Primary teachers looking for effective ways to implement the Literacy Hour will welcome this focused publication which demonstrates how the prescribed range of work and teaching objectives can be met through the use of well chosen fiction and poetic texts. It provides practical advice underpinned by up-to-date theory and research, which can easily be built into a teacher's current practice. In addition, this book offers appropriate activities at whole text, sentence and word level, provides a clear explanation of the grammatical terms used in the National Literacy Project, and offers a range of practical ideas to help teachers organize and plan their Literacy Hour with confidence.

First Published in 1999. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor and Francis, an informa company.

This book provides early years teacher educators with critical guidance to explore the enduring philosophies and principles of early years' pedagogy and to creatively interpret and communicate these to those they are training to be teachers and professionals. It is framed by a principle of continued professional dialogue as integral to, and essential for, effective practice. It: is designed to promote discussion around key themes rather than promote simple solutions to particular challenges foregrounds principles, values and ethics as a precursor to good practice encourages reflective engagement with real life exemplars and case studies juxtaposes traditional philosophies and values with alternative approaches to early learning and childhood presents findings from research into child development and learning and how these interface with pedagogic approaches.