This lively and informative text examines children's first experience of non-fiction during the pre-school and foundation years. Its careful consideration of different kinds of quality non-fiction, including books, posters, charts and computer software will provide a helpful framework from which Early Years teachers can work. With annotated lists, notes and suggestions for further reading, this is an ideal source of inspiration and stimulation for the busy classroom teacher, placing literacy teaching in a fresh, modern context.

The book offers a rich resource of information, with illustrative case studies and many examples of children's responses to non-fiction, providing:

* coverage of pre-school and foundation years for children up to 6 years of age
* references to research findings on the place of non-fiction in early years
* references to The National Literacy Strategy, Early Learning Goals and the National Curriculum for English
* an evaluation of the place of e-books, CDROMs and video-film in Early Years

The author's zest and expertise helps to give this book an infectious enthusiasm that will permeate the classroom, providing the nursery and primary school teacher, student teacher, or classroom assistant with an invaluable guide and resource tool.

Informational kinds of reading and writing are crucial in every lesson. This book looks at how we can encourage children from the very beginning to think of themselves as young researchers using skills and strategies for clear purposes. It argues that the creative practitioner nurtures children's sense of wonder and curiosity about the world and all its phenomena. Providing advice on how to use the most stimulating and exciting texts and the liveliest approaches, the book celebrates the good practice of teachers and student teachers in a large number of classroom case studies. The content includes: a summary of the recent developments and a framework of principles to inform good practice in this challenging aspect of literacy; chapters concentrating on particular age groups - beginning with the nursery and ending with the later primary years - and thus taking up an essentially developmental approach; and an assessment of recent research and how findings can be put to practical and creative use in the classroom. A central message is that children benefit from collaborating with teachers and peers at every stage of finding out. The spoken language energizes informational reading and

Informational kinds of reading are crucial in every lesson. This book looks at how we can encourage children from the very beginning to think of themselves as young researchers using skills and strategies for clear purposes. It argues that the creative practitioner nurtures children's sense of wonder and curiosity about the world and all its phenomena.
Packed full of advice on how to use the most stimulating and exciting texts and the liveliest approaches, the book celebrates the good practice of teachers and student teachers in a large number of classroom case studies.
The content includes:
* a summary of the recent developments and a framework of principles to inform good practice in this challenging aspect of literacy
* chapters concentrating on particular age groups - beginning with the nursery and ending with the later primary years - and thus taking up an essentially developmental approach
* an assessment of recent research and how findings can be put to practical and creative use in the classroom.
A central message is that children benefit from collaborating with teachers and peers at every stage of finding out. The spoken language energises informational reading and writing, making the sharing of the fruits of children's research highly enjoyable. This book will inspire you and lead to the very best practice.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203053052

This newly updated, user friendly Primary English Encyclopedia addresses all aspects of the primary English curriculum and is an invaluable reference for all training and practising teachers. Now in its fifth edition, entries have been revised to take account of new research and thinking. The approach is supportive of the reflective practitioner in meeting National Curriculum requirements in England and developing sound subject knowledge and good classroom practice. While the book is scholarly, the author writes in a conversational style and includes reproductions of covers of recommended children's books and examples of children's writing and drawing to add interest. The encyclopedia includes: over 600 entries , many expanded and entirely new for this edition, including entries on apps, blogging and computing; short definitions of key concepts; input on the initial teaching of reading including the teaching of phonics and the other cue-systems; extended entries on major topics such as speaking and listening, reading, writing, drama, poetry, non-fiction, bilingualism and children's literature; information on new literacies and new kinds of texts for children; discussion of current issues and input on the history of English teaching in the primary years; extended entries on gender and literacy; important references for each topic, advice on further reading and accounts of recent research findings; and a Who's Who of Primary English and lists of essential texts, updated for this new edition. This encyclopedia will be ideal for student teachers on BA and PGCE courses preparing for work in primary schools and primary school teachers. Anyone concerned with bringing about the informed and imaginative teaching of primary school English will find this book helpful and interesting.

This newly updated, user friendly Primary English Encyclopedia addresses all aspects of the primary English curriculum and is an invaluable reference for all training and practising teachers. Now in its fifth edition, entries have been revised to take account of new research and thinking. The approach is supportive of the reflective practitioner in meeting National Curriculum requirements in England and developing sound subject knowledge and good classroom practice. While the book is scholarly, the author writes in a conversational style and includes reproductions of covers of recommended children's books and examples of children's writing and drawing to add interest. The encyclopedia includes: over 600 entries , many expanded and entirely new for this edition, including entries on apps, blogging and computing; short definitions of key concepts; input on the initial teaching of reading including the teaching of phonics and the other cue-systems; extended entries on major topics such as speaking and listening, reading, writing, drama, poetry, non-fiction, bilingualism and children's literature; information on new literacies and new kinds of texts for children; discussion of current issues and input on the history of English teaching in the primary years; extended entries on gender and literacy; important references for each topic, advice on further reading and accounts of recent research findings; and a Who's Who of Primary English and lists of essential texts, updated for this new edition. This encyclopedia will be ideal for student teachers on BA and PGCE courses preparing for work in primary schools and primary school teachers. Anyone concerned with bringing about the informed and imaginative teaching of primary school English will find this book helpful and interesting.

Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11 is a guide for primary teachers to the many kinds of texts children encounter, use and enjoy in their nursery and primary school years, providing an invaluable insight into the literature available. Addressing important issues and allowing for the voices of teachers, reviewers and children to be heard, it contains suggestions of best practice which offer a more creative approach to learning. Including both fiction and non-fiction, with genres ranging from picturebooks to biographies, this fully updated second edition features: New coverage on recent books Discussion of new changes in concepts of literacy, particularly focused on technological advances in moving image media and virtual worlds The balance between print and screen-based texts on developing children's visual and multimodal literacy Annotated booklists for each genre for different age groups New sections on equality, diversity and translation Exploring fiction, non-fiction and poetry, Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11 is an invaluable resource, supporting teachers as they help children on their journey to becoming insightful and critical readers of non-fiction, and sensitive and reflective readers of fiction.

A Guided Reader to Early Years and Primary English draws on extracts from the published work of some of the most influential education writers to provide insight, guidance and clarity about key issues affecting early years practitioners and primary English teachers. The book brings together key extracts from classic and contemporary writing and contextualises these in both theoretical and practical terms. The extracts are accompanied by a summary of the key ideas and issues raised, questions to promote discussion and reflective practice, and annotated further reading lists to extend thinking. Taking a thematic approach and including a short introduction to each theme, the chapters cover: Models of and approaches to early years and primary English; Speaking and listening in English lessons: story-telling, drama, 'booktalk' and debate; Reading and responding to texts in English lessons; Writing in English lessons: finding a 'voice'; Knowledge about language: grammar, spelling, punctuation and handwriting; The rich landscape of children's literature; Non-fiction in English lessons; Planning, assessing and recording children's progress: the learning cycle. Aimed at trainee and newly qualified teachers, those working towards Masters level qualifications and all those involved in the teaching of early years and primary English, this accessible, but critically provocative text will be an essential resource for those that wish to deepen their understanding of early years and primary English education.

Few topics arouse such passionate feelings as how English should be taught to children in the primary years.

• What is the role of the spoken language in children s learning?
• What knowledge needs to underpin our evaluation of the different methods and approaches to the initial teaching of reading?
• How is critical reading best developed and nurtured in the later primary years- particularly when it comes to the appreciation of literature in all its forms?
• What does research tell us about helping children to achieve confidence in their own voice in the writing they do?
• How do we teach knowledge about language to children so they take pleasure in using it for expressing their thinking and their feelings about themselves and the world they inhabit?

This unique guide tries to answer these and many other critical questions by identifying and clarifying the key elements in the teaching of English in the early and primary school years. It draws on cutting edge international research in considering important issues for principles and practice but takes care to contextualise and guide the reader through the various theories and research findings to help them develop their own understanding.

The Guided Reader to Primary and Early Years English covers all crucial areas of literacy including: - reading, writing, speaking, listening, spelling, punctuation and grammar. It also covers a wide range of text types including, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biography, multimedia and play scripts.

In each chapter there are suggested discussion points, key words and chapter summaries. Care has been taken to include extracts from journal articles and books which present some of the most interesting and relevant research for the intended readership: PGCE, B. Ed, MA students and those carrying out advanced research. The guide focuses on communicating a foundation of knowledge and understanding which could underpin any particular curriculum approach and so it has a global relevance and appeal.

After an introduction indicating the book s aims, scope and main themes, each of the seven chapters takes up an important aspect of the primary English Curriculum, identifying issues and drawing on extracts from journal papers and books containing some of the most interesting and important research."

If you find yourself looking after a preschool child for the first time, or after a gap of some years, you will welcome this book. It explains how to encourage children's sense of wonder by adopting a creative approach to a variety of activities both in and out of doors. Some need little or no preparation, and there is help with simple preparations for others. What Shall We Do Next? shows how sharing books can enrich many practical activities. A special feature is the inclusion of early fact books as well as stories. There are suggestions for the following: Music and water play for babies and for making dens, secret drawers and "caf s" for preschoolers Organizing exciting visits to beaches, parks and gardens Preparing for interesting visits to museums, train stations and zoos Developing the inner world of the imagination-reading and listening to stories and poems, engaging in role play Cooking, drawing, painting and dressing up Choosing early fact books, stories and rhymes and guidance on audio resources, television programmes and DVDs ''The ideal resource for those times when children are bouncing with energy or becoming bored. They'll soon be absorbed in these exciting activities." -Hannah Edmunds, former teacher and chair of school governors, now organizer of story times for groups of young children