Intervening for Literacy: The Joy of Reading to Young Children

Unprecedented in the field, this book is addressed to those invaluable volunteers and first-time educational professionals in emergent literacy. Accessible and engaging, this book has been written out of concern that although our average achievements remain high, far too many children in the United States are not learning language and literacy to an adequate degree. Nearly 40% of our elementary school children lack basic reading skills and the language to support it. Differences between those who will make it and those who may not are already showing up in preschools and the gaps in teaching are increasingly being filled by volunteer tutors. The National Reading Panel report and the No Child Left Behind legislation have put children's success in reading on everyone's agenda. This timely book tells these tutors what they need to know about early intervention for literacy development, and what they need to do. The book has a further aim of giving volunteers and future teachers a realistic view of what teaching is like, especially in urban environments. The book also assists readers looking toward careers as teachers and as child-support workers.

A long-awaited book for student volunteers, parents and early literacy educators!Intervening for Literacy: The Joy of Reading to Young Children shows those working with young readers why literacy matters, how it develops, what they need to know about early intervention for literacy development, and what they can do to help.

Accessible and engaging, this book has been written out of concern that far too many children in the United States are not acquiring language and literacy skills to an adequate degree. The National Reading Panel report and the No Child Left Behind legislation have put children's success in reading on everyone's agenda, and early intervention has become a key component of literacy development. This book will guide those interested in working toward that goal.

Unprecedented in the field, this book is for anyone who will work with preschool children in emergent literacy settings, and it has the further aim of giving volunteers and future teachers a realistic view of what teaching is like, showing pathways they may follow into teaching and related professions after their volunteering is done.

There is a new vigor in America to engage volunteers in local communities and Jumpstart is excited to share some of its best practices in volunteer training and mobilization. The authors blend theory with practical application to provide new insights and connections for literacy volunteerism. It is not only the what and the how, but the why. This book promises to inspire a new generation of volunteers to serve young children across the country. --Kim Davenport, Vice President, Research & Development, Jumpstart

Intervening for Literacy in a nutshell…

• Easy-to-follow explanations of how children acquire language and literacy skills.
• Interviews with prominent people in the field, including Jumpstart volunteers.
• Numerous practical tips and strategies volunteers can use in their teaching.
• Handy information on programs offering literacy services to parents.
• Lists of websites of each state's department of education, including teaching certification requirements for each of the 50 states.