"This book offers a foundation in language and literacy that greatly benefits dual language learners."-Pamela S. Allen, Lead Teacher/Gifted FacilitatorBallantyne Elementary School, Charlotte, NCProduce strong language and literacy outcomes for the youngest English learners!Research and practice have established that early oral language and literacy skills development can predict later academic success. But how do young children whose first language is not English become proficient learners, and which classroom strategies have the most impact on literacy learning? This valuable resource helps teachers understand how English learners (ELs) ages 3 to 5 acquire the foundations for literacy and offers practical, research-based strategies for teaching language and literacy skills. Theresa A. Roberts, an expert literacy practitioner and researcher for preschool ELs, offers strategies that have been field-tested and proven effective by more than 1,000 early childhood educators. One of the few literacy resources available that focuses exclusively on preschool ELs, this book helps teachers of young children: Understand the essential elements for building early literacy skills, including teaching the alphabetic principle, phonological awareness, and vocabularyEncourage family involvement and nurture the home-school allianceBuild on children's primary languageStrengthen preschool programs serving young ELs No Limits to Literacy for Preschool English Learners shows teachers how to lead children to high levels of literacy competence, engagement, and enjoyment!

This book describes effective, engaging ways to build young children's print concepts and alphabetic knowledge, which are crucial for both reading and writing development. Presenting shared reading, shared writing, and targeted instructional activities, each chapter features helpful classroom vignettes, a section debunking myths about preschool literacy, and Ideas for Discussion, Reflection, and Action. Strategies are provided for creating print-rich classroom and home environments and differentiating instruction for diverse students, including English language learners. The book also discusses how to assess preschoolers' reading and writing progress. Reproducible checklists and parent handouts can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.

It is well known that the number of non-English speakers is on the rise in the United States. What is less well known is that the largest proportion of this population is children under the age of 5. These young English language learners (ELLs) often demonstrate achievement gaps in basic math and reading skills when they start school. How best to educate this important and growing preschool population is a pressing concern for policymakers and practitioners. The chapters in this important book provide up-to-date syntheses of the research base for young ELLs on critical topics such as demographics, development of bilingualism, cognitive and neurological benefits of bilingualism, and family relationships, as well as classroom, assessment, and teacher-preparation practices. Contributors: Linda M. Espinosa, Margaret Freedson, Claudia Galindo, Fred Genesee, Donald J. Hernandez, José E. Náñez Sr., and Flora V. Rodríguez-Brown “This is a must-have for those who are working directly or indirectly with young English language learners.” —Olivia Saracho, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland

This book focuses on early childhood bilingualism and second language learning in young children 0 to 6 years of age. Through the development of personal vignettes and short anecdotes, the author develops and demonstrates how an understanding of second language learning assists the practitioner and parent in unraveling the maze and enigma of the journey of second language learning itself. It is also intended to aid the reader in the understanding of how to best meet the educational needs of these young second language learners.

This new addition to the bestselling SIOP Model series shows how to use the SIOP Model with pre-K and kindergarten English learners. Readers can understand the young English learner and language development, learn all eight components of the SIOP Model, and see how other programs have used the SIOP Model to create an optimal learning environment for their young students.

The strategies in this book - such as using lists of key words and visual aids to using body language and gestures - are adaptable and easy to put into practice.