Literacy Beginnings: A Prekindergarten Handbook 2nd Edition

The name of the authors is why I initially decided to pay $40 for this book. I should say upfront I am glad I did not wait for used copies to become available. I had next step questions & assessment questions I hoped reading over the summer would clear up to strengthen my know-how the for next school year. I reflected on my observations, lesson plan notes and pictures from last school year and Literacy Beginnings provides "hooks" that took my thinking to the next level. The authors being former classroom teachers anticipated those questions that come up when teachers plan and included them in the chapters. Since I was not with my teaching team, I read the questions in the chapters and spoke into a tape recorder or jotted down my response. When I returned to the material I was able to connect what I knew to what I wanted to know with the chapter titles, pictures of children and examples of work done by the children. The first chapter is basic but necessary to make sure I was on the same page in terms of theory and what it looks like in a busy classroom. I hope this review helps another teacher. I am new at this. I have worked in pre-k for 6 years and I was sort of shaky about why I did certain things with certain kids if I did not make a note. This resource helps me feel good about last semester and gives me firm steps to take me into next year.

Fountas and Pinnell are two of the most recognized experts of early literacy learning and teaching in the US. Literacy Beginnings reads like a prequel to all their previous books; if you are a stakeholder in early childhood education- teacher or administrator- this book is a must read. The early childhood community has long been awaiting these gurus to weigh in on the heavily debated and often misinterpreted best practices in early literacy instruction. This book will leave many early childhood teachers feeling triumphant as the authors openly denounce the outdated "Letter of the Week" method as well as worksheets. Reading this book one can almost hear early childhood educators around the world shouting words of joy as they realize the impact it will have on future generations of teachers and students.Literacy Beginnings is not about math, science, open-ended art, or music and movement- it is about best practices in early literacy instruction for the 21st Century. If you have a problem with the plumbing in your house you call a plumber, you don't call a general handyman. The same goes for this book, if you are looking for the most current, research based information on early literacy instruction from a reliable and trusted source then this is the book for you.

Great book, just what I wanted.

As an Early Childhood Special Education professional, I now consult with and provide professional development for Early Childhood professionals in public school and community based programs. SCRIBBLE SCRABBLE: BECAUSE PREWRITING IS LITERACY, TOO and HIGGELTY PIGGELTY BUMBLE BEE, WON'T YOU LEARN YOUR NAME WITH ME have been growing topics in recent years. There have been scant publications with strong, experiential examples and suggestions, especially regarding beginning recognizing of one's name and name writing. During my last workshop, the first since acquiring this book, the book was sent around the room for each to examine. They loved it!!!!! The teachers were enthusiastic about the information I shared from the text and their personal book examination. Many left saying they'd go back to their sites to ask that this be bought for them. Thank you, authors Fountas and Pinnell, you have filled a long standing void in our field.

great resource

This is a phenomenal book! I've read it through word for word and refer back to it frequently. It's packed with great ideas that you can implement in our classroom right away. This summer, I'm organizing a book study of the book with some transitional kindergarten teachers in my district. I'm excited to see the ideas that are generated from it! I highly recommend the book!

Packed full of great information and reinforces the fact that early literacy is so important in the early years. This book is full of specific examples and even gives you blacklines so you can make copies of some of the ideas they talk about. I found this book to be exactly what I wanted and I highly recommend it for anyone in the prek - k levels.

So excited that the book came as fast as it did. However, the way the book was packed with some CDs, the front right corner of the book was bent for the entire book! A disappointing end to a gleeful beginning. I would have liked knowing that the book woud have been crammed into a box that was barely the right size. I would have purchased it elsewhere since I will be using the book for work on a regular basis. Yet, this is our first-ever complaint in years from shopping Amazon.

It is fantastic with many practical ideas for Kindergarten teachers and Early Learning Educators

Great book for pre-k and kindergarten level. Well worth the money you can't go wrong with Fountas and Pinnell resources.