Press Release | National Association for the Education of Young Children

For Immediate Release: December 6, 2012

Contact:

Meredith MacMillan

202-350-8857

New Book Discusses How Teachers and Families Can Promote Children's Literacy Right from the Start

So Much More than the ABCs explores how teachers and families can build a foundation for children's later academic success by starting in infancy

“This is a masterful must-read for anyone interested in the literacy development of young children. Research on language, reading, writing, and motivation is woven seamlessly together with precise instructional guidance. For teachers, this book offers a treasure trove of practical advice; for parents, literacy coaches, and university faculty, it provides a broad, accurate view of early literacy development and pedagogy.”
— David K. Dickinson, Professor, Vanderbilt University

“So Much More than the ABCs is a must-read for parents and teachers of preschoolers. This outstanding book is based on research and the authors’ lifetime experiences devoted to the study of early literacy.”
— Lesley Mandel Morrow, Professor of Literacy, Rutgers University

WASHINGTON—The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is pleased to announce the publication of So Much More than the ABCs: The Early Phases of Reading and Writing, by Judith A. Schickedanz and Molly F. Collins.

The foundation for success in learning to read and write begins in infancy. By engaging infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in experiences that foster oral language and content knowledge, literacy skills, and cognitive ability, teachers and families can build a foundation for children’s later academic success.

The book addresses four main points:

1. What children need to learn in these early years

2. The strategies that teachers can use to help children acquire these foundations

3. The features of emergent literacy and language understandings and skills

4. How to design the physical environment in early childhood classrooms to support language and literacy learning

So Much More than the ABCs is an ideal resource for early childhood professionals and families who want to help young children to acquire the understandings, knowledge, and skills needed for later success in learning to read and write.

Judith A. Schickedanz, PhD (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), professor emerita at Boston University, taught courses in child development, early literacy,and curriculum and instruction; served as director of the laboratory preschool; coordinated the early childhood program; and helped launch the Jumpstart volunteer program. She taught preschool and has worked extensively with early childhood teachers on funded projects, including Early Reading First. Her current interests include the study and support of story comprehension in preschoolers.

Molly F. Collins, EdD (Boston University), a lecturer in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in cognitive development, language, and linguistics, and provided professional development on language and literacy for preschool teachers. She taught toddlers and preschoolers, and is past president of the Literacy Development in Young Children group within the International Reading Association. Current projects examine teachers’ conversations and support of preschoolers’ comprehension during storybook reading.

So Much More than the ABCs: The Early Phases of Reading and Writing ($28.00; 224 pages; ISBN 978-1-928896-88-3) is available for sale from NAEYC’s Online Store. Review copies are available to upon request. For desk copy requests, contact Debra Sharpe. For more information about the book or the authors, visit our website.

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children is the largest and most influential advocate for high-quality early care and education in the United States.