This is an essential text for primary trainees and teachers. While the focus in early reading is on systematic synthetic phonics, it is important to see the bigger picture and understand that teaching reading is a continuum that involves more much than the mechanics of reading. The book focuses on a range of issues to develop children who can read into children who do read, including extending reading with proficient readers, engaging disengaged readers, sustaining interest in reading in the transition from primary to secondary, and the importance of oracy in reading. Additionally, there is an exploration of the wider context of reading including international perspectives, new literacies and the importance of reading to personal development. Case studies and activities demonstrate practical applications with clear links to the underpinning theory, while critical reflections challenge the reader and encourage deeper thought about the chapter content.

This essential text for primary trainees and teachers examines the key skill of writing beyond the earliest school years. Teaching writing involves much more than simply teaching the mechanics of spelling, grammar and punctuation, important though these are. There are particular issues around writing in school, including the fact that children’s writing consistently lags behind their reading in external tests such as SATs, boys’ relative lack of success and teachers’ lack of confidence in modelling writing. This book addresses these topics as well as focusing on other pertinent practice issues such as working with proficient writers, engaging disengaged writers and working with children who have EAL and SEN.

A comprehensive approach to the curriculum, education, developmentally appropriate practice and other hot topics in early education.

Beyond Tokenism offers parents, teachers, and school administrators challenges, ideas, and directions for building positive parent partnerships in literacy education. Its ideas are firmly rooted in the authors' belief that parents play a vital role in children's education. Learning is seen as a social process originating in the meaning-based relationship that begins in the home. The focus is on literacy, outlining practical ways to involve parents as partners in learning. Cairney and Munsie invite schools to move beyond token parental involvement.