at Fordham University, the authors have written an essential work addressing literacy in the classroom. Included is an examination of the issues surrounding literacy and transmission of culture, implementation issues such as how to set up and manage an interactive elementary classroom, how to evaluate student behavior using the techniques of story telling, how to translate story-telling to its visual forms, and finally an in-depth investigation into integrating literacy through all subject areas.

This volume addresses the impact of cognitivism on teaching and learning in three ways: the changes in the ways educators have come to view the learner as a result of cognitive theories; the ways the immediate environment of the learner can be altered according to cognitive principles; and the progress cognitive psychologists have made directly toward the teaching of specific subjects.